Westcoast Kickball League

Wow, week three was great!  We had four great games, and quite a good time during and after the games. 

Wednesday, June 13^th 

Pirates 7, Space Tractor 3

 I have to admit even though it’s early in the season I thought Space Tractor and the Happy Birthdays were the two best teams.  Space Tractor had an amazing playoff run last year and I thought they would carry that into this year with there terrific trifecta of Matt, Mike, & Andy.  I am not counting them out at all, but they did run into the veteran squad this week, the Pirates.  When big Matt is on at pitcher, and Kelly (wo)manning first base, they are really hard to beat.  It was a tight game until the space farmers ran afoul of that age old kickball cliché, the one bad inning.  The Pirates scored five runs in the third, and that was pretty much the game.  It was still hella fun to watch though, from Nikki’s birthday brunch of champagne and strawberries before the game, and Space tractors re-telling of their origins, with a scurvy twist.  The keytar blaring away, and cheers all around for the action, it was a great time. 

Darkside 6, the Happy Birthdays 4

The game started out in favor of the Happy Birthdays, who will henceforth be referenced as HB.  They executed a killer taunt and took field advantage, signs of a good team.  This didn’t faze the Darkside though as they answered the taunt in their own way; almost continuously scoring points every inning.  The HB were held to only a few runs by a killer pitcher and great fielding.  Also with a demoralizing 2 run homer in the top of the 3rd things weren’t looking good for HB and hopes were high for the Darkside.  HB finally wised up to them in the bottom of the 5th, down by 5.  They answered the power kicking of the Darkside by landing their own 2 run homer.  Momentum was building when they scored another run.  However, it was not enough to steal the lead from the Darkside because as the day becomes darker, the better Darkside plays.  In the end the Darkside was able to hold tight to their lead and win the battle.  Overall it was a great game played against two great teams.  And the mini-muffins provided by the luscious Heidi, captain of the Darkside, was a satisfying finish to both teams.  Well maybe more still for the victorious Darkside. Thanks to Isaiah for that write up.  See what happens when enough Darksiders show-up?  It was an impressive win over a good new team.   

Thursday, June 14^th 

Jackass 4, Ball Deep 1

 Seems like Jackass has a different line-up every week, but they are doing one thing the same, and that’s kicking the crap outta some balls.  This team has some good players and Patrick is doing a great job at making the line-ups work.  Ball Deep used all there tricks, but just couldn’t seem to score against the Jackass defense.  They still have the most intimidating sound system in all of kickball though and, I am sure Lindsay will whip his team back into contention. 

Tha Tang 9, Varsity 5

 This wonderful game started with a great twist, Tha Tang won the taunt.  Honestly I have been in the league since the beginning and I don’t really know who in the heck Tha Tang are?  Despite that they really bring the kickball spirit when they show up.  They are fun, mellow, a little drunk, and come to kick balls!  Varsity had a taunt but it suffered from their lack of knowledge as to just what Tha Tang refers too, and they mocked the movie Pootie Tang? which was not really a must see block-buster and most had no idea what was going on.  Tha Tang’s new mascot is an awesome 5 foot tall, tang colored exercise ball, which they strap to the top of a Subaru to transport.  You know your going to see dance team with any Varsity game, and that right there is worth coming down to the field.  Tha Tang beat up on opponent’s defense a bit, but with a focus I have yet to see from the Varsity, they kept it tight and rallied in the fifth to make the game respectable.  It was one of those games that really brought the spirit of what the league founder Todd Arkley wanted.  It was a competitive game with lots of creativity, great sportsmanship from both teams, and just a whale of a good time had by everyone.  It was nothing but smiles the whole time, and that should pretty much sums up why we are out there playing kickball.   

Week Four has Wed Jun 20, 2007 at BF DAY in Fremont

Thu Jun 21, 2007 at North Acres located at 101 NE 130^th Street, Seattle.  Just take I-5 north to 130^th NE (I think exit 174) and take a left on 130^th NE, head back over I-5, and the field is just one block over.

