Kick It 915 - Fun in the Sun Kickball Tourney - REVIEW

With the popularity of co-ed adult kickball continuing to grow in El Paso so does the need for more kickball tournaments. Currently most local kickballers find themselves having to travel out of town to be able to participate in kickball tourneys, which is unfortunate considering there are three kickball leagues operating in town.

The last local kickball tourney was held by the almost now defunct El Paso Kickball league. They would hold an annual charity kickball tourney called the Kickball Clash for the Kids. In all fairness the tournament was actually fairly good. However since the Clash there have been no local tourneys that is until the introduction of the new Fun in the Sun Kickball Tourney hosted by Kick It 915. Kick It 915 is looking to become El Paso's first major kickball tournament league.

The Fun in the Sun Tourney was set to feature:

2 Divisions: Social and Competitive

Cash Prize for the Competitive winner

$150 Bar Tab for Social winner

Water Ballon Fight at noon

3 Games guaranteed

Now when looking at any tourney, three categories on which you can grade the quality are location, format, and organization. In addition, the quality of a tourney can also be relative to whether a team is looking for a competitive atmosphere or a more fun event. 

7 teams ended up registering for the tourney which resulted in one big division rather than two separate ones. The teams were a mix of competitive and fun teams.

The tourney was held at Dick Shinaut Park, on the main soccer field area. This late in the year the grass is already going into hibernation, but it still made for a playable surface although not ideal. There was plenty of parking and trees for shade. There was music playing which provided a good atmosphere. 

The format was double elimination and due to low participation, the competitive and fun groups were merged. There was no pool play and match-ups were essentially scheduled at random, which left some teams confused. There was also one team that despite only having one loss was slated to play the 3rd place match-up. The format seemed to suffer from the uneven amount of teams and having to merge the fun and competitive groups. More participation should alleviate these problems.

Organization wise, there were a few problems. For starters, the tourney was scheduled to start at 9am, but didn't start until 10am. Which resulted in a later than planned end time. This often causes headaches for players who have plans later in the day. Also transition between games was shaky with teams waiting to hear who their next opponent was. Just a couple of items that would make for a better tourney if corrected. 

The officiating was sub-par at best. Umpires were often confused on the rules, that were supposed to be Kickball 365 inspired. Its important for umpires who run a game solo to be mobile and get into position, something the officials didn't do during the tourney. A much needed upgrade here.

And ultimately things seemed to be decided on the fly. Hopefully organizers due a better job of planning for the next tourney.

However the spirit of kickball seemed to be alive and in a drought of kickball tourneys, kickballers were happy to attend a new event. The initiative was greatly appreciated. 

There seems to be another tourney planned for February. Let's see what Kick It 915 has in store for kickballers in the future.

That is all for now kickballers, Good Luck and Happy Kicking!~

Kickin' N' Screamin' Back on Top!

Although this post is little bit over due, it's importance shouldn't be diminished. So after a brief one season hiatus, Kickin' N' Screamin' is back on top of the kickball world.

Earlier this year Kickball Nation was witness to a very rare occurrence. After seasons off kickball dominance, Kixxx took down their long time rivals, KNS, in a brilliant semi-final game during the Spring '13 season. Most folks were astonished to see KNS finally lose their crowns, while others celebrated a new champion. However KNS vowed to regain their crown once again.

And guess what...they did.

It only took KNS one season to resume their strangle hold on the King of Kickball division. 

Although there were a couple of teams that were also in contention to make a run at the crown, namely I'd Hit It and the Smoking Aces. 

Lucas Quimiro and Company would miss their chance at the championship with a heartbreaking loss to the Smoking Aces. A game most would argue they should have won. However their stumble would give the Smoking Aces, the only team to beat KNS during the regular season, an opportunity to beat them again. 

However the battle for the crown was a fairly lopsided affair with KNS gliding to a 8-1 victory. KnS was extremely focused and weren't about to let anything or anyone get in their way. They had the Smoking Aces on their heels right out of the gate. 

Throughout the season Kickin' N' Screamin's talent was under-stated. Although their main strength is their teamwork, they arguably have the most talented roster within the league. Their big off-season pick ups, Manny Martinez and Armando Duarte, were completely over looked and made a huge difference on their team. Not to mention the return of Marco Gallegos, the league's best catcher. 

So now as we enter the off-season, the question becomes who can match the talent and skill of Kickin' N' Screamin'. It's Just Kickball will be closing monitoring off-season movements to see who will have the ability to take on the new Kings of Kickball! 

That's all for now... Good Luck and Happy Kicking

KNS Looking to Get Back on Top; the Toe Jammers Looking to Make History

Championship Week has arrived! The long season has passed and it all comes down to one game.

In the 1st official Wreck Championship, #1 Pitch Please takes on the #7 Toe Jammers. Not necessarily a true Cinderella story, only because the Toe Jammers are no strangers to kickball success.

The Toe Jammers hold last season's Lone Star Division title and have finally brought some of that mojo to the post-season. Essentially the one element that hurt them the most this season is fielding a massive 19 player roster. It's hard to manage that much personnel and keep them consistent.

A bright note has to be their pitching. Their new pitcher, Omar Marenco, has a strong arm and had both Just Kickin It and Kickballaz struggling. Hopefully he can cool down the legs of Pitch Please.

Right now Pitch Please is on fire offensively. They have 79 Runs Scored on the season.
Anchored by the Muniz brothers, Irvin and Luis. They'll be looking to barrage the Jammers into submission.

Probably the most competitive championship would could have hoped for out of the Wreck League.

Now moving on to the cream of the crop, the absolute Best of the Best! This season's King of Kickball will feature #1 Kickin' N' Screamin' vs #3 Smokin' Aces.

KNS is looking to take the King of Kickball throne back after losing it to their nemesis Kixxx. They have the talent and experience to easily re-take their crown. Kickball Nation often feels IJK gives them too much credit, but their body of work speaks for itself.

However as of late, Kickin' N' Screamin's execution has been suffering. They aren't as explosive as past seasons, even though they led the division with 43 Runs Scored on the season. Statistically they are leading the pack, but that KNS swagger seems to be absent. Which ultimately results in KNS being a tad bit susceptible to another loss at the hands of Smokin' Aces.

