Week #5 - Games of the Week

*Written By: David Garcia - The Kickball Guru*

Week 5- Games of the week


For the first couple of seasons, SCK would only treat the dedicated kickballers to very limited exciting games throughout the season. This was due to many factors, whether it being, that there wasn't that much competition, and when there was all the top teams were separated into different divisions. So back then the top teams would go undefeated until playoffs, or if we were lucky, we would get treated to one or two good games throughout the season. Well that all changed 3 seasons ago, when the divisions were separated by strength and experience. Since then, we get to see multiple clash of the titans week in and week out. With that being said, its really hard to choose just one game of the week, so i have to turn it to multiple games of the week. This week should be interesting, so if you have time try to catch one or two when you are not playing.

Game of the week #1

Who: Thundercatz vs I'd hit it

Where: Modesto 2

Time: 8 pm

Very important match up here for the Mountain Star division. A win can shoot the winner into second place with a NKOTB loss. This is a battle of two of the very best pitchers, Lucas and Damian. Although, the thundercatz aren't the dominant team we expected them to be (after dropping one to the scoregasms) they still are a dangerous team. They have a ton of experience in town and out of town, and they have a really good pitcher in Damian. After all he is the last pitcher to hand KNS a loss which was also a shut out so that says a lot. However, this team struggles on offense and can't seem to put up points, which will be even more difficult when going up against another team with tons of experience like I'd hit it. With that being said, I'd hit it struggles in the same category as thundercatz, which is offense. Its pretty much an identical match up in my eyes, and can go either way.

Spread: I'd hit it -.5

Prediction: Thundercatz 2-1

Game of the week # 2

Who: Drinkers with a kicking problem vs Drunken Monkeyz

Where: Modesto 1

Time: 9 pm


Old school vs New school. Drunken Monkeyz are coming off a disappointing week 4 loss to Kixxx. Which in my eyes was expected, as the monkeyz hadn't faced a real test or had gone through adversity, then to shoot straight to kixxx was an eye opener. Now that leaves two roads for them: Either this has woke them up, or it can be a sign of many bad things to come. They will be taking on last season's rookie team of the year, Drinkers with a kicking problem. What surprises me about this team, they have been playing with 8 all season, and have yet to lose. Last week they earned their first big win of all time against a solid squad in 4-play. Both teams were short players, and the drinkers came out a better team locking in a 3-2 win. But can the drinkers hold a better offense monkeys to just two points with just 8 players? Or will they finally show up with 11 so we can see them at their fullest potential? If you have time tune in.


Spread: Monkeyz -1.5

Prediction: Monkeyz 4-3

Game of the week # 3

Who: Shockers vs 4-play

Where: Memo

Time: 9 pm


Even though records don't show this to be a potential game of the week, how can one ever forget the longest rivalry in SCK history. With the shockers having the better all time record between the two, the tide may be turning. Remember when the shockers used to dominate the SCK world? Man that was ages ago. What happened? I was a fan, but now, it seems like they just don't want it anymore. Or maybe the absence of the great 1-2 punch in Domino and Dora is what they've been missing this whole time. I think thats what they need, risk takers and aggressive base runners. They have that in calvin. Calvin's only problem is actually getting on base. The one thing that does help the shockers is their stingy defense, and that's what they will need, to get by their opponents. Now can 4 play score runs? That's the real question. They didn't score on a 3rd year team suck my kick, and they only put up 2 points on 8 players on drinkers with a kicking problem. I know they put up 17 on the hashers, but the hashers have possibly the worst defense in the sunrise division, so that doesn't say much. Can they put up runs on the shockers to close the margin on the win loss record with them.


Spread: 4-play -.5

Prediction: 1-1 tie

Game of the week #4

Who: KNS vs NKTOB

Where: Modesto 2

Time: 9 pm


Only match up of unbeatens of the week, so possibly the most intriguing. With new kicks' defense and KNS' offense, this is always fun to watch. New kicks has made adjustments over the past couple of seasons, which has helped limit their opponents from scoring. Their new pitcher throws teams off, as he is a lefty. Can he limit KNS' runs though, as they have already put up 41 points in 3 games. Is KNS still the best? Many will say yes, especially as they have added what many would say is the best girl in Nadia. It will take everything NKOTB has to put away KNS this week, but anything is possible.


Spread: KNS -3.5

Prediction: KNS 6-1



Then There Were Five

A True Kickballer's Legs

Week #4 started with 8 undefeated teams, but after the books closed on Wednesday night, there are only 5 undefeated teams left within the league. The league seems to balancing itself out as teams are becoming more competitively similar, all except for Kickin' N' Screamin' of course. They are still cornering the market on the best team in the league.

Something to note is that 4 of the 5 remaining undefeated teams have an asterisk next to their undefeated marks. KNS is holding an unblemished mark of 3-0-0, while the New Kicks on the Block, Lights Out!, and Drinkers with a Kicking Problem are each carrying one nagging little tie. The 5th undefeated team, Sons of Pitches, happens to reside within the Lone Star Division and considering competition is sparce within that group it is worth an honorable mention; however it is not necessarily on the Kickball Nation radar.

Due to time limitations there are not set tie-breakers for regular season games. Many suggestions have been made, but the league continues to operate by simply recording a tie game as a tie. Which leaves a vague impression of the 3 undefeated but blemished teams.

When push comes to shove Lights Out! should strongly be considered to have the edge. They are sporting one more win than their counterparts and they have both the Shockers and Kixxx on their hit list. Although they did tie with the Drinkers, so then again it is hard to say. The competition is close.

The New Kicks on the Block inched by a mediocre Pitch, Please by a final score of 3-2. Although it is still early in the season, I would be nice to see some more life out of New Kicks.

Some other note worthy items from Week #4:

The Shockers finally scrounged up a win. Although it was against a 0-3 team that has a Power Rating of -32 and has yet to score a run. If anything the honorable mention should be for Balls Deep who is a true rookie team and is quickly learning what competitive kickball is all about, but they were still able to hold the Shockers to 4 runs. I remember a time when the Mercy Rule use to be called "Getting Shocked". Times are changing.

Down at Modesto 1, Kixxx quickly rose back to re-take the #2 spot within the league after a disappointing loss last week. Most predicated Kixxx would either be still recovering from their upset loss or be starving and looking to squash any doubts about their kickball skills. The Drunken Monkeyz quickly found out they were facing a determined team. Kixxx made short work of the Monkeyz, who were playing more like a backwards Harlem Globetrotters than a re-emerging kickball powerhouse. They couldn't see to get out of each others way. With a final score of 6-0, Kixxx silenced their critics while the Monkeyz just took on some.