I am sorry about the North Acres, but Seattle Parks and Rec bumped us from our normal field at the last minute and rescheduled us there.  The good news is that after North Acres, the rest of our games are at BF Day in Freemont J

Okay, here ya go!   This is the one area where I fall quite far behind the last commish, Sarah.  It will be impossible to match her wit with prose, but I know if I don’t try, I will hear about it from the faithful.  Someone else actually got off there butt and contributed a write-up, so they won’t all stink.  if you want to send me write-ups for your own game or others, please do!  I will not publish anything too derogatory towards others, but most anything else is acceptable.    

Overall it was 5 solid games on Saturday, another excellent start to a season.  There was some good skits, a competitive drink-off, solid competition, and zero whining about calls.  About the only criticism I will make is that it was a bit of a sausagefest out there for most the teams.  It’s a co-ed league guys, meaning two sexes on the field.  We have never had hard and fast rules about the number of any specific gender being on the fields in one game, but some teams are really pushing it.  It’s fun to play with girls, really fun! 

    The Happy Birthdays 3, the Pirates 2 -  (I forgot to write down the final score) Well it was tough to tell which team was brand new and which team was the oldest in the league.  The Pirates were a much different looking team out there.  Many of the “regular” Pirates were absent, and I hope we get to see them at some point this year.  I suspected that JT would have his new club , the Happy Birthdays, ready to go at seasons start.  Anyone that thought they might jump on this team early while they were still figuring this kickball thing out, think again.  They have some studs and JT’s got them looking liked seasoned ballers early on.

     WNDRFL 13, THE AVE RATS 9  - “muerto raton. muerto!” chants of die rat die started this game of ballkick. in the first inning team WNDRFL singed The Ave Rats w/ a 6-0 lead. passion, or the crazy hot sun had the luchadores “corazones en fuego”. by mid game the score became tension filled as The Ave Rats pulled themselves together and rallied back w/ a score of 8 leaving the luchadores sweating in places where capes and tights should never be…or go… but did. alas, Ave Rats just couldn’t compensate for initial blaze of WNDRFL that seemed to have been a flash…and both teams left wondering…what happened …why…y por que no? side notes: john of team WNDRFL got first blood for his team, not bud a.k.a vomito de gato a.k.a. this years commish. also, if you intend to play the Ave Rats, beware.. their players are tall…too tall and one even did the splits across first base..luring you in asking to bum a ciggi and then… well, you’ll see…

    Ball Deep 23, Varsity 4 - Ouch!  Easily the best skits of the day!  Ball Deep had a PA system and did a great job announcing their players and keeping them motivated all game with personalized theme songs.  Varsity’s dance team got everyone just a little worked up!  As for the game, well, Lindsay Baker once again answer’s the eternal question with an emphatic, oh yeah, it’s been brought!

    Jackass 4, Darkside 3 -Well the world truly got turn on it’s ear by this one.  Someone actually beat Jackass in a boat race to determine home field advantage.  It was a mildly shocking upset Darkside pulled out over the long standing party team.

    Space Tractor 8, Tha Tang 4 - Space Tractor went a long way towards claiming victory both on the field and in the increasingly important skit battles.  There tang pouring robot breasts was almost as dominating as there fearsome outfield.  They came in a close second last year for winning it all, and haven’t seemed to miss a beat with a solid victory to start his one.

    Heya everyone!  It’s that time of the summer (well, late spring) again!  My name is Bud Lee, and I’ll be your Commissioner/”happy” ump for the summer.  I have been a participant in the WKL since the first pick-up scrimmage game which birthed (spat out) the original five teams.  I played on the Scissor Kids, Joy on the Mountain, Private School Punks, Team Atari, and this years incarnation, WNDRFL.  I helped Sarah by co-commishing (i.e. toadie) last year, and I have helped every year with umping and making up rules as we went along!  If anyone is looking to be my toadie, er co-commish let me know.  I can’t drink like this forever.

    I am really hoping to continue the long tradition of fun, “cheerfulness”, and debauchery that