Side note, my source has reported claims that a KNS player is predicting a 6-0 win.

The Aces were handed a golden opportunity last week and took advantage. Although they were on the ropes for most of the game, they did demonstrate their new found ability to battle through adversity. Something they were unable to do early in the season.

They handed KNS thier only loss this season to the tune of 3-2. The Aces are very familiar with KNS's style of play. They've shown they have the ability to go head-to-head with KNS and end up on top. They're going to need their offense to execute right out of the gate, because they cannot fall asleep on a team like KNS. Something they were unable to do against I'd Hit It last week.

Should be an exciting final!

Wreck Top Seeds Choke; Defending Kixxx Eliminated

Down goes Frazier!

Down goes Frazier!

Down goes Frazier!

And just like that King of Kickball defending champs, Kixxx, are removed from their throne.

After a mediocre season, the Kixxx squad was stopped dead in their tracks by a deserving New Kicks on the Block. Obviously any #4 vs #5 playoff match-up, statistically, should be a close battle. And thus was the case between New Kicks and Kixxx, who grinded out a 2-1 final.

Arguably one of the major factors of Kixxx's demise were their injuries. With Michael Trujillo coming off of gallbladder surgery and the most glaring injury, their big time pitcher, Jose "Pipi" Delgado with torn ligaments. He had to essentially pitch on one leg. Although some within Kickball Nation report that said injuries were really just dramatic exaggerations. Either way,  they were able to keep it close,but it just wasnt enough to hold off an always dangerous New Kicks.

Hats off to New Kicks for a well played game. They are a crowd favorite and will need every bit of that support to get by their next opponent #1 Kickin' N' Screamin.

The rest of the King of Kickball bracket fell into the predicted order with KNS, I'd Hit It, and Smoking Aces all moving into the semi-finals. More on them later.

Because the bigger story has to be both #2 Just Kickin' It and #4 Pitches Ain't Shit fell in the first round of the Wreck group playoffs.

How bout them Tennenballs!  The #5 Royal Tennenballs have finally combined their fun loving ways with new found winning ways. As they stunned an untested Pitches Ain't Shit. Pitches Ain't Shit had an awesome season but not many quality wins. While the Tennenballs played strong competitive kickball all season long, which Kickball Nation was a witness to with their near upset of #1 Pitch Please during the regular season.

Another big time upset came at the expense of #2 Just Kickin It, with the Toe Jammers knocking them out early.

Nice to see the #7 Toe Jammers refusing to die and earning the big upset against #2 Just Kickin It. Up until last week the Jammers were a huge disappointment. Pre-season they were primed and picked by IJK to mow down the Wreck group. Which they ended up doing the exact opposite. So it was a relief to see them bounce back with a major upset victory.

Will they be able to come up with two big upsets? That's going to be a tall order as they will be facing the #3 Kickballaz.

Even though the Kickballaz just scraped by Pitches Love Me with an eye popping 12-11 final, they are considered a strong championship contender. The Kickballaz came to play and they're making it known. Apparently IJK started some kickball dramatics with the release of some credible Coconuts hearsay. Unfortunately it may have caused some unintended drama.

Most notably the new story line of the "true" Wreck teams vs the "competitive" Wreck teams. Kind of reminds me of a Star Belly Sneaches type Scenario. It's all Wreck right? Star or no star.

Should make for an interesting Wreck Semi-Finals as the #7 Toe Jammers and the #5 Tennenballs are being dubbed the People's Champs.

Now cruising back to the King of Kickball title.

A small Kickball Nation poll is predicting that Lucas' IHI may finally be in position to take the Crown. With their stone wall defense in full effect, they need minimal runs to secure a win. Lucas is finally letting his team participate to a certain degree which was the one element missing from this team. It's encouraging to see a team who doesn't put much emphasis on off-season recruiting and is still able to improve season after season. As long as the offense gets off to a good start, I'd Hit It's defense should be able to secure a victory.

Unfortunately they are facing a reinvigorated Smoking Aces crew. The Aces have buried their internal struggles and are rising from the ashes. Their new found stability couldn't have come at a more opportune time. The stability should solidify their defense and their aggressive baserunning may surprise I'd Hit It. Look for the Aces to get down and dirty on the bases.

Intense match up slated between these two teams. A game of the Aces offense against IHI's defense

The other semi-final features New Kicks on the Block and Kickin N Screamin.

New Kicks has some good momentum after taking down defending champs Kixxx. They will need every bit of that momentum as they face powerhouse KNS. Obviously they will need their coach David "Domino" Fernandez to set the pace. Lately he's been a little quiet on offense, but still anchoring the defense. A curious note, IJK has been noticing there seems to be some miscommunication going on between Albert aka Slayer on the pitching mound
and Coach Domino in right field. They often seem to disagree on game management situations and scenarios, could result in some potential missteps.

New Kicks opponent Kickin N Screamin is undoubtedly the biggest name in kickball and are looking to remind folks why. Especially after dropping their first championship last season against rival Kixxxs. Tons of talent but execution has been a problem as of late. Execution is a matter of mental preparation. When all the pieces are set its all a matter of getting them in play. May be easier said then done.

No predictions Kickball Nation. Just big time games!  Check them out!

Took a while to get this blog out, but look for a special From the Field - IJK Report tomorrow during the semi final match ups. Also don't forget to tune into Rio Pod Co Tv for all your playoff coverage! Can't make it to the fields?  No worries we bring the game to you!

That is all for now... Good Luck and Happy Kicking!

Now it gets interesting

By Grizzly Michaels

A Kickball Pepo (who has emerged from the mountains for the playoffs)

Playoffs are fun.

It's that simple.

Every game is a win or go home (although the loser will probably be back the next week to watch).

With that kind of format anything is possible, mainly upsets.

Looking at King of Kickball, the top four teams have really separated themselves as the favorite.

But if you look at the regular season results you know that an upset is not out of the question.

Everyone remember the New Kicks on the Block's 1-0 upset over Kixx in Week 2? Guess what the first round match-up is?

Los Totally Awesome once held leads over Kickin' N' Screamin' and their first round opponent Smoking Aces before losing earlier this season.

It's already been documents how Scoregasms have given I'd Hit it a hard time, including a tie just last week.

And yes, Suck My Kick was held hitless by KNS, but then again KNS only scored two runs that inning.