A majority of the intense kickball action was on display down at Memo V. The Scoregasms were looking to build off of their upset of the Thundercats last week. They were tasked to beat I'd Hit It, which was a fairly even match-up. However I'd Hit It had other plans as they proved they were the better squad with a 2-0 final. Both teams played well, but the Scoregasms still need to piece some things together to really secure themselves as an upper echelon team. Both teams will be playoff residences this season, to doubt there.

Lastly, the Drinkers with a Kicking Problem continue to build buzz as they squeezed past an experienced
4-Play squad. Even after coming off a bye-week, the Drinkers were able to keep up with and eventually outlast 4- Play with a 3-2 final. Although 4-Play hasn't been talked about on the blog much to-date, they are mainly comprised of former players from "Original Six" member Balls & Dolls. They have added new pieces to complete their new team, but Kickball Nation should expect big things from this team.  

Well that is all for now,

Good Luck and Happy Kicking.

The End?

It's Just Kickball starts every season with more-or-less the same disclaimer:

... before the season starts, fair warning, IJK is for the dedicated kickballer (as ridiculous as that sounds). Like with anything else in this world, some folks happen to nerd-out on different things. Kickball Nation happens to nerd-out on kickball. Kickball Nation lives here. So if your feelings are easily hurt, read no further, however; if you are truly competitive at heart and a kickball nerd to boot... read on

However every season, without fail, someone eventually starts taking these postings personal. Which is truly why the blog is named It's Just Kickball. It is meant to be ironic, because it never is "just" kickball, is it? It means more, or less, to different kickballers. For some kickballers any posting or mention of their team, be it constructive criticism or a strongly worded critique, is somehow deemed a personal attack. Which nothing could be further from the truth. IJK's intent has always been to try and give an objective perspective on all teams within the leagues. There have been many teams who have assumed the role of the Kickball Nation Pinata at one time or another. Just ask the Shockers, they have been a long time scape goat of the blog. However, not one single player on that team ever took one single word of it personal. Because they know and understand what the blog is and what its suppose to represent. It really does break my heart when anyone takes this too seriously. I mean really consider what we are doing here. We are reading, writing, and/or commenting on adult kickball. I really dont think any of us can take each other too serious. However for those who do, please remember that none of this is mandatory reading. Kickballers come here by choice. If you struggle between reality and fantasy sadly this isn't for you.

Also I'm again inviting any player or fan to submit guest postings to IJK. Its greatly needed. The Angry Umpire was an absolute fan favorite of Kickball Nation. However his humorous antics often included personal attacks. That's not to say he didn't have a great take on SCK, he did. However his over-the-top antics were just a little too much for IJK. So the call is going out to all of Kickball Nation. Who will answer the call?

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

 

Week #2 - Recap

Even this early in the season, the true kickball contenders are starting to become apparent. Aside from the normal veteran powerhouses, there are a couple of young teams that are quickly making a name for themselves. Namely, Suck My Kick and Drinkers with a Kicking Problem. Although neither team was able to earn a win this past week, both teams did make a statement with their effort on the field.

Suck My Kick had to tangle with the always dangerous Kixxx kickball squad. I think most of Kickball Nation anticipated that Kixxx would walk away with the win; however it was far from a dominating performance. Suck My Kick looked like the better team, but their inexperience cost them the game. Even though they were able to get ahead early, if you let an experienced, talented like Kixxx hang around and stay in the game, they WILL rally. And that is exactly what happened. Suck My Kick played well, but they made just enough mistakes for Kixxx to capitalize and take control. Kixxx, again, is very experienced and incredibly talented. They have been playing this game for many seasons and it shows. They were able to work themselves off the ropes and come back to earn a 5-2 victory. However, Suck My Kick seems to be getting better and better with each passing game. Look for them to contend and expect to see them in the playoffs.

The Drinkers with a Kicking Problem continue to impress all of Kickball Nation. Although they ended in a tie with Lights Out (Formerly the Longstrokes), their natural talent and ability is obvious. This game should have been chalked up as a win for the Drinkers, but their hesitant base running and miscues cost them a handful of runs. The scoreboard should have read differently. Either way, the Drinkers had to stomach a tie. They are on a bye-week this upcoming up week. Hopefully they dedicate that time to work on their base running.

A couple of notable items: The New Kicks on the Block, Foreplay, the Drunken Monkeyz, and Kickin' N' Screamin' all earned shut outs this week. They all held their opponents to zero runs.

There were also a couple of blood bath alerts this past week as Foreplay, the Thundercats, and Los Totally Awesomes all scored in the double digits.
Foreplay won - 17 - 0
LTA won - 17 - 6
Thundercats won 13 - 2

Last but not least, a battle of two veteran squads played out at Memo V. 4- Time Champs, Kickin' N' Screamin came of an opening day bye week to compete with a strong I'd Hit It squad. The boxscore had KNS out of the gate quick with 3 runs and then fell silent until they 3rd inning where they made a small 1- run yelp. I'd Hit It fell asleep on the offensive side of the ball and fell victim to a shut out. Their only saving grace was they didn't get slaughtered. They kept it close, but don't know if that's something you want to hang your hat on. KNS is still looking deadly and that won't be changing any time soon.

That's all for now...

Good Luck and Happy Kicking

Hope is a Dangerous Thing

No Pre-Season Polls?  No Pre-Season Predictions? Bah Humbug!

But it's all too late for that now, for Sun City Kickball's Fall 2012 Season is off and running.

Every SCK season starts with a large amount of relief and a small bit of hope. The off-season seems to last forever, but once opening day rolls around, the wait and the impatience all seems to disappear. Catching up with old friends, as well as old rivals, is what kickball is all about. There is a good amount of camaraderie among kickball folks. There truly is. However, all those happy butterfly feelings seem to quickly give way, as the reality of competition starts to flood back.

That's where IJK comes in. It's Just Kickball, right? Right?!? Well unfortunately or fortunately, what ever side you fall on, it never is "just" kickball. So before the season starts, fair warning, IJK is for the dedicated kickballer (as ridiculous as that sounds). Like with anything else in this world, some folks happen to nerd-out on different things. Kickball Nation happens to nerd-out on kickball. Kickball Nation lives here. So if your feelings are easily hurt, read no further, however; if you are truly competitive at heart and a kickball nerd to boot... read on.

Everyone "hopes" to have a good season. There are some teams that practice, come up with strategies, and dedicate themselves to compete on a high level. While there are other teams that merely show up each week and try to win games. Both types of teams "hope" to have a good season. But which type of team ultimately has the advantage? I honestly can't say one way or another, every team is different. However I can say that the teams that do practice and commit seem to perform at a higher level than those who do not. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by a couple of teams that looked sharp opening day.

