Uh Oh Says Veteran Teams

Two small words can some up Week #3 quite easily, Uh and Oh. Kickball Nation was treated to, not one, but three big upsets on Wednesday night. For the past couple of seasons, the elite teams at SCK have used the regular season as one long practice. They would only take a couple of games seriously, usually when matched up against their tougher opponents. However in reality much of the season was prep work for the playoffs. That is all about to change... The gap between the mid-range teams and the top teams is becoming increasingly smaller with each passing week. The mid-range teams are growing by leaps and bounds. The veteran teams need to start taking note, because the younger franchises are starting to blossom.

As part of the Original Six, the Shocker name is synonymous with big time kickball. Most of Kickball Nation is familiar with their kickaball credentials. As two-time SCK champs and Final Four regulars, its hard not to be aware of their presence. However not all kickballers have taken notice of a newer franchise team, Suck My Kick, that is making big statements with their much improved kickball skills.

I'm sure many over-looked the match-up between the Shockers and Suck My Kick. However, this match up really peaked my interest. Especially after the Shockers started off their season with an Opening Day loss to Lights Out. This match up had upset written all over it. Suck My Kick has been slowly progressing up the kickballer ladder, while the Shockers are quickly tumbling off it. Granted that the Shockers aren't a horrible team, not by any means. They are just losing their killer instinct. They need to find it and quick or things may get worse for this veteran crew.

But I digress, Suck My Kick is the real story here. They were able to win their game 3-1 against an elite SCK team, even after one of their female players was kicked out of the game for "giving the ump the business", leaving them to finish the game with a 8 fielder defense. Not an easy thing to do. Nice work.

Another notable upset came at the hands of the often forgotten Scoregasms. They were slated against the veteran players of the Thundercats. Although the Thundercats only have 2 seasons with SCK, not consecutive seasons mind you, folks should be aware that they are in fact an elite kickaball squad. They have tons of tourney experience, as well as other league experience, but not with SCK. So when word came down that the Scoregasms took down the Thundercats, kickball insiders were in disbelief. However those in attendance say there was no question about it, the Scoregams were absolutely the better team on that field. Even though their win does seem marginal with a 3-2 final, a win is a win and they did make a statement. The Scoregasms have I'd Hit It next, which will be a better measuring stick and be a more telling match up. I'd Hit should be ready too, as they will be coming off of a 10-2 beat down of Pitch, Please. This will be a game to watch.

And finally, the Pièce de résistance, the unconvincing crew of Lights Out shocked last season's championship runner-up, Kixxx. I will be the first to admit I wasn't sold on Lights Out. Their off-season personnel changes made me weary and I just wasn't convinced watching them play. However they quickly changed my mind and much of Kickball Nation as they put away Kixxx by a close score of 2-1. Which now means that they have the Shockers and Kixxx on their kill board. They should have also had Kickers with a Drinking Problem, but that ended in a sister kissing contest.

Now in regards to Kixxx, they are nowhere close to panic mode. They had a huge 19-0 annihilation during Week #1 and then they had to battle back to a 5-2 win last week against Suck My Kick during Week #2. They are still the 2nd best team in the league; however the one thing that absolutely has to change is team morale. Kixxx has the mental toughness of a 8 week old infant. They break down way to quick and you can say it all over their faces. And no matter how many times their coach tries to rally them, his efforts are often in vain. From near fights within their own dugout and starting players showing up late, they need to start doing some internal inventory and fixing some things. Their few loses are not coming from play out in the field, they are coming from within the dugout.

Well that's all for now...

Good Luck and Happy Kicking