At the same time, the top four are the championship contenders for a reason.

KNS is KNS. They have won it many times before and they know what it takes. Word is Rick wants a second shot at the Smoking Aces, who handed KNS their only loss of the season.

I'd Hit It is always so close to the title. Maybe this is the year Lucas gets to taste gold. The defense has been stout all season allowing only six runs, with five shutouts.

Smoking Aces was put together to win. They may finally be clicking and that could be dangerous for everyone else.

However, momentum is everything and the Kixx have it. On the last night of the season the Kixx played a triple header and came out 3-0. OK, its not as tough as it sounded because one came was the last few innings of a makeup game they were leading anyways and the other two teams were against Suck My Kick, so the fatigue level was almost even.

But still, look at the NFL playoffs. The Super Bowl champion is always the team that has the momentum. So as you look at the top four, you need to figure out for yourself who has the most going for them right now?

Bracket Breakdown

Written by: Rich Alvarez

Let's check in on the rest of the Fall 2013 bracket we haven't already touched on...

#1 Kickin' N' Screamin' v.s #8 Suck My Kick





Although we haven't heard from the Kickball Guru since early this season, many of his/her pre-season selections were fairly spot-on. The Guru had picked KNS to finish #1 with a 7-0-1 record and Suck My Kick to finish with a 1-7 record. Aside from KNS's one loss this season, the Guru was right on point. Especially with his analysis of both teams, if you haven't checked it out it's a must read. (just click on the link above) SMK was labeled to be in a rebuilding and chemistry building season. While KNS was poised to make another championship. And currently that is were both team's still find themselves. KNS should easily cruise by Suck My Kick and SMK must somehow use this season's lessons to prepare for 2014.

#3 Smoking Aces v.s #6 Los Totally Awesomes

Los Totally Awesomes were looking to be a dark horse pick early this season. Much of Kickball Nation was not expecting LTA to play as well as they did. They picked up more talent, better players, and found new competitive grit. They were taking teams to the wire and even picked up a huge upset win over the New Kicks on the Block. Unfortunately though, as quickly as they became hot, they are now officially stone cold. They have suffered three shut-out losses and have given up a staggering 21 runs in their last three games. What was turning into an intriguing story line, may have just been a flash in the pan. And things are just going to get tougher for LTA as they are running into a refreshed Smoking Aces team.

After fixing some internal team issues, the results are starting to show for a revived Smoking Aces team. They have rattled off three wins in a row with a big, satisfying win over #1 Kickin' N' Screamin. The Aces picked they absolute perfect time to gain their stride. Unfortunately for LTA they are running into a perfect storm of their squad becoming ice cold and the Aces becoming smoking hot.

 

 

#4 Kixxx v.s. #5 New Kicks on the Block

 

Defending champs Kixxx had a modest season. They finished with a 5-3 record, 23 Run Scored, and 12 Runs Allowed. Their offense is obviously in tune as they have the 2nd highest offense within the King of Kickball group. However something seems to be missing from this team this season, maybe it's that Kixxx swagger. During the off season they lost a couple of key players and although they were able to find adequate replacements, there is a void. They've easily handled the easier competition within their group; however when battling both I'd Hit It and Kickin' N' Screamin', they were shut out both times to a 0-3 loss on both occasions. Luckily they're last three games have been against a couple of cupcake teams that they easily took down. Hopefully they've built up some mojo and momentum as their opening round game is against a dangerous New Kicks on the Block.

 

Although New Kicks posted a losing  3-5 record this season, you can never count these guys out. A tough team who always seems to play Kixxx right down to the wire. Both these squads have met numerous times during the post-season and it's always a treat. Even though Kixxx arguably has the more talented, experienced team, New Kicks always gives them a tough time. While their stats are sub-par, they make up for it with tenacity. Don't miss this one as it's this week's Game of the Week.

 

Now heading down onto the Wreck side of things...

 

#4 Pitches Aint Shit v.s. #5 Royal Tennenballs

 

2nd season Pitches Ain't Shit had a statistically impressive season. They finished with a 6-2 record, 53 Runs Scored, and 23 Runs Allowed. Unfortunately the one thing missing from their impressive numbers are a notable win. They spent a majority of the season handily beating cupcake squads. Their two tests came at the hands of the Kickballaz and Just Kickin' It and they lost both match-ups

2-4 and 2-3, respectively. Although their big stats still do indicate a good amount of talent on that team, they still need some reps against bigger, better teams.

 

The Pitches' have drawn the Royal Tenneballs for their 1st round match-up. The Tenneballs have had an on-par season with a 4-4 record, 32 Runs Scored, and 24 Runs Allowed. Respectable numbers for a team who prides themselves on always keeping kickball fun. On paper this match-up should be an easy pick, but considering how well the Tennenballs played #1 Pitch Please during their regular season match-up, which was also Game of the Week, I don't think you can completely count the Tennenballs out. It's a matter of the Pitches talent v.s. the Tenneball experience.

 

 

#2 Just Kickin' It v.s. #7 Toe Jammers

 

Anchored by their previous King of Kickball top ten pitcher Johnny Fuentes, #2 Just Kickin' It has had a nice solid season. They finished the regular season with a 7-1 record, 27 Runs Scored, and 18 Runs allowed. They had one notable 3-2 win against #4 Pitches Aint Shit and a more notable

1-3 loss to Pitch Please. Thier 1st round match-up is a favorable one as they are facing a struggling #7 Toe Jammers squad.

 

After winning their division last season, I really hyped up the Toe Jammers as the pre-season favovirtes in the Wreck group. The expectations were for a dominating performance during the regular season. In the end the Jammers were able to somewhat salvage their season with an even 4-4 record, 34 Runs Scored, and 18 Runs Allowed. However their 4-4 record contains no notable wins with a couple of blow out wins against some rookie teams. Their regular season woes can be mainly attributed to their massive 18 player roster, which any coach will tell you is a ridiculous number of folks to manage. Obviously they still have the ability and potential to put together a winner, but they may need the off-season to scale back and trim some fat.

 

 

#3 Kickballaz v.s. #6 Pitches Love Me

 

For just about the entire season both the Kickballaz and Pitches Love Me have essentially been off the IJK radar. Other than a pre-season prediction for Pitches Love Me to have an excellent season and Kickballlaz to have the same. 

