Summer 2011- Week 2

After an exciting opening week, we're getting ready to gear up for week 2. We had some nail-biters and we had some blow outs. Half the teams won and half the teams lost. What's going to happen this week? You'll only know if you show up. It's also a post-game night at Brennan's, so be sure to show up and extend the party.

Week 1 Scores

Season Rankings

Team Recaps

Westside on Hiatus

In the spring of 2008, a small budding friend group decided to form an adult kickball team. On the first day, they established a mantra: What we do at the bar is more important than what we do on the field.  After three years, three league championships, and 3,000 different girls playing on the team for one season, perhaps one could look back and say:  This team never truly believed in its mantra. Because, no matter what happened at the bar, it was clear there was a decent amount of focus on the field as well.

After Westside For Life's bubble burst last season -- or, more accurately, after the bubble was popped -- the team seemed to go its separate ways. Some moved on to other cities, even ones in the rarely-seen Mountain time zone. Some couldn't handle multiple nights of kickball. Some had new wives who made it clear that their husbands couldn't handle multiple nights of kickball.

The result was a new team. Westside On Hiatus was born, containing barely a core of the franchise's previous stalwarts. New players, some who'd never stepped on the field before, made their debuts. Lineups are adjusted, fielding is adjusted, chemistry is learned and not assumed. This process takes time.

But after a 0-4 loss on the kickball field on Monday night, the mantra finally came true. As I personally stood in the stall in the men's bathroom at Brennan's, vomit spewing from my mouth into (mostly) the toilet but also partially the toe of my shoe, I realized we had fully transitioned into the team that does whatever it can on the field -- but doesn't eff around at the bar.  I also realized I needed food.

We have arrived.

  

The good news: the DPs won their home opener with a whopping 17-0 shutout!

The bad news:

                                            We’re in danger of becoming a little overcocky.

Don’t get me wrong, we played well. Extremely well considering half the team had never met each other and a few were terribly distraught that their new cardinal red socks did not match their burgundy-esque T-Shirts. Clashing colors is not the best first impression to make on the ladies. Right Russell?

Despite the extreme awkwardness of meeting new teammates and figuring out what to say to each other, it only took newbie Allison about 90 seconds before she told Luke to F*ck off for the first of many times - in a flirty way - love that girl already. Good recruiting Annie!

Some of the veterans had the opportunity to meet three other newbies during a makeshift practice at the beach over the weekend, leaving the DPs with their first two injuries of the season! Bernard and Michelle both pulled leg muscles during their first at bat in practice (it’s a rubber ball people), but limped their way to the game any way. Yay team spirit! Let’s hope this doesn’t signal a return of the dedicated kickball ambulance on Wednesday nights.

We started out really strong, getting 15 of our 17 runs in the first two or three innings. This was a combination of skill - like Rob and Adam’s speedy bunt and runs, Luke’s solo home run and Dinh’s incredible base running - and luck, as Kick in a Box let us off easy with some missed catches and we had some great decisive umping by pink-clad Ninad (?).

There was a ton of heart from both teams on the wet field (we’re hoping it wasn’t all dog pee). Keven’s belly dive back to second base, Kick in the Box’s slip-and-slide run from third base into the far fence, Ray, Lori and Sarah’s quick learning curve on where to kick the ball (aided by the fact we kicked through the 15/16-man deep line-up three times). Except for Julie who refused to slide and add to her kickball scars and ended up elbowing the second baseman in the ribs, which had to hurt (sorry!!). And with 17 runs, almost everyone had a chance to score!

But our defense did rock. Matt saddled up to his first stint at first base with deference to walking cast-wearing Neil and caught everything flung his way. Charlie had a good time pegging women (gently) in their butts who bunted too short. Luke showed that his reconstructed shoulder, neck, jaw, head (am I forgetting anything?) was no hindrance to his pitching skills. Russell was running a fly ball clinic in the outfield trying to teach Steve how to catch the ball before it bounces. And Rob and Adam showed that a chest pass/peg does really work in a game.

It’s only the first game in, but there’s already talk of going ALL. THE. WAY! Of course we say that every season, so let’s not get…

Balls Deep, last season's champions, came up this week balls out in their 5-0 victory over Westside on Hiatus. Over five innings, Balls Deep pounded their opponents from all angles.



Balls Deep about to go balls deep in runs.

With a combination of good offense and solid defense, the team in the baby blue shirts held their opponents face down and showed them who was in charge.

Members of Balls Deep waiting to get their piece of the action

Two plays stuck out on the night. The first came in the third inning. Balls Deep was up 3-0, but Westside had a man on third base and only one out. As the kicker entered the batter's box, the pressure weighed heavily on him as a deep kick would score a much needed run in a sacrifice attempt. As the pitch came down the line, the kicker kicked with all his might, but the pitcher won the duel as the ball popped up short into foul territory. The first baseman quickly caught the out, and instinctively threw the ball back to the pitcher, Bryan Benamor, as the man on third base tagged up and attempted to score a run. In a flash, Bryan threw the ball at the runner barrelling towards home, pegging his foot as he was only feet from home base, ending the scoring attempt and the inning in spectacular fashion.


In the fourth inning, already up 4-0, Balls Deep needed a run to seal the victory. Anthony De La Rosa on second base knew his moment was coming. As the ball was kicked by Charlene Cady, he sped towards third base, but the kick was short and the third baseman was waiting to tag him for an out. In a suprisingly athletic move, he stopped in his tracks and rushed back to second base. The ball was thrown to peg him out, but he quickly slid to beat the throw. Over his and the second baseman's head went the ball, and like a Mexican jumping bean he popped up, changed direction and ran to third, with the determination to score the only thought in his brain. Still in the outfield, the ball needed to be thrown perfectly to stop him from reaching home. In a battle between man and ball, man won this round as De La Rosa made it home safely.

The Mexican jumping bean waiting for his moment to shine.

With another victory notched on their belts, Balls Deep retreated to Brennan's to celebrate. Beer is delicious, but beer after a victory is the sweetest nectar.

Upcoming Events
Night of Game 4:  Das Boot Challenge
Mid-season:  August 27th
Night of Game 8:  Flip Cup Tournament
Dogtown EOS:  Oct. 1st

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