Tag: SJSL

With our lackluster performances in our last 2 dodgeball playoff appearances, I was really hoping that kickball would be different for us. Our opponents were the fourth seeded Banzai Executioners who beat us earlier in the season. This was a pretty good match-up and one that I thought we should be able to take, but it would be close.

Apparently we all came to play last night. It was great, and this would go on to be our best overall game of the season. Things were just clicking and we really did a great job of manufacturing runs with the bottom of our lineup.

As the visiting team we got off to a terrific start. Our always potent top of the lineup got us five big early runs. The early lead really let us play with more confidence in the field, and it showed. Kevin got us started with a dribbler right up the middle and the rest of our guys just did their thing finding spots in the defense and hitting them.

Defensively we were just solid all around. Making all the catches, with some outstanding team defense as well. Caitlin pegged another runner this week, erasing yet another potential run! She must lead the league in pegs at this point.

She also utilized John K.’s strong arm in relaying throws to him to second. Very heads up team play by the Honey Badgers.

While playing first a ball that was just a bit over my head, I just barely was able to get a finger on it and tipped it just enough so that a charging Dustin coming from right field was able to make an outstanding catch on the play. Knowing where one another in the field and having confidence in each other really payed off.

Steph also made a very big catch of her won playing a shallow right field. It was an important catch and it was great to see her make a big play! She would go on to nab Honey Badger of the Week honors for it.

Offensively we were just on as a team. Production came from all parts of the lineup. John B. was back and it showed, going 4-4 with some big kicks. Kevin lead us off with a kick and didn’t let up going 4-4 as well.

I had one of my better days as well, kicking with some power getting a double and was robbed of a hit by an outstanding play by the Banzai third baseman. I knew that I’d have to be aggressive to try to manufacture us a run late in lineup and had a aggressive slide taking second base. I think I surprised the team, especially Kevin and could hear his praise. On the next play it payed off as I scored on an all out sprint from second to home.

This was a tremendous game and I was so proud of how well and hard everyone played. It was a very fine moment for the Honey Badgers franchise winning 11-4.

Can’t wait to continue our playoff run next week!

With our final regular season kickball game we had a rematch with our week 1 opponents the Lightning Donkeys. Sadly the Lightning Donkeys were short a few players, so that would give us a pretty substantial advantage on the day.

We got off to a tremendous start with Kevin leading off with our first home run of the season! The missing fielder and favorable wind really made kicking easy for all of us. The ball was clearly travelling further than usual and we had much larger gaps in the field to aim for.

The rest of the the team took advantage as well and we all put up some good numbers. Steph even scored her first 2 runs of the season with some great base running!

Despite putting up a sizable early lead, the Donkeys never quit. With some big kicks by their guys and some sub-par defense on our part they were able to score many late runs.

In the end our early lead was too much and we ended the regular season on a good note.

Next week the playoffs begin!

I’m not sure exactly what’s been going on the past 2 weeks, but it’s been very tough to field a roster. This week John B. alerted me that he would be unable to play. While a huge loss for the team, John of all our players really could use a week off to get his body back together. So in a way I was a little glad.

However then I found out that Sean would be out too due to work obligations. Down to four guys now, that meant I’d have to start working the phones to find a guy to fill in for the week. Luckily dodgeball veteran and long time friend Jared “The Catch” Miller was able to fill in giving us our five guys for the week.

Our girls however were another story. With six girls on the roster I always was concerned with getting everyone enough playing time, but lately I’ve been just hoping to have the minimum three to field a team. Meghan had work obligations and would be out. Lauren injured her shoulder and even though she offered her services, upon seeing her in person there was no way I was going to let her play and risk further injury. Megan too was unable to play and Steph had to skip to get a lost phone.

Down to two girls, steady Irena and Caitlin who actually was hoping to be used sparingly coping with injuries is what we took the field with and I couldn’t of asked for a better two to go into this muddy, messy game with.

Right before kickoff, the captain of Vicious and Delicious had similar roster issues and was only able to field seven players himself. So our deficit wouldn’t be as bad as it could have been. He also insisted that we waive the less than three girls in the field penalty that would have costed us an out whenever our missing third girl would have batted.

The game got off to a fast start. Having Kevin and John K. back this week was huge for us. They really bring so much to our defense. Kevin did make a fine heads up play tagging a runner who ventured off of second base, but the ref deemed the play dead and since the opposing team didn’t enforce the girl penalty mentioned earlier, I really couldn’t argue the call. It did result in three runs that inning for Vicious and Delicious.

We would quickly answer back with three runs of our own. Dustin, John K. myself and Caitlin really kicked well all game and would go on to provide the majority of our offense on the day. We each went 4-5 apiece and scored and knocked in many runs.

I’ve been kicking well as of late and it does feel nice. When I’m up to bat I know that my teammates know as well and I do like that feeling. Hopefully I can keep it up with the playoffs coming in two weeks.

Honey Badger of the Week Caitlin has also been kicking very well as of late too, and it’s been a major boon to the team to get production from her later in the lineup. Jared really gave us a gutsy effort too. With an early injury he managed to play a solid first base for us despite the discomfort and though we was walking the bases like an old man, did his best to help the team out.

After the first inning, we clamped down in the field. Giving up only one more run on the day. With a very slick field and ball no catch was routine, yet we made many fine plays in the field. The amount of ground the Kevin and John K. were able to cover was amazing. They always come to play and it’s appreciated. Dustin too say an increase in action in left field and played great for us.