 

Pitches Love Me were expected to do a lot better than their 4-4 record and their negative 13 point differential was even more curious. They are the only playoff team with a negative differential at 30 Runs Scored and 43 Runs Allowed. Although the offense is decent for the division, the defense is the worst among the 8 playoff teams. Obviously that will hurt them in their early round playoff match-up as the Kickballaz put up some solid numbers and are a championship contender.

 

The Kickballaz are sporting a 6-2 record with 52 Runs Scored and 23 Runs Allowed. Their only glaring stumble was against the returning Hash House Harries, as the Harriers blanked the Kickballaz 8-0. However the Kickballaz were able to right the ship and are looking strong heading into the playoffs.

 

Although I'm not one for rumors, I've heard an interesting tidbit from folks within Kickball Nation. Apparently the Kickballaz choosing to jump down from the King of Kickball division to the Wreck division was a calculated move to win a championship title. Although this accusation is unsubstantiated, it does make for an interesting story line.

 

Well that's all for now...Good Luck teams and Happy Kicking!









I'd Hit It and Pitch Please Susceptible to Early Round Upsets

Written by: Rich Alvarez

The early round playoff pressure is ON, as it's one and you're done from here on out. While most experienced teams can handle the pressure, there are often intangible factors that can swing a team from a guaranteed win to an upset loss. The Kickball Gods are fickle and enjoy throwing road blocks in front of teams with a full head of momentum.

Within the Wreck Division, #1 Pitch Please has proven to be one of the best within that group. They not only ended the season with a 7-1 record, but they finished with the best offense, scoring a healthy 62 Runs Scored and are currently in a three way tie for best defense with only 18 Runs Allowed. By far one of the more talented teams, they have some players that could easily be heavy hitters within the King of Kickball division. Pitch Please decimated their weaker opponents and played tight, competitive games against their equal counterparts They cruised by their competition all except for one team...the Kickaholics, who turned their undefeated season into a one loss season.

The Kickaholics finished the season with a 3-5 losing record and just barely made the playoffs. Their offense numbers were respectable with 46 Runs Scored, but their defensive numbers were less than impressive with 47 Runs Allowed. Their saving grace has to be the talent on that squad. There is potential to turn that team into a winner, but it's going to take some work. However, they still hold the ability to be spoilers in the playoffs. During their regular season match-up with Pitch Please, they were able to manage a 9-8 win. Although it wasn't a dominating performance, they were able to outscore an offensive juggernaut in Pitch Please. Which is the Kickaholics only weapon, because their defense is almost non-existent. However roster and attendance issues are a constant on going problem.

In short, the Kickaholics will need their defense to minimize the damage that will come at the hands of Pitch Please. They have the ability to score runs and may get into a shoot out with Pitch Please, but their defense will be the deciding factor.

On the flip side, all Pitch Please has to do is continue to execute like they have all season long. They are the better team and just need to push through into the next round.

Another possible early round upset, could surprisingly happen to King of Kickball #2 I'd Hit It. That statement could be considered borderline blasphemous within some Kickball Nation circles considering they've had an impressive season. Although their offense is considered on-par with 24 Runs Scored on the season, the real story has to be their defense which was able to hold the entire division to 6 Runs Allowed. Along with solid shut-out wins against Kixxx, Smoking Aces, and New Kicks on the Block. However the one team that has been giving IHI trouble has been the Scoregasms.

The Scoregasms obviously wanted to have a better season than 1-6-1, but they may have a small, tiny glimmer of hope as they drew IHI for their 1st round playoff. Which sounds ludicrous to say, but IHI is one of the teams that they have competed against strongly, aside from beating #8 Suck My Kick.

I'd Hit It and the Scoregasms met each other twice during the regular season. Their first match-up ended in a 1-0 win for IHI and their second match-up was an interesting 2-2 tie between the squads. Although unlikely, if this trend continues, you may see the Scoregasms stun Kickball Nation an remove a potential King of Kickball champion in I'd Hit It. Will see if IHI looks past the Scoregasms. If they do, it may prove fatal.

Well that's all for now...Good Luck and Happy Kicking!

Wreck Sandbaggers?

As if waking up from a deep much-needed slumber, its hard to believe the kickball regular is already over. It seems like only yesterday when there was so much anticipated and excitement for Opening Day. Now the excitement shifts over to the post-season.

 

In past seasons, this would be about the time we would enter into a confusing 3 divisional inclusive playoff with weird,  convoluted seeding. However this season the seeding is much more straight forward as there are just two main divisions, the King of Kickball and the Wreck Division.

In addition, each group now sports their own 8 team playoff and championship title. However in all honesty, the King of Kickball title is obviously and undoubtedly the more coveted, celebrated title. While the new Wreck title serves as a good pat-on-the-back for the 9th best team in the league. Not to take away anything from the Wreckers, but it's supposed to be a "fun" league, no?

 

I would be remiss though if I didn't admit that there were some interesting story lines from the Happy Land known as the Wreck Division. Starting off with the fact that going into the last week of the regular season half the division had a losing record. The only teams that had a productive season were the four more experienced teams. Kickball Nation would argue these 4 teams are essentially "sand-baggers" with no business playing in the Wreck Division. However I would argue that playing Wreck is more a state-of-mind rather than a specific skill level. But it is evident that teams Just Kickin' It, Pitch Please, the Kickballaz, and Pitches Aint Shit are considerably better than the rest of their Wreck colouges.

 

Which may be a cause for some concern, because this kind of trend often leads to team participation problems. Experienced teams beating up on rookie teams on a weekly basis results in discouraged players. And discouraged teams and players are less likely to register for future seasons. The solution may be creating some sort of higher-tier level within the Wreck League? Or creating a lower-tier division within the King of Kickball. Either way, I'm sure the off-season will be filled with many debates and coaches meetings to determine a fair and prudent course of action to group teams in a way that will lead to teams becoming discouraged less quickly.

 

The new rules implemented for the new Wreck Division were initially supposed to "level" the playing field between experienced teams and rookie teams. Although the rules were a nice change, their desired effect was not achieved. The experienced teams still had a strangle hold on much of the division. However the amount of offense created by the division was impressive and a good indicator that, at the very least, the games are fun and entertaining. 