On the Radar

There were a ton of whispers and questions about Drinkers with a Kicking Problem. This is their 2nd season with SCK. As rookies last season, they dominated the competition in the Lone Star Divsion. This season they make the jump to the big leagues and not without notice. "The Old Timers" and "Original Six" members tend to ignore or immediately dismiss any new, rookie, or beginning teams that aren't up to par. However the Drinkers seem to have the attention of alot of the veteran teams. Which is warranted, considering that the Drinkers totally dismantled the returning Hash House Harriers to the tune of 13-1. Keep an eye on this team. They have natural talent and ability. They are slowly building up experience, which will make them extremely dangerous with each passing game. Next up they have Lights Out, formerly known as the Longstrokes. This game will be a good measuring stick for both teams.

Speaking of Lights Out, I have to be honest and say I had very little hope for this team. Im always wary when teams starting changing their name, losing players, picking up new ones, etc. It's hard to gauge how a modified team will do. Last season the Longstrokes were coming into their own, playing some strong competitive kickball. Now my understanding is they have more than a few new pieces of personnel on the field. So they are in that dreaded "time will tell" category. However they were decent enough to take down Original Six Member, the Shockers. Although the Shockers did have a considerable attendance issue, but in the end the scoreboard read 2-1, Lights Out advantage. Looks like the Shockers are headed towards retirement and Lights Out is still full of life.

Another HUGE surprise came from another Original Six member, Los Totally Awesomes. They been here since the league was founded, but they were never considered a "competitive" team. They love the game immensely, but never took their competitiveness to the next level. However, considering they were able to hold down the New Kicks on the Block to a dead even 2-2 tie, things are looking up for LTA. It was only a matter of time before they figured out the formula to win games and the equation didnt involve sugar, spice, and everything nice. Looks like they want to play some kickball now.

The New Kicks are a Final Four team from last season and are quickly becoming one of SCK's Elite Squads. Although their opening day performance was mediocre, you can still expect a lot from this team as the season progresses. Their next opponent is Kickballaz, which should be a confidence booster for New Kicks and an easy win.

Another honorable mention has to go out to the Thundercats. After a one season lay-off , these Kitty Cats are back in action. There 5-1 win over Pitch, Please wasn't necessarily impressive, but I'm sure knocking off some of the kickball rust is going to take some time.

The Fall '12 season looks promising... I havent been this excited about a kickball season in a long time.

Good Luck Kickballers and Happy Kicking

Chew...Chew...Chewing Gum! Its FUN, FUN, FUN!

Well no one could have claimed to be surprised with the results of the Spring 2012 Season. Since the very beginning of the season it was all but prophesied that KNS would make it into the final and win a staggering 4th King of Kickball. And they achieved just that!

I've said all season that Kickin' N' Screamin' is in a league all their own. All season they have played head and shoulders above the rest of the league. They are on a completely different level when it comes to competitive kickball and it doesn't stem from recruiting the best players or having ridiculously athletic folks on their roster. It all boils down to one thing: Teamwork.

The KNS crew has been together for a long while now, at least 4 seasons here at SCK. They know each other well and the play together well. They practice religiously and it obviously has paid dividends. Much of Kickball Nation may see their on-field demeanor as "extreme" or their coach's constant berating as "uncalled for". However; it works for them and it apparently works very well. Some kickballers find Kickin' N' Screamin's constant sweep of SCK awards to be stale and boring, but if anything it adds to the SCK storyline and will create new plots.

Four time champions are rare at any level of competitive play so things like this should be celebrated, not ignored or dismissed. It is an achievement noteworthy of praise and congratulations. So a big congratulations goes out to Kickin' N' Screamin', this season's King of Kickball Champions!

However, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the other 3 teams who made the King of Kickball Finals. Das Boot, Kixxx, and New Kicks on the Block. Although they fell a tad short of the ultimate goal, they all were there in the end contending for the title. Especially New Kicks on the Block, not take anything away from Das Boot or Kixxx, but New Kicks played some very inspiring kickball during Finals week. After coming dangerously close to forfeiting their Final 4 match-up, they were able to muster enough of troops together and with only 8 players, they were able to give Kixxx all they could handle and more. Powered by their "Chewing Gum Chant", New Kicks played one hell of a game. They made me a fan, for sure.

And with that the Spring 2012 Season comes to a close. Congratulations to all the teams on a very LONG and successful season. Thank you for participating and see you all next season!

Good Luck & Happy Kicking!

Bad Blood

The coronation of the new King of Kickball is almost at hand. Round 2 of the playoffs has swept in and there a couple of surprising faces still in the mix. Not to mention the usual suspects, who are always hanging around the championship throne. But first, we must not forget to pay our respects to the dearly departed teams who bit the dust during Round 1 of the playoffs.

I have to say 2 Legit 2 Kick's early exit was extremely surprising. I anticipated them putting up a little more of a fight than a 1st round flop, but I guess I was not meant to be. Although they had an stellar regular season, their post season play was sub-par to say the least.

That goes double for Drinkers with a Kicking Problem, even for their rookie season, I expected a lot more after becoming a believer mid-season. Granted they had to face the clubbed foot that is Das Boot, I was still looking for a Cinderella story. Needless to say the curtain never rose on this performance.

Of all the Lone Star teams, Los Totally Awesomes was the one team I didn't expect to advance, but...they did and I can admit when I was wrong. They aren't a "bad" team, they are actually decently good. What they lack is that "win at all cost" mentality. They are...the Care Bears of the league, but , for me, I like them that way. Its going to be a tough bout though this week, because they are slated against #2 Seed Kixxx who is deadly. However I wish the Lone Star's last great hope good luck.

Now onto the marque match-ups...

Das Boot v Hardknocks will be a close one. This one has the potential to go either way. If you have a quarter handy, flip it, because that's pretty much what this game is and that's the closet you'll come to making a good guess.. My gut says HardKnocks, but my brain is telling me Das Boot. The safe money is on Das Boot.

Party Pandas v I'd Hit It is an interesting one. Both these teams face a potential double header which will lead them staring straight down the barrel of the KNS shotgun. Each team will have their work cut out for them. Last time these two teams met, the game ended in a tight 1-0 victory in the Pandas favor. However, after a two week kickball lay off its going to be hard for the Pandas to get back into the kickball groove. Word on the street is KNS is preparing for IHI, not the Pandas. That tells you what you need to know.

Now the game to watch for Wednesday night has to be the Longstrokes v New Kicks on the Block. I have seen first hand the intensity that both these teams play with when facing each other. Kickball Nation will have all eyes on this one. No predictions here, just looking forward to watching the game unfold. Exciting stuff folks!

Well that is all for this week....

Good Luck and Happy Kicking

Crunch Time

It is that simple...IT IS CRUNCH TIME! Week 8 arrived with very little fan fare as the playoff picture was pretty much set and the divisional champs already determined for each group. However now we enter the post-season and this is where it counts. Its one and you're done from here on out. There is absolutely no room for error. There are no ties here, if you win you move on, if you lose...start thinking about next season.


