Author: Joe

We played our first double header last night. Of course I find myself playing 2 games while I’ve been beaten down with some illness that I haven’t been able to shake just yet, but oh well it’s kickball and I was still fine to play. Just a little on the tired side.

Our first game has us up against Jake’s Water Ice. They had beaten us in our previous meeting, but as a team we liked our odds facing off against them. We just felt we matched up strongly against them. Defensively we held them in check and put up lots of early runs. This was the perfect scenario, we didn’t have to expend too much energy late in the game with such a cushion.

My biggest personal memories of the game was me having to dive back to 1st base to ensure I wasn’t tagged up. I really thought if I came off the bag they’d be aggressive and throw at me, and given the distance I could easily dodge and advance a bag. They didn’t, and I almost got caught off the bag. Luckily I did mange to dive back headfirst onto the bag and stayed safe.

I played the shadow the pitcher position for most of the game. It worked out against them. I had a couple of sloppy plays still in the field, but felt I redeemed myself with a solid play at the plate. With a perfect relay throw from Irena I was able to catch and spin and peg out the runner literally a half step before she touched home plate. Erasing a run that I felt was my fault from an early error I made that inning.

The entire time really played a solid overall game against Jake’s. Offensive everyone contributed a lot, and defensively we were solid again. Geoff finally didn’t reach base to break his 1.000 average, but he still continued to hit the ball hard and in great spots.

We then had a short 5 minute break, before our second game against 24/7 Bait and Tackle. I used the break to get acquainted with the port-o-potty. It’s amazing how powerful a smell can be found in this during a July heat wave. Truly amazing.

We made some minor defensive adjustments in the field. Moving me to right field and swapping our girl platoon for the game to shallow infield/2B. These guys tend to kick further, and the adjustments did work.

Both teams had a stalemate going, and it really seemed like we might have to go into extra innings with a 0-0 score. We were great in the field, we just couldn’t produce a run this game. Players were getting on base (expect myself, popping up way too much this game), but our kicks weren’t coming in bunches.

I did make a running catch in the outfield, covering a good amount of ground in the process. You know you’ve been struggling defensively when you get that many high-fives and congratulations for catching a ball.

Bait and Tackle finally managed to score 2 runs late and that was enough for them to win on this night. Even though we didn’t win this won, overall we played some solid ball. If we can hold them to 2 runs a game, I really like our odds of winning most nights.

In other news Bait and Tackle just added a guy on their roster who quite possibly will pop a ball he kicks it so hard.

Can’t wait till next week, this continues to be amazingly fun.

Wow, this game had it all. It’s an instant classic and I’m sure we’ll all speak of it for quite some time.

It was a foggy night, with the fog growing more dense as the game went on. There was just something a little off in the air, and I think we could all feel that something out of the ordinary would take place on this night.

The conditions were rather rough. With all the moisture and a game having been played right before ours, the field was slick and beat up. Most notably around 2nd base and the shallow parts of the outfield. The ball had a misty slickness to it as well, almost slimy at times.

I do believe it’d of been easier to handle in rain at times than it was in this mist. I know I had way too many drops and bobbles (I really have to work on that), and my first step when running or changing direction was almost always a slip. Very frustrating and made for some sloppy play in the field (almost entirely by myself).

24/7 Bait and Tackle had been unbeaten to start this game, and frankly the do have a very strong looking team. We held them to a stalemate the first few innings, then to took a 6 run lead on us. Honestly it wasn’t looking too good, but we kept playing hard regardless and there was no quit in our play.

Little things, like even when a ball was dropped or misplayed we’d hustle and get that ball back into play. At times resulting in outs on aggressive base runners. More than anything I was proud to see this in the team. Our errors were only single base or run errors, not major catastrophes, and my keeping the damage to a minimum we were able to keep the game from getting out of hand.

Sadly we did lose Lauren to an early injury. She really tried to gut it out, and it was inspiring to see that. Health in much more important than kickball, and she had to be removed from the game. Hopefully it isn’t too serious and she can keep playing, she’s been great for us.

Our legs really came alive towards the end of the game. I’m not exactly sure what did it, but we all were doing an excellent job of finding a hold in their defense and kicking to that spot. Our confidence at the plate really shows and I’m glad to see our practice paying off.

Our biggest kick of the game was with the bases loaded and Geoff at bat. Before I pitched to him, I scanned the position of the defenders and our bases runners as I try to do before every pitch. I noticed that their outfields were playing in and really playing the lefty Geoff all game to go to his right. Knowing that Geoff favors kicking to his left and had enough good leg in him to clear the shallow outfielder I had a great feeling that he’d be driving in some runners. Well he launched a rocket into left, well over the outfielders head and cleared the bases with a triple. It was really an amazing kick and great base running, and at that point we knew that we really could win this game.

We would manage to tie the game up in that inning, and now all we had to do was not give up any runs in the 7th and final inning and hope for a walk-off victory. With some solid fielding and heads up play we got through without surrendering any runs.

Bottom of the 7th, the momentum on our side with the heart of our lineup at bat. We liked the position we were in. We got players on base early and you could feel the excitement in all. Excellent base running by Kevin landed him on 3rd with only 1 out. Early season RKI machin Kate was up and with a decent kick could score the speedy Kevin. I kept thinking before I rolled the ball, keep it low to right and we win. She kicked it to right, they dropped the ball and Kevin easily scored. Even had it been caught, Kevin’s scores on that play.

An amazing finish to an amazing game! So proud of my team and their never die attitude. We will have to consider selling the movie rights to this epic.