 

On a side note, this will be the first season that SCK's original rule of the "Gentleman's Pitch" will be used in post-season play, but only within the Wreck group. Which means their is still hope for even the most inexperienced team to have a shot at a championship title.

 

Well that's all for now, until next time

Good Luck and Happy Kicking!

Whoa, living on a prayer: King of Kickball

By Grizzly Michaels
A Kickball Pepo

Alright, time to look at the King of Kickball at the halfway point.

Unlike Wreck Division, the teams in King of Kickball were pretty well known coming into the season, so there would be no point to tell you about them.

Instead, lets look at the schedules and briefly talk about how they got here.

Imagine starting the season against the defending champion Kixx, then going to powerhouse Kickin' N Screamin' and then last season's runner up I'd Hit It. The game of kickball may come closer to feeling like a game of Monopoly with your Gam-gam. Well, that is exactly how Scoregasms started the season off. Throw in a game against New Kicks On the Block and the Scoregasms may forget what a win is like. Does it get easier? They have the Smoking Aces next. But then they get Los Totally Awesome (Don't forget your ID's) and Suck My Kick. And then they finish with KNS.

Both LTA and Suck My Kick are 1-3, however Suck My Kick has the head-to-head advantage. Things are just as tough for LTA with Kixx, Aces and I'd Hit It still on tap, with the team in forest green up first. However, a 5-0 lead on KNS (before it was erased) was noticed and if the Unicorns can keep it going they may shake things up. They would be considered the favorites against the Scoregasms and a potential spoiler in the playoffs.

Suck My Kick has a little more favorable schedule. Once they get past the Kixx this week, they have the NKOTB twice, with Scoregasms in between. LTA got their lone victory over NKOTB, so Suck My Kick is capable as well. However, attendance has seemed to be an issue for Suck My Kick, maybe they should pay their players in beer or tartar sauce.

Next up is Kixx, which is 1-2 (with one game still pending, but they have a 4-0 lead) but lost a head-to-head to NKOTB. The defending champions are not in the position others may have envisioned. But consider that they have reached the championship game for the past four season. No matter where Kixx finish you don't want to face them in the playoffs as that is when they are peaking.  Aside from games against LTA and Suck My Kick, the Kixx will have a showdown with KNS next week and rematch of last weeks game against I'd Hit It. Expect some stopwatches to be used in that one.

The New Kicks On The Block have had a roller coster of a season. They dropped a close one to the Aces, took down Kixx, got upset by LTA and then defeated the Scoregasms while their captain missed the first two innings for a angry punt. They have two games with Suck My Kick and one against KNS and I'd Hit It each. NKOTB is an interesting team to watch the rest of the way. The way they finish could go a long way in the playoffs if they get a good seed.

I'd Hit it is standing at 3-1. After a tough loss to KNS to start the season, I'd Hit It has won three in a row and even took out the Kixx, 3-0, in a championship rematch. Those two will play again in the final week, but until then Lucas and his crew have LTA, Suck My Kick and the Aces. Lucas looks like he is trusting his teammates more than ever. It's safe to say that even with their one loss, I'd Hit It is still a championship contender.

Smoking Aces are 3-0 (while still trailing Kixx 4-0 in an on-going game). Two of their victories have been by one run. They will need to draw on that experience the rest of the way as they still have I'd Hit It, KNS and the end of their game with the Kixx to go. However, they also have the Scoregasms and a rematch with LTA, which they needed a walkoff to beat last time. The Aces have come together nicely this season, but we still got plenty more kickball to go.

And up at 4-0 is Kickin' N Screamin'. They were tested early against I'd Hit It and then had to dig deep to avoid an upset by LTA last week. Now they will put their perfect record up against NKOT, the Kixx and the Aces. They will get a break against the Scoregasms right before the playoffs. However, did LTA discover a weakness? Will other teams be able to jump ahead of KNS? We got four more weeks to find out.

Like Bon Jovi, we are halfway there and hopefully "we will make it I swear," unliker Homer.

Tennenballs Choke, Unicorns Will Upset

Written by: Rich Alvarez

The SCK 2013 Fall Season seems to be going by in a blur as we are about to enter Week 5. The new rules of the Wreck Division and the close competitiveness of the King of Kickball Division have resulted in some very interesting games. By far one of the most exciting season thus far. Can't wait to see how it all ends up.

There were many questions about if the new Wreck rules would create a favorable kickball experience for those less-competitive kickballers. So far the so good, is what most Wreckers are reporting. Kickball Nation had a chance to check out the new Wreck action as the Royal Tennenballs v.s Pitch, Please was Rio Pod Co's Game of the Week.

The Royal Tennenballs are the definition of a "fun" team. Basically a group of friends who have come together to play some good ol' fashion fun kickball. While their opponents Pitch, Please are a mid-tier competitive team hiding out in the Wreck division. Although the Tennenballs carry some skilled veteran kickballers, namely their pitch Luis "Coach Ando" Gomez and their utility man Aaron "the Demon" Bracamontes, they are mostly made up of normal regular everyday kickballers. While Pitch, Please has an athletic, talented roster even compared to King of Kickball standards.

Although the game was peppered with some heads-up plays, for the most part, the match-up itself was essentially a snooze fest. I know those witness to their first Wreck game were expecting more offensive plays with the new female pitching rule. However late into the game, both teams finally treated the crowd to a handful of fireworks. Starting off with a solo home-run by Tennenballs 1st baseman Daniel "Stubs" Ortega in the top of the 4th. A confused Pitch, Please outfield let the long high ball blasted by Ortega get by them resulting in the Tennenballs only run. However that wouldn't be the grand finale as Pitch Please was able to rally in the bottom of the 5th inning and win in walk off fashion to the tune of 2-1. Although the Royal Tennenballs played a tough, tight game they eventually broke to the talent of Pitch, Please. Which is resulting in Kickball Nation asking, should there by a mid-tier division for those on that borderline between competitive and Wreck?