But first let's go ahead and take a look at our Divisional Champs for the Spring 2012 Season.

Lone Star Champs - Drinkers With a Kicking Problem

Drinkers with a Kicking Problem is a true rookie team. This is their 1st season in SCK and they already have a divisional title. This was a team I had planned to get some intel on and, of course, never had a chance. Their stats are fairly impressive though. They scored 65 runs in the Lone Star Division, which considering its the Lone Star Division doesn't mean a whole lot. However it is enough to prove they do have some sort of an offense, which they will absolutely need as they face the core of SCK's experienced teams. Also, their defensive numbers are solid compared to the rest of the Lone Star kids. They have only allowed 15 runs, respectable to say the least. Im excited and intrigued to see what this rookie team can do against some of the league's kickball veterans.

Sunrise Champs - Kixxx

Veteran kickball crew Kixxx has taken the Sunrise Division Championship for Spring 2012. Not only are they one of SCK's more experienced teams, they are also one of the city's most experienced team. They often travel around the country to compete in national kickball tourneys, which only results in them being increasingly successful in the local scene. Always contenders, always competitive, and they always go deep into the play-offs. Expect the same for this season's King of Kickball contest.

Mountain Star Champs - Kickin' N' Screamin'



There is no hiding the fact that KNS is the best kickball team in the entire city. The have multiple titles here in town and throughout the state. Every season it seems they will undoubtedly win their division and then another championship. However this season they had a slight scare as they lost one game in divisional play which left them staring at the possibility of a 2nd place finish in their division. BUT, it never came to be. KNS won out the rest of their remaining games and the rest of the divisional teams were too hit or miss to be able to take advantage of a very rare KNS loss.

Congratulations to all the divisional winners!

Now on to Play-In Week. While most teams will be off this week, 8 teams lucky teams will be looking to make it into the SCK King of Kickball tourney. The bottom 4 teams from the Mountain Star and Sunrise divisions while battle it out against the top 4 teams out of the Lone Star group. Although much of Kickball Nation doesn't think much of the Lone Star group, I think the top 4 Lone Star teams might surprise many kickballers. Believe it or not, out of the all 4 match-ups, the Lone Star teams have an edge in just about all of them.

Drinkers with a Kicking Problem v.s Vicious & Delicious is an open and shut case. V&D has been non-existent all season long. They almost ran the table in reverse by going 0-7-1, thank god for tie games. The Drinkers should have absolutely no problem picking up this win. The end result will be the Drinkers ending up with the #9 or #10, depending on how I'd Hit It does.

To say I'd Hit It under-achieved this season is a total under statement. They frankly have just been playing uninspiring kickball. Which is surprising to say the least, especially considering that Lucas was being touted as "The One Man Show", but since Week #2 he has been considered more like the Sideshow. Lucky for I'd Hit It, they are facing the Lone Star's Kick Ballaz who are good, but not great. Although the Kick Ballaz have done well in the Lone Star division, they will be jumping up a level and need to play mistake free to get past a more experienced IHI. Unfortunately, I just don't see it. As flat as IHI is playing right now, they still have the veteran experience to squeeze past the Ballaz.

However the other two experienced teams coming out of the MS and Sunrise Division won't be so lucky. The Billy Bad Asses and Los Totally Awesomes are under-dogs going into their play-in games.

The Bad Asses, more than LTA, are going to have to really put in some real work. 2 Legit 2 Kick is playing some really strong kickball and their numbers show it. They scored 64 points this season, which even for Lone Star standards is excellent. Compared to the Bad Asses, who although they are facing tougher opponents, their 9 runs for the season is truly not representative of any kind of existent offense. Coupled with the Bad Asses high Runs Allowed stat of 29, it doesn't look good for the Billy Bad Asses. 2 Legit should pick up the win here, as long as the spot light doesn't freeze them up.

And finally LTA v.s the Boom Boom Booms, personally this is the game to watch. The Booms stats are unimpressive, this is true. However, what is going to work in the Booms' favor is the weeks of game play against very tough opponents. You see while LTA has been cruising through Lone Star teams, the Booms have been grinding out tough loses and some very close wins against bigger and badder teams. And this is where it should pay off or at least in theory. LTA has the experience and the kickball crew to make into the King of Kickball contest, but I believe the Booms are going to make them earn every bit. If LTA looks past the Booms they will be making a huge mistake. The Booms are just hungrier at this point and that may just be enough. If Los Totally Awesomes hope to pick up a win here, they will have to be exactly that - totally awesome.

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

Lastly I leave you with the current seeds to date :

1. Kickin' N' Screamin'
2. Kixxx
3. Longstrokes
4. Hard Knocks
5. Das Boot
6. New Kicks
7. Scoregasms
8. Party Pandas
9. TBD
10. TBD
11. TBD
12. TBD

     

Don't Stop Believin'

"Bullshit!" or "Are you serious?" or "Wow...." These were the most common responses uttered as "the news" cam down from Alta Vista field and spread from player to player. It started as rumor and made absolutely no sense, but it did happen and there were folks there to see it...

Now "Any Given Wednesday", as a phrase many kickballers have heard. Some prescribe to it, but many don't believe in it. Most feel the most athletic, most practiced, or most cut-throat teams will always win and be on top. Although this may be true most of the time, it is NOT true ALL of the time. As we enter the final stretch for the playoff season, kickballers need to start believin' in this new creed, " Any Given Wednesday", if they want any chance at being crowned SCK's King of Kickball, because it ain't over yet.

So what happened?! Well we will get to that...

But first, there is something going on in the Lone Star Division that is really catching my eye. Most of Kickball Nation knew that veteran teams 2 Legit 2 Kick and Los Totally Awesomes, would earn their play-in spots with no problem at all. But what is surprising is the other Lone Star favorite, Suck My Kick, is currently on the outside looking in. This is the same Suck My Kick that surprised many and won the old Wreck Division last season. Not sure what has changed, but they have very little time to turn it around if they hope to make the playoffs. Instead we have new league comers Kickers with a Drinking Problem and the Kick Ballaz raising all sorts of eyebrows.

Interestingly though, it turns out that the Kick Ballaz contain remnenats of the now defunct One More Shot. It took awhile to make the connections, but there are alot of familiar faces out there. They were able to fly under the radar for a good portion of the season, but the jig is up. They are playing strong and are in the top-tier of the Lone Star teams. There is no missing them now.

Now the up-and-coming Kickers with a Drinking Problem they don't look so familiar. Im all but certain they are the real deal, a true rookie team. However they aren't playing like a rookie team, but I still have my suspicions of their legitimacy. Although it is hard to say because I haven't seen them play, but their stats do look promising and their wins speak for themselves.