At the end of this fun game, we found ourselves back on the winning side at 11 to 4. Lot’s of fun and hoping that we can start to get players back in time for the playoffs.

Things were not looking good going into this game. It looked like we’d be without 4 of our players going into this one. Losing arguably three of our best players in the same week. Luckily John B. was able to make the game after all and he gave us hope. Sadly the losses of Kevin, John K. and Megan would leave a massive void this week. Kevin and John K. have been amazing all season and not having them would hurt us, especially defensively.

However, the Honey Badgers still clawed our way in this contest against the Banzai Executioners with a makeshift lineup. Dodgeball legend Jared “The Catch” Miller was able to fill in and did a fine job at first base for us. With a lot of of players playing in different positions in the field, there was a little confusion at times early resulting in some uncharacteristically sloppy play.

I made a horrible play in right field myself. I was determined to charge a shallow kick down but once I realized I wouldn’t catch up to it my momentum just carried me past it and the ball got behind me. Outfield 101 – NEVER let the ball get behind you. I topped it off with a horrible throw to the infield. I completely forget that the cutoff guys on the field at the time were not used to playing in the field there and when I realized that I had already begun my throw. My poor play cost us a run, not good.

A few of our players did have some excellent kicking however, keeping us in the game. Irena went an impressive 4-4 scoring 2 runs and kicking in one. Caitlin went 3-3 with a big time double on one of the better kicks I’ve seen this season along the left field line. Very impressive. In an attempt to make up for my horrible play in the field I did go 4-4 myself, hitting the open spots on the field with each kick.

Poor John B. despite a gutsy performance with some amazing fielding, I fear his injuries may’ve took a turn for the worse in this game. We really need to get him healthy, he’s been amazing all season.

Despite out best efforts, our sloppy fielding led us to lose this one 11-7. I did really enjoy playing however and it was nice to have Jared out there for a game. We really need Kevin and John K. back to get us back on track next week.

This was truly a classic game and one of the most exciting I’ve been fortunate enough to play in. Our opponent was the undefeated Terror Squad.

We were short several girls tonight, but did have the necessary 3 to field a proper team. One of our injured teammates did show up to support and cheer on our team even though she had to sit out this week. We’ve got a good team like that.

The Honey Badgers were the visiting team this week and batted first. Kevin lead off with a bullet to third that was caught by a tall enough third baseman. When we took the field the Terror Squad got a couple of base hits and were threatening to score. Our defense really stepped it up and managed to get out of the innig unharmed. It was great to watch.

The next inning with John K. and Sean on the bases I slipped a little on my kick and kicked on top of the ball by accident. Miraculously it only traveled a few feet and despite my terrible kick it managed to score two very big and early runs. The other team complained of a bunt attempt and carried on a little bit too much to me, but I did follow through and it was a legit kick albeit a very weak one.

The rest of the game we would score and then they would match it. There was some amazing plays by Irena all night. Making some huge catches, covering home, etc. She really put on a fielding clinic out there.

I did drop an amazing throw covering first base by John K. that would lead to a run. I was really bummed that I dropped that one. He made an amazing throw and it just bounced out of my hands.

With some solid and intense play we found ourselves up three runs in the bottom of the seventh. However the seventh inning didn’t prove to be our highlight of the night. With some very solid a precise kicking the Terror Squad found a way to answer back and tie the game with three runs of their own.

However, with two outs runners in scoring position John B. made a truly remarkable catch in left field to extend our night with extra innings. WIth a kick to shallow left John B. ran faster than I had ever seen him run and reached down to his shoe laces to make an amazing big time clutch catch. It was probably the finest play I’ve seen in two seasons of kickball.

Extra innings were tough. Both teams threatened in the eight but were unable to bring anyone home. The bottom of the ninth the Terror Squad put together several key kicks. The had the bases loaded with only one out and were able to kick in the winning run keeping on low of the ground to first. I wasn’t able to field it cleanly, but even had I done the runner of third would’ve scored any how by how long it the ball had been on the ground.

This was truly an amazing game and while a heartbreaking loss I was very proud of how hard everyone played. I couldn’t imagine a bunch I’d rather play with win or lose.

Coming off a pretty tough loss last week, the Honey Badgers we’re really hoping to get back on the winning track. Luckily this week’s opponent was the winless Gung Ho Executioners.

While the Gung Ho gang did put together several scoring rallies, we were able to kick pretty well as a team against their fielding. Are four girls playing that night; Lauren, Irena, Caitlin and Megan all had breakout performances. They were great for us and really made a big difference in the outcome of the game.

Unfortunately the most memorable moment of the night came late in the game with one of the Executioner’s girls running to first. Sean attempted to tag the bag before, but at the last second attempted to peg her to get her out as he was just a few feet too short to arrive at the bag before her.

It was a very heads up play on his part, however his throw sailed a little to high and struck her right smack on the side of her face. It was a pretty substantial strike and play had to be halted for a short time in order for her to recover. It was clearly an accident on his part with no malice and she was able to continue playing (you’re safe it struck above the shoulders).

The entire team did a great job of keeping the ball low and advancing runners all game. This really worked well for us and is a strategy that we will have to employ moving forward.

My one blunder of the game was not getting my foot on first base while making my catch. I kinda thought that I had touched it in time, but it was very close and the ref did not see me touch it. I wasn’t sure where the runner was exactly and really didn’t want to possibly collide with her and cause any injury.

All in all a very good game for the Honey Badgers. New faces making contributions and our veterans were able to try some new stuff out since we got out to an early lead.