To see the Game of the Week with live play-by-play Click Here

On the King of Kickball side of things, what got into Los Totally Awesomes?!?! Even though they are currently sporting a losing record at 1-3, they seem to be on the verge of breaking out. Never truly considered a marque competitive team, things might be changing for the Mighty Unicorns. Just this past week, they showed their offensive improvements by ringing up 5 runs on power house Kickin' N' Screamin'. Even though they ended up losing 9-5, putting up 5 runs on KNS shows promise. No other team this season has put up more than 2 runs on KNS this season. They've also had some close games against some tough opponents. They just missed taking down Smoking Aces to a final of 3-4 and they got the better of New Kicks on the Block by a close score of 3-2.

This week Los Totally Awesomes have I'd Hit It and with LTA poised to break out at any minute, IHI better be on their toes. Hell they better be more than on their toes. I think LTA walks away with this one in a shoot-out.

That's all for now...until next time, Good Luck and Happy Kicking!

SCK - GameDay Report - Any Given Wednesday

Written by: Rich Alvarez

SCK Week #3 proved to be a treat for Kickball Nation, as there were many interesting developments that few anticipated. From injuries to upsets and from under-achievers becoming over-achievers, it quickly came to prove the new kickball adage, "Any Given Wednesday!".

The 1st note worthy tidbit has to be the re-scheduling of the Smoking Aces v.s Kixxx bout. An unfortunate accident which resulted in a serious player injury put the highly anticipated game on pause and forced the game to be reschedule for a later date. The game is currently frozen in the top of the 3rd inning with Kixxx wining 4-0. Thus far Kixxx is proving to be the better squad. However they are incredibly inconsistent and are far from a reliable, consistent winner.

No Blood, No Glory

On the Aces front, without their Coach Reid "The Viking" Hanson for this match-up, the Aces were left to make personnel decisions on their own. An interesting aspect of the Aces' defense has to be their bullpen, as they carry two veteran hurlers. Choosing whether to use Damian Lamas, the level headed and seasoned veteran or Mike Armendariz, the high risk- high reward player, is proving to be an important defensive component. In this match-up they decided to open with Mike Armendariz as their pitcher and quickly fell behind. Defensive team mistakes resulted in a frustrated pitcher and was heading towards a potential disaster. The game postponement was actually a plus for the Aces. Luckily for them, starting this week, they enter a 2 game stretch of King of Kickball bottom dwellers, Suck My Kick and the Scoregasms, which should supply a good opportunity to release some frustration and beat up on some inferior teams.

Another news worthy item came at the hands of the Mighty Unicorns. Los Totally Awesomes shocked Kickball Nation as they upset the New Kicks on the Block in walk-off fashion. A heart breaking loss for New Kicks which resulted in Coach David "Domino" Fernandez momentarily losing his composure. His post-game actions came at a cost with Domino being issued a short 2 inning suspension. Which means NKOTB will be without their star player this coming week against the Scoregasms.

But the bigger story has to be in the new competitive play of Los Totally Awesomes. Usually a roll-over team, they are quickly proving they can contend with the big boys. Even with a 1-2 record, they have been surprising their opponents as they are often over looked. The return of their anchor and pitcher, Daniel "Chucky Bear" Acuna has brought back life into this LTA squad.

In other corners of King of Kickball Land, I'd Hit It raised a few eyebrows as they squeaked by the Scoregasms 1-0. Although IHI isn't known for their offense, I expected to see a greater margin of victory from this championship contender.

Panning over to the Happy Land of the Wreck Division, the much-improved Kickballaz defied all logic as they were pummeled by the happy go lucky miscreants the Hash House Harriers. HHH came up with an astounding 8-0 win against the Kickballaz, who are currently the offensive leaders within the Wreck Division. Not sure what went wrong here. Looks like the Lucas Quimiro training sessions are paying off for the Harriers.

The two biggest match-ups within the Wreck Division had to be the Toe Jammers v.s Pitches Ain't Shit and Just Kickin' It v.s. Pitch, Please.

Starting off with the Toe Jammers v.s Pitches Aint Shit, although it was a gallant effort, the Jammers fell to Pitches Aint Shit 5-4. This was the Pitches first kickball test and they passed, barely. They seem to be flying under the Kickball Nation Radar, even though they are sporting one of the best defenses within the Wreck League. While on the flip side, the Toe Jammers are one step away from wearing the scarlet letter of the worst offense within the division. They'll have a huge chance to rebound against true rookie team Cool Arrows. The Cool Arrows have given up a whopping 32 runs so far this season. Watch for Pitches Aint Shit to continue their winning ways and expect  the Toe Jammers to make a rebound as they are entering the easiest part of their schedule.

Pitch, Please v.s. Just Kickin' It had the attention of all the Wreak Leaguers. Both teams are strong within the Wreck League, but Pitch Please is obviously the more seasoned team. Armed with King of Kickball knowledge and talent, they are a formidable force for most Wreck League teams, even against a tough Just Kickin' It. Pitch Please put away JKI to a final score of 3-1. A respectable match-up and respectable score for both teams involved, considering though that JKI was at the top of the Wreck League food chain, well that was until the likes of Pitch Please and Pitches Aint Shit moving into the neighborhood.

Looks like Pitch Please and Pitches Aint Shit are the teams to beat.

Well that's all for now...until next time

Good Luck and Happy Kicking !

KNS' Rick rolled perfect game

By Grizzly Michaels
A Kickball Pepo

Mark it down in Sun City Kickball history folks, Rick of Kickin' N' Screamin' threw a perfect game on Wednesday.

The leader of KNS kept his emotions in check and never even hinted that he knew he was approaching a perfect game until he faced 15 kickers and sent them all back to the dugout night in a 2-0 victory over Suck My Kick at Alta Vista Field.

The fates had its chances to screw Rick up in the top of the fifth. First a tweaked knee ended KNS' Marcos night. Playing short a man, Rick actually optioned himself to catch, bringing in Manny from the outfield to pitch.

Luckily, Rick wasn't the only one keeping track of the stats.

"He told me go ahead and finish it man," Rick said. "I didn't want to jinx it, so I didn't say anything."

The final out of the night was a soft bunt down the third base line that Sosa had to put some English on to get the base runner out by just a step.

Rick finished the night with one strikeout and three foul outs.

He also contributed on offense, lining a single in the third to score Manny and make it 2-0. Nadia scored earlier in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Sosa.

Other than the two-run rally in the third, Suck My Kick pitcher Rich kept KNS in check.