At the end of the regular season, the Mountain Star and Sunrise teams should start planning and expect to see Los Totally Awesomes and 2 Legit 2 Kick in the playoffs for sure. That would leave 2 more spots and 3 teams left. Unless the Kick Ballaz or Drinkers With a Kicking Problem implode, which I don't anticipate, they will also be getting a shot at the playoffs. Unfortunately Suck My Kick is going to need tons of help to get into the running for this season's playoffs .

In the Sunrise Division, teams are starting to show signs of wear-and-tear. I'd Hit It is simply flat right now. They are playing uninspired kickball which could be catastrophic this late in the season. They need a spark, something to simply wake them up or maybe the Circus of "Lucas the One Man Show" has run it's course. Possibly the big marque with Lucas Quimiro all in bright lights is finally effecting the sense of team togetherness. The time to rally is at hand.

Team Vicious & Delicious is all but forgotten. Eventhough a ( 0-5-1 ) record has them making the play-in games, they will assuredly be demolished by any of the Lone Star teams. Someone hand them a fork....

And to round out the Sunrise news, the standings are incomplete for a pair of teams. New Kicks on the Block and the Longstrokes are still looking to finish a game that was unexpectedly cut-short ...let's just say, by a short moment of stupidity or lapse in judgment if you want to be nice about it. After struggling to keep the lights on all season, someone thought it would be cute to turn them off during gametime.  Problem: once the lights go out it takes awhile to get them back on. Which resulted in the 9pm game at Modesto 1 having to be rescheduled because the 3 inning mark was not met. None the less, finishing this game will go a long way in preparing these teams for the playoffs and showing all of Kickball Nation who they should be worried about. Hopefully karma doesnt get in the way of one of these teams...

And briefly, we head into the Mountain Star group. What the hell has gotten into the Boom Boom Booms, formerly known as the Suisliders. Often they are considered cannon fodder for more experienced teams to beat up one, but that has turned around as of late. The Booms have gone on a 2 win tear putting down 2 very good teams. During Week 5 they pummeled the Party Pandas and more recently during Week 6 they body slammed the Billy Bad Asses. Both teams had far more experience, but the Booms made quick work of both teams. Has it finally turned around for this team? They have struggled since their 1st season to make some sort of competitive statement and it looks like the finally have. Let's see what Week 7 has in store.

And finally, what happened down at Alta Vista? Well nothing much really...just that a run of the mill, middle of the road team proved that Any Given Wednesday anything can happen. That if you don't stop believing and play hard, eventually good things will come. I often don't take liberties on the blog, seeing as I'm currently the only writer and don't enjoy being braggadocios, but my team the Party Pandas deserve all the credit in the world for their accomplishment. They did what most viewed as impossible. They played a near perfect game and earned a big win against the 3-time champs Kickin' N' Screamin'. Who all of Kickball Nation agrees is SCK's best league and have done everything to earn that title.

However at the same time, for one win to be recognized so much only proves how good Kickin' N' Screamin' really is. We are all hard core competitors on the field, but once the game is over all that goes back into the bag for safe keeping until next week .For the most part, kickaball folks are good people and we respect and congratulate each other once all is said and done.

That's all for now...

Good Luck and Happy Kicking


OH....WAIT! AND IT WAS THE 1ST EVER KNS SHUT OUT TOO! 4 - 0 WHOOOOO!!! sorry had to do it! Nothing but love...

WEEK 4 - RE-CAP

One of the biggest criticisms submitted to IJK is that updates aren't produced in a timely manner. Which is actually a very fair criticism. Contrary to the opinion of an anonymous comment poster, I actually do have a life and don't spend every waking moment thinking about kickball. Updates get posted whenever free time allows it, which is not often. Folks have been asking if the blog is open for guest bloggers and  the answer is, absolutely. Anyone wanting more info and submitting blogs can email itsjustkickball@gmail.com. It will probably help to get new material posted sooner. Now on to the Week #4 Re-Cap

The Scoregasms came up with a surprising win against The New Kicks on the Block. We haven't heard much on the Scoregasms this season, but they are an experienced team with a moderate amount of skilled players. Usually a playoff team, but never really considered a championship contender. However in Week 4 play, they showed some real skill picking up a late win against a strong and scrappy New Kicks. The Scoregams were trailing 2-0 most of the game until they exploded during the top of 4th to lead the game 3-2. Although they quickly fell back to a 3-3 tie during the bottom of the 4th, but that is not how this game would end as the Scoregasms were able to put up one more run that the New Kicks could not answer. The final score was the Scoregasms winning 4-3.

The Longstrokes v.s I'd Hit It match-up should have been a telling one. Too bad the LIGHTS went out AGAIN, and ruined what could have been an awesome ending. The game ended in a 1-1 tie with one inning left to play. Heartbreaking for both teams Im sure or maybe a little bit of a relief. Both teams are under pressure to do well.

I'd Hit It has progressively gotten better with each passing season. However after playing two middle of the road teams this season they have been unimpressive. They should have beaten both the Party Pandas and the Longstrokes. Even though the lights went out, they should have had a decent lead during the Longstrokes game. If I'd Hit It continues to compete at this average level, they will undoubtedly have a short playoff run.

The Longstrokes, on the other hand, are growing leaps and bounds. The coaching staff may not be too enthused by the teams' growth, but Kickball Nation recognizes the skill and are starting to take notice. They just cant let it get to their heads.

Another notable item was the absolute thrashing of Das Boot by 3-time champs Kickin' N' Screamin'. It is no exaggeration to say that no team can match up to KNS at this point. They are playing on a ridiculously high level. They currently have a 4-0 record, which will probably be 8-0 by the end of the regular season. They have scored 32 runs against some quality opponents and have only allowed 2 runs. It is going to take alot of grit and determination to de-throne this high caliber team.

Das Boot was supposed to be the next great hope. They had assembled the right amount of talent but have yet to put it to good use. They are quickly declaring themselves as a "drinking team", which is a way to camouflage the fact that they may lose more games than they win. I know this team is full of competitive folks, but I have yet to see any signs of fire or life for that matter.

In Lone Star Land, the Kickballaz are on top. Kickball Nation is still waiting for this rookie team to play one of the more experienced Lone Star teams so we can really see what this team has under their belts. Until then, the 4-0 record on the standings page is looking mighty fine, even though their isn't much behind it.

In other Lone Star news, Los Totally Awesomes, 2 Legit, and Suck My Kick are slowly climbing back to the top of the leader board. I'm keeping an especially close eye on these 3 teams, because they should be the contenders to compete in the King of Kickball post-season. They will be accompanied by one more team - probably the Kickballaz but the season is still young.