Following the game, there was no Nolan Ryan moment and Rick didn't jump into his catchers arms.

KNS just left the field and Rick quietly (if you can believe it) took his congratulations outside the dugout.

In other action, Kixx was ahead of the Smoking Aces, 4-0, until the game had to be called for an injury. The Aces lost Cesar to a broken ankle. Word is the rest of the game will be made up at a time to be annoucned.

Los Totally Awesome got a totally awkward 3-2 walk off victory over the New Kicks on the Block. A pop-fly from Eddie should have been caught for the final out, but fell in the infield and allowed two runners to score to end the game. Eddie is a new acquisition from I'd Hit It (I heard Chuck trade Lucas a few beers for Eddie and a high-five to be named later).

Speaking of I'd Hit It, they won 1-0 over the feisty Scoregasms.

In case that was too hard to keep up with here are the scores:

KNS 2, Suck My Kick 0

Kixx 4, Smoking Aces 0 (game incomplete)

LTA 3, NKOTB 2

I'd Hit It 1, Scoregasms 0

Week 2 recap, better late than never

By Grizzly Michaels
A Kickball Pepo

The Smoking Aces completed a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Los Totally Awesome with a walk-off single on Wednesday.

Smoking Aces' Reid watches the ball go foul

A hit to right field by Jessica allowed Mike to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth, giving the Aces the 4-3 victory at Alta Vista Park, in the game of the week.

And yes, I know this recap is late, but what is the worse that could happen?

LTA got an early 3-0 lead over the Aces in the top of the first with five solid kicks into open spaces. But after the first, the Aces were able to hold the Unicorns scoreless and they launched their own attack.

Javier and Mike scored in the second to cut LTA's lead to one, 3-2. Then in the fourth, Calvin came across to tie it up, 3-3.

LTA struggled to get hits as the bottom of their 16-kicker line-up slowed the momentum.

In the fourth, LTA had runners in scoring position, but a strike-out and foul-out allowed the Aces to hold the tie.

Close play at second

In the bottom of the fifth, Mike got a one-out single to get the rally going. A double by Cesar set up Jessica for the game winner.

The Aces improved to 2-0 while LTA is stuck at 0-2.

Earlier in the night, I'd Hit It walked away with a 4-2 victory over Suck My Kick, evening both records up at 1-1.

At Memorial, the New Kicks on the Block showed their defensive prowess and squeaked by the defending champion Kixx, 1-0.

Then Kickin N Screamin remained undefeated after a strong 8-2 victory over the winless Scoregasms. Interesting to note, Marco returned to catcher for KNS as Rick took the mound.

Photos are a little blurry. Working on fixing that.

Here is the easy breakdown:

Smoking Aces 4, LTA 3
I'd Hit It  4, Suck My Kick 2
NKOTB 1, Kixx 0
KNS 8, Scoregasms 2

Click here to watch the full LTA v Smoking Aces game - 

Just Kicking It Surprises the Toe Jammers

Written by: Mark Couto

Just Kickin It vs. Toe jammers

Game one at Memorial Field provided an interesting matchup between Lone Star League champs Toe Jammers against Just Kicking It (JKI).  Fresh off a dramatic come from behind victory JKI kept that momentum going with an impressive 3-0 victory.

JKI quickly put up all three runs in the first inning with well placed kicks and alert base running.  Not to rain on the JKI parade but the Toe Jammers didn’t help their cause as mental and fielding errors, in particular, the Toe Jammers catcher quickly unraveled their composure.  The first inning miscues were a dropped pop out to center field, a missed peg out vs. the easy throw to first, and an ill advised throw to throw that allowed a run.

The Toe Jammers were unable to mount a scoring threat against JKI. As JKI limited the Toe Jammers to only 3 hits through 5 innings with solid pitching and fundamentally sound defense.  The victory placed JKI a top the Wreck League standings as they turn their sights to a week 3 matchup against Pitch, Please.

SCK Week # 2 - Game Day Breakdown

New Kicks kicker blasts one!

Written by: Rich Alvarez

Now with all the Opening Day formalities behinds us, Sun City Kickballers can now get down to the nitty gritty of the regular season. There were some substantial game-play statements made on Opening Day, but will those statements carry over and continue through the regular season or can some of them be chalked up as flukes. We now begin the journey as we enter Week #2.

After an Opening Day disappointment, Pitches Love Me has a chance to rebound against rookie team the Alcoballics. Even within the Wreck Division and it's new "fun" rules, experience is a major player. Expect Pitches Love Me to use their experience to start heading on a winning streak, while the Alcoballics continue with their growing pains. 

The Royal Tenenballs are known for their fun loving ways, but now they are being recognized for their winning ways. This week they'll have kickball squad This...Pitch!, who is still a bit of mystery even in their second season of kickball. The Royal Tenenballs have some athletic players that seem to be making the difference, that being said, the Tenenballs will walk away winners in this match-up.

Veteran squad Pitch, Please is looking at another favorable match-up this week as they take on the returning Hash House Harriers. Last week they had Wreck newbies Cool Arrows and easily defeated them 11-0. Look for more of the same as the Hash House Harriers still need some time to get back into the swing of things. 

The Kickballaz had an impressive Opening Day match-up even by Wreck standards. They tuned up the Alcoballics 13-0, which was the most runs scored last week. This week they will have another lucky draw as they face another rookie team Cool Arrows. The Kickballaz will put up another heap of runs at the expense of Cool Arrow's inexperience. 

Rounding up the Wreck League, the Toe Jammers will be battling against Just Kickin It which should be a great game to watch. The Toe Jammers are coming a Lone Star Divisional Championship and are expected to do good things. However they are off to a slow start with their small 1-0 victory against This...Pitch last week. Now they will be locking horns with Just Kickin It who, just last week, had to battle back against a 1-4 deficit while playing a solid Kickaholics squad. They were able to come back with a 5th inning rally to win  5-4. With lofty expectations, the Toe Jammers may find themselves in an early season battle against a tough Just Kickin' It team. Don't miss this one.

In the King of Kickball Division, 3 of the 4 match-ups should be easy enough to decide. Kickin' N' Screamin' will be taking on the Scoregasms, who after falling to Kixxx 8-0 last week, are in no shape to wrestle with a powerhouse. Eyes will be on this game just to see if KNS can top the 8 runs Kixxx put up last week.

After an impressive display last week against KNS, although it was a loss, I'd Hit It will have a breather this week as they test the metal of mid-tier team Suck My Kick. This will be the 1st of 2 "easy" games for IHI, as they prepare for a marque match-up against Kixxx during Week 4. IHI will use the next couple of weeks to work on getting better and staying sharp. On the other side of the coin, SMK will be testing the competitive waters to see where they truly stand within the division and prepare for a 5 game onslaught of heavy hitters.

Although it will be the Game of the Week, the Smoking Aces should easily handle the mighty unicorns of Los Totally Awesomes. The Smokin Aces will be looking to work of their offensive prowess and see if they can string together more than one run. Los Totally Awesomes will have to really be on their toes if they hope to keep up with an extremely talented Smoking Aces team. Check out all the Live Kickball Action on Rio Pod Co TV at 9pm.

Last but not least, defending champions Kixxx will be taking on the scrappy squad of the New Kicks on the Block. NKOTB had a good showing against the Smoking Aces last week, a couple of miscues made all the difference. They tend to play Kixxx well and is always a treat to watch. Kixxx finished Opening Day with a 8-0 stomping of the Scoregasms. Hopefully they won't be flying too high going into their match-up with NKOTB. Very interesting match-up here.

That is all for now, Good Luck and Happy Kicking!

   

LSK Week 4 - Clobberin' Thunder!

Lights go out during Lone Star Kickball Week #4

Written by: Rich Alvarez

With streaks of lightning in the sky and rumbles of thunder in the distance, many a kickballer was worried how Mother Nature was going to toy with their night of kickball fun. Unfortunately Mother Nature was in a fickle mood and decided to end the night early. A nearby lightning strike would officially end the nights' games a bit early.

Which was lucky for the Billy Bad Asses, considering the Smoking Aces were giving them all they could handle plus more during their 8pm match-up. The Smoking Aces are slowly turning their previously questionable offense into a small resemblance of a consistent offense. Although the game was still in the very early stages, the Aces looked comfortable, confident, and in control. While the Bad Asses looked a tad bit frustrated, but did not look completely defeated. The Bad Asses do have a potentially explosive offense, they just didn't seem to be in sync this evening. Fortunately they'll get a re-boot and a second chance at the Aces, as this match-up will get rescheduled at a later date and time.

The only teams that didn't get bogged down by the weather were the Animals and Where's My Pitches At?. The Animals were coming off a 3-5 loss against powerhouse Screamin' Kixxx during Week 3, while WMPA was coming off a small 3-1 victory against talented rookies 915 Changos. By all accounts the up-and-coming Animals should have handily or at least convincingly beat the Pitches, but WMPA had something different in mind. The Pitches were able to take advantage of the Animal's miscues and more importantly, they made some plays and keep grinding to take the lead mid-game. However the Animal's testicular fortitude was strong enough to battle back and at least allow them to walk away with a sister-kissing tie. So much for clobberin' time...

The Animals were looking to be the team to compete against Screamin' Kixxx for the Lone Star Kickball inaugural season championship, but are we starting to see the early signs of weak play. Not to mention, the unfortunate exit of their starting pitcher Daniel "Chucky Bear" Acuna and key player Omar Anguiano. Both players will be missing they rest of the season. The Animals will need to tighten up their play if they plan to keep the Smoking Aces and WMPA from taking their championship hopes.

Short report this week on account of the weather, so until next time...

Good Luck and Happy Kicking!

KNS rides gutsy D to victory

By Grizzly Michaels
A Kickball Pepo
Not one, but two bases-loaded defensive stands gave Kicking and Screaming a season opening victory over I'd Hit It Wednesday night.

KNS held I'd Hit It scoreless in the fourth and fifth inning despite having runners in scoring positions both times, which allowed Rick Delgadillo's go-ahead run in the third stand as the game in the 2-1 contest at Alta Vista Park.

KNS' Rick Delgadillo tags out I'd Hit It's Arturo Blanco well before home
plate in the bottom of the fourth. KNS won the season opener 2-1.

The showdown between two of Sun City Kickballs best did not produce many runs, but the defensive plays made up for it.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth, Arturo Blanco was on third and threatening to tie the game up when Delgadillo called for the intentional walk to load the bases.

Then in a surprise move, Blanco was sent home on a pop-up that was caught in between first and second base. A throw by Marco Gallegos allowed Delgadillo to easily tag Blanco out for the third and final out, with Streeter on deck.

The fifth inning saw a similar situation, but with a little less drama. With two outs and this time Streeter on third, Delgadillo called for the double intentional walk to load the bases. But a weak ground ball allowed KNS to go home for the force out and the victory in the It's Just Kickball game of the week.

KNS got on the scoreboard right off the bat as lead-off man Heribeto Sosa came across in the top of the first.

A controversial call allowed I'd Hit It to tie the game up in the bottom of the first, when coach and captain Lucas Quimiro scored on what appeared to be a sideways slide at home to try to avoid Delgadillo's attempt to peg him out. The umpire called safe and the game was tied, 1-1.

A solid kick in the third by Luis allowed Delgadillo to come across for what proved to be the game-winning run.

KNS' new pitcher Manny was able to get a few foul-outs and even a late game strike out to keep his team on top.

At Memorial, the defending champion Kixx started off where they had left off with a commanding 8-1 victory over the Scoregasms. Led by Jose "Pipi"Delgado, the Kixx scored more runs on Wednesday than the entire King of Kickball Division combined.

Earlier in the day, Suck My Kick took a 2-0 victory over a restocked Los Totally Awesome. The Unicorns appeared to have tied the contest late in the game, but the hit was called back as a foul ball and eventually LTA fell.

Rich Alvarez made his pitching debut for Suck My Kick and his pacing on the mound proved to be beneficial to his new team.

In their SCK debut, the Smoking Aces etched out a 1-0 victory over the New Kick On The Block. It was a defensive battle, but in the end the Aces had enough to bring one across the plate and start the season with a W.

Here is a quick break down of the King of Kickball scores:
KNS 2, I'd Hit It 1
Kixx 8, Scoregasms 1
Suck My Kick 2, LTA 0
Smoking Aces 1, NKOTB 0