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

Keep Your Head Up

Every team enters a game wanting to win. Any player that denies this is a downright liar. However no matter how capable a team is at winning games, often there are times when a match-up gets away from a team. There comes that moment when a loss slowly starts becoming more and more of a reality. That is the exact moment when you find out what your team is made of. Once you start to see players hang their heads that is the first step towards disaster. Those looks and feelings of distraught a very contagious. It spreads like wildfire through a team until inevitably the wheels come off.

Mental toughness is worth its weight in gold. Its one of those intangible skills that truly matter. Which is why it was so disheartening to see Kixxx collapse on itself during their match up with league rival Kickin' N' Screamin'. Every season this game is much anticipated. A battle between two of SCK's best teams. Too bad last Wednesday's match-up was one of the least memorable ones. Although the score was a close 3-0, the drama in the dugout over shadowed any of the game play. We all hope Kixxx can put it behind them and get back on track.

Kixxx wasn't the only one suffering fo mental toughness Wednesday night. The much improved Longstrokes are suffering from an elevated ego. They came out of the off-season well prepared to compete with the best in the league. Which was apparent after their big Opening Day win against the Party Pandas, 9-0. However since then they have done little to impress. Coach Ronnie had some choice words for his team, none that I can repeat here,during their match-up with Das Boot. The Longstrokes will need to get their heads out of the sky if they want to get back on the road to winning games. The competition is just going to get tougher.

Also a special shout out to The Benchwarmer, congrats on going 1-2 with your "upset" picks. Granted you got the Pandas v.s. Id Hit It right, but picking Kixxx over KNS and Longstrokes over Das Boot was ridiculous. Better luck next time... Just leave the kickball to IJK.

In Lone Star Land, the Royal Tennenballs, It Burns When I Kick, and Kickballaz are leading the pack. Granted the Lone Star Division is easy to dismiss, its interesting to see what, if any, competition may be heading to the King of Kickball post-season.

It Burns When I Kick is playing well. However this week they have an experienced LTA. So it will be interesting to see how they stack up against a team with some real kickball chops. Ill be watching this game with interest.

Also two leading Lone Star teams will be facing each other, the Tennenaballs v.s the rookie Kickballaz will be another interesting match-up. The Tennenballs claim to play for fun and they have been having tons of fun considering they have won all their match-ups. The Kickballaz are a true rookie team, but seem to be doing well. Probably won't make it to this game, but I suggest the rest of Kickball Nation check it out.

 However if you are looking to watch something a little bit more hardcore, don't miss the Das Boot v.s KNA game. Kickin' N' Screamin' will more than likely walk away from this one, but for Das Boot this is more of a dress rehearsal for a possible championship match-up. This is where the meat meets the metal and we see what Das Boot really has in their arsenal.

If this game happens to turn into a blowout, wander over to Modesto 1 where I'd Hit It will be looking to rebound against a very hungry Longstrokes team. Nice match-ups all the way around.

That's all for now...

Happy Kicking and Good Luck

SPECULATION

The early part of the season is incredibly intersting because many things are still up in the air. Questions start to arise about "this team" or "that team". When the simple fact is that not enough games have been played to form any true concrete conclusions on any one team. However speculation is my friend and there is nothing more rewarding than being able to say, "I told you so" especially when one of those ridiculous speculations comes to fruition.

Case in point, the popular opinion that I'd Hit It's pitcher, Lucas Quimiro, IS their entire team. I speculated that IF I'd Hit It were  ever have to play without their star pitcher, they would frankly be destroyed. As unfortunate as it is to have to say this, it ending up being a true statement. Just this past Wednesday, I'd Hit It was run off the field by the powerhouse KNS crew. The glaring problem was that I'd Hit Its star attraction showed up late, well into the end of 2nd inning. By that time the damage had been done and KNS had put up 6 runs quickly. The simple fact is I'd Hit It needs to find a way to win even without their pitcher. They need to start developing some decent back-ups. There is some pitching talent of the roster, but it needs to be developed. KNS ended up winning 8-1.
But enough of that "I told you so" garbage. How bout some team speculation...

All eyes are on Das Boot, that is fairly obvious. They are being looked as challengers to Kickin' N' Screamin's dynasty status. Which will prove difficult as the KnS Crew is playing on an entirely different level than any other team in the league. The fact is that Das Boot has tons of talent, but a minuscule amount of team chemistry. Which is expected, considering they don't practice and have only played two games as a group. The promising note is they held big time Kixxx to a 1-1 tie, which actually says a lot. Das Boot will have plenty of time to work on their chemistry, a Final Four team for sure.

There was one team last week that gave me a sense of dejavu. Hard Knocks is a new team that I quickly dismissed before the season even started. Their roster contains mostly rookie players with a sprinkling of veteran players. They are scrappy, tough, and even at this early stage are already looking like a team that has played together for many seasons. To tell you the truth they reminded me a lot of the Balls & Dolls. Not just because they have a handful of former Bs&Ds, but the swagger, the presence is almost identical. They will be able to keep up and compete, but not sure for how long or how far. Need to see more.

The Longstrokes, formerly known as the Chile Y Chilindrinas, are playing some very strong kickball right now. The hours of practice are starting to show and pay dividends. Although last week they narrowly escaped being beat by the Hard Knocks with a 1-1 tie. Their offense looks to be stronger than their defense, but the jury is still out. AGAIN NEED TO SEE MORE

Down in the Lone Star group, out of 10 teams there are 3 teams left undefeated. The Royal Tenenballs, It Hurts When I Kick, and the Kickballaz. Two rookie teams are leading a division of 10 teams that includes 4 veteran squads, interesting. Not to mention the mother of all non-competitive teams, the Tenennballs, are leading the entire division. What's going down in the Lone Star group?? However don't get to excited. At the end of the season, expect to see either Suck My Kick, LTA, or 2 Legit 2 Kick fighting for the top spot. Although they have all been struggling as of late, that veteran experience will come through and momentum will slowly start to propel them to the top of the standings.
Well that's all for now...

Good Luck and Happy Kicking

Week 1 Buzz

After a one week delay, the 2012 SCK Spring Season finally arrived! Any kickballer will tell you, getting on the field after such a long off-season is an awesome feeling. Stepping onto the field, after what seemed like an eternity, makes us all realize how much we really love this game. And the only thing that amplifies such a good feeling is a good solid win at the end of the night. Unfortunately not all teams we able to enjoy that amplified feeling. Such is life...

Now down to the nitty gritty, in my previous post I mentioned that there was little intel on the new upcoming teams. So for the benefit of all kickball nation I made it a point to check out some of the new teams. Although I didn't get to many, I was able to check out a few.

I caught a couple innings of the Royal Tenennballs v.s. the Free Ballerz. The Tennenballs are by far the league's most spirited team. Even though they aren't looking to compete at a high level of competitive kickball, they are always entertaining to watch. In all fairness they aren't a bad team. There is some talent there. From what I saw they played moderately well. In the other dugout was The Free Ballerz who are a true rookie team. They are a small squad. They suffered from the regular defensive rookie mistakes, but that is expected. Athletic on the offensive side of the ball, but considering the Tennenballs pitching style, it wasn't hard to put a foot on the ball. In the end, the rookies walked away from this one with a 3-2 victory.

Although they aren't rookie teams I caught some of Los Totally Awesomes v.s. Suck My Kick. These two teams are my picks to finish #1 and #2 in the Lone Star Division. Both these teams are on the borderline between cupcake team and legitimate squad. LTA has the advantage because they have the more experienced players and ridiculously upgrading their pitching during the off-season. Just the pitching angle gives LTA a huge advantage, because the Lone Star division has no real pitching. Most teams just feed the ball, which is going to result in a decent amount of offense. Which is a huge contrast from the Mountain Star and Sunrise divisions where each team has atleast 2 , if not 3, "real" pitchers on their squad. LTA will end with the lowest Points Against stat within the Lone Star group which will translate into a 8-0 record. However lets not forget Suck My Kick, this is only their 2nd season of kickball and I really like what Im seeing. There is tons of talent on this team. They just need more experience, but they are slowing putting it together. The pieces are there it's just a matter of putting them in the right places. Very promising team. However LTA won this one and rode away on a rainbow with a 3-1 victory.

Other Honorable Mentions go out to Kickin' N' Screamin' and the Longstrokes. Veteran squad and three-time champs KNS, had the best Power Rating of the night with a +10 : which translates into 11 runs scored and 1 run allowed. Not to mention they did it against an always dangerous New Kicks on the Block team. The Longstrokes had big success with a huge win and a nice +9 Power Rating, which included a shut out of the Party Pandas. The Longstrokes are looking to be very strong this season. Most teams will remember them as last season's rookie team the Chiles Y Chilindrinas. An interesting side note is KNS and the Longstrokes are actually sparring partners for their weekday practices. Looks like its paying off.

And finally the biggest buzz of Week #1. Please know that as soon as I type this I will immediately regret it. The biggest story of the night had to be I'd Hit It's dismantling of Kickball Nation's anointed "All-Star" team Das Boot.

Das Boot is simply a combination of two former power house teams which were the Drunken Monkeyz and the Shockers. Although Kickball Nation has dubbed them an All-Star team, I don't know if that's a totally fair statement. HOWEVER, in good conscience I can't deny that the team is stacked with tons of talent, atleast more than your average team. My definition of an All-Star team would be the best player at their position all on one team. Just watching Das Boot's 1st baseman disproves them as an All-Star team. But I digress, we are focusing on the wrong thing. The most incredible part of last night's match-up, was that Das Boot's loss was the work of one, count em', ONE PLAYER. Im a firm believer in one player does NOT make or break you. However that was until last night, as I witnessed with my own two eyes, I'd Hit It's pitcher Lucas Quimiro single handedly defeat Das Boot. It was not only amazing to watch, but also ridiculously entertaining. Aside from his constant crybaby antics, he is...( Damn you for making me say this) the complete package. The only problem is he is pretty much the entire team. I'd Hit It is going to be in a world of hurt if Lucas ever misses a game. So give credit where credit is due, it was an awesome display of kickball skill!

Well that's all for now....

Happy Kicking and Good Luck

Who's Who?

And so it begins, on what is looking to be a rather windy day, the Spring 2012 kickball campaign has arrived. 22 teams have accepted the challenge and will be competing for the the very coveted King of Kickball Championship Crown. Many have tried, but few have succeeded. Will three-time defending champs Kickin' N' Screamin' win another title? Or has the time come for a new challenger to step up? We are about to find out...

But who are these new challengers? And what about the veteran teams? Who is coming back and who called it quits? All good questions!

There are 6 brand spankin' new teams coming into the kickball mix. They are:
1. Downtown Renegades
2.Drinkers with a Kicking Problem
3. It Burns When I Kick
4. FreeBallers
5. Much Ado About Balls
6. Kick Ballaz

There is VERY little intel available on the new teams. I do know that Kick Ballaz has a very loose connection to powerhouse Kixxx, which could mean absolutely nothing and probably does. Much Ado About Balls has a couple of old Balls & Dolls players, but again nothing to write home about. With such little information I will be sure to keep a close eye on this group Wednesday night.

As always, a gaggle of veteran teams are returning. I'd Hit It is back after a very strong season. Championship Runner-up Kixxx is also back to try and contend for another shot at the title. Last season's middle division teams are pretty much all back, the Bad Asses, Party Pandas, Scoregasms and others.

I think the most surprising bit of info is what teams AREN'T returning this season. In a very sad, almost tragic set of circumstances, the kickball Gods have deemed in necessary to deprive us of not one, but three SCK franchise teams. The Balls & Dolls, Shockers, and Drunken Monkeyz are no more. In an odd bit of coincidence, members of all three teams decided to go their own separate ways in the off-season. Most players found a new home on other teams, but the fact remains that it marked the end of the era. Of the Original Six teams only 2 teams are left, Los Totally Awesomes and the Multiple Scoregasms. Maybe one day all these teams will get back together, but that is very unlikely.

So where did three teams worth of players go? That's the interesting part! Most of the Drunken Monkeyz, minus the mercenaries they picked up last season, joined up with a decent amount of the Shockers to form the new team Das Boot. Kickball Nation has been quick to dub this team an "All-Star" team, but I'm not convinced. They have also been compared to the Thursday Night hit-squad Party Crashers, but can't confirm the similarities between rosters.

Where did the Balls & Dolls players go? Some found their way to new team HardKnocks and by some I mean, I recognize maybe 4 names on their roster. So not sure about this team yet.

Who are the Longstrokes? Easy, they are last season's rookie team Chilies and Chilindrinas. Mostly intact, but with some new players. They had a strong rookie season and will probably build upon that success this season. Another strong rookie team coming back is Suck My Kick. After winning divisions honors in the Wreck Division, they had a huge upset slip through their fingers when they had former kickball juggernaut the Shockers on the ropes. It will be interesting to see if they make another strong showing this season.

Well that's it kickballers or atleast for now... Extremely excited to see the Wednesday Night results.

Good Luck and Happy Kicking!

Dynasty!!!

Well it took some time but we are back online! Apologizes go out to all of Kickball Nation for having to wait so long for a much needed end of season update. 

Unless you have been living under a kickball rock or haven't heard the news, Kickin' N' Screamin has done it once again and are the Fall 2011 season's King of Kickball champs. This is their 3rd consecutive King of Kickball title which undoubtedly makes them Sun City Kickball's 1st kickball dynasty. Not only did they win three back-to-back-to-back titles, KNS has only lost ONE game in three seasons to achieve this amazing accomplishment. They have set the bar high for all kickball teams in El Paso. They are the gold standard. Now that they have dominated the local kickball circuit, their next stop is national kickball dominance. They have already earned multiple state titles in New Mexico and Texas, but a national title would complete their already impressive resume. Again, hats off to Kickin' N' Screamin'! 

 

However let's not forget the Fall 2011 Season runner-up - Kixxx. Although they never received the kickball buzz and hype of being a top notch kickball contender, they quietly flew under the radar and made it to the championship game. Their skills on the kickball field were ridiculously over-looked and understated, as they gave KNS all they could handle during the championship game. If you missed this game then you missed an epic match-up. Very unfortunate. It was a treat to see both Kixxx and KNS battle it out for the kickball crown. A perfect end to another great kickball season!

 

Heartbreaker

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

Round 2 of the SCK Fall 2011 season ended in complete utter heartbreak for some teams, while others secured their spot in the final 4 and are that much closer to the King of Kickball crown.

First, a big congratulations goes out to #1 Kickin' N' Screamin' and #2 I'd Hit It, who have so far earned their titles as the number 1 and number 2 teams in the league. They move on to the Final 4 with big wins this past Wednesday. Most, if not all, of kickball nation expected to see both these teams in the finals and now they have arrived. Now on to the heartbreak. Unfortunately both underdog teams, # 6 New Kicks on the Block and #13 Suck My Kick had their dreams of kickball glory crushed in dramatic fashion.

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

 After having the lights go out during Round #1, the #4 Shockers and #13 Suck My Kick would meet again to finish what they started. The game would resume at the top of the 5th inning with the game tied at one a piece. The Shockers had the first kick and came out swinging. They quickly scored putting themselves ahead by 1 run. That was until, miraculously, Suck My Kick was able to make a huge defensive stop and limit the Shockers to just one run. Even more surprising was Suck My Kick somehow loaded the bases in their half of the inning and had zero outs. For one fleeting moment it seemed as if the underdog crew had a chance to upset the mighty Shockers. However that would not be the case, the more experienced Shockers were able to deal an absolutely devastating blow to a very inexperienced Suck My Kick rookie team by ending the game on a very rare triple play. It was a gut wrenching thing to watch. The worst part was watching the confused looks of the new rookie kickballers as they had to be informed of what had just happened. BUT...those are the breaks and the mighty Shockers move on to the Final 4.

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

Suck My Kick was not the only team to have to suffer a heart-breaking loss. The New Kicks on the Block had to swallow a brutal walk off 3-run homerun with 2 outs in their pocket, the bottom of the inning and a 2 run lead. To add insult to injury, the New Kicks pretty much dominated their match-up against a very skilled and experienced Kixxx crew. New Kicks seemed to be in control the entire game, right up until it mattered the most. You could even see the distraught look of defeat on the faces of the Kixxx players. Lucky for them their star pitcher, and now star kicker, Pipi was able to bail them out. Another tough moment to watch, but AGAIN those are the breaks kickballers. Sometimes the ball bounces your way and sometimes it doesn't. In the end, Kixxx picks up another win and is now in-line for a chance at the King of Kickball crown.

It is now Finals Week and the excitement is building. Congrats to the Final 4 teams:

#1 - Kickin' N' Screamin'
#2 - I'd Hit It
#3 - Kixxx
#4 - Shockers

Round 2 *Ding*Ding*

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

The 1st Round of the Fall 2011 season yielded some of the most exciting playoff games in Sun City Kickball history. All the games were closely contested match-ups, each one an intense nail biter. Hopefully this trend continues through the rest of the playoffs.

Let's take a look at some of the final results from this past week. We'll start with the Play-In match-up which was between the veteran Balls & Dolls and the heart-filled Suisliders. The game was initially predicted to be an easy win for the Balls & Dolls. However this game proved to be a lot more difficult than anticipated and a little too close for comfort the Bs&Ds. In the end, they inched by the Suisliders with a 1-0 final verdict, but the night was not yet over for the scrappy Balls & Dolls. Their play-in win earned them a Round 1 match-up against the plummeting Drunken Monkeyz.

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

As noted in the previous post, the Drunken Monkeyz were living on a prayer last Wednesday. They would have to play the winner of the play-in game. A match-up against the Suisliders would have been a more favorable match-up than one against the Balls & Dolls. Had the Suisliders advanced from the play-in game, the Monkeyz would probably still be in the hunt. However the Machine, for whatever reason, tends to struggle against the Balls & Dolls clan. During the Spring 2011 post-season, the Bs&Ds were the team that knocked the Monkeyz from King of Kickball contention. Again this season they knocked the Monkeyz out of contention once more. Not to mention, the Balls & Dolls also beat the Monkeyz during the regular season. Although the game was very close, the Bs&Ds won this match-up with an extremely close 2-1 final score.

A very good Kixxx team received a scare from the Wreck Division team Balls of Furry. Unfortunately I was not there to witness the events that led to this close match-up, but I believe the 2-0 final between an elite division team and a lower experienced team tells the tale. Kixxx walked away from this one with a win, but barely.

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

As predicted the Party Pandas v.s Chilez Y Chilindrinas was a knock out drag out bout. C & C has continuously demonstrated that they are up-and-coming within the league and are only going to get better with time. They came very close to making a huge statement by almost picking up their first post-season win. However the Pandas were able to battle it out, kept on grinding, and escaped with a 4-2 final score.

One More Shot took on New Kicks on the Block head on, which ended up being the longest game of the night. It took 9 innings to wrap this one up. Big play after big play kept both teams in the running and there seemed to be no end in sight. Just when you thought one team was about make to play and put this game to bed, the other side would come roaring back, saving themselves from elimination. The game changer had to be One More Shot battling back during the bottom of the 5th inning. Trailing by 2 points, One More Shot quickly brought in the 2 runs they needed to stay alive and take the game into extra innings. Both teams put it all on the field and left it all on the field. Although the New Kicks would eventually walk away with the win, One More Shot earned much respect from all the surroundings kickballers and Kickball Nation in general.

Photo Courtesy of Calvin Bell

The only decisive win of the night came at the hands of the Billy Bad Asses. They were able to put up a nice solid 4-1 win over the Drippin Wet Posse. Next up the Bad Asses have the #1 seed Kickin' N' Screamin'. This one should be a great game to watch. Although KNS is the team to beat, the Bad Asses might have some surprises in-store for the KNS crew. Kickin' N' Screamin is coming off a bye-week and it will be interesting to see how long it takes them to warm-up and get into the game. However smart money is still on KNS to win. Very nice match-up...

The Shocker v.s Suck My Kick is still in limbo. Due on another unfortunate lights out incident, this game will be finished with the Round 2 games.

That's all for now...

Happy Kicking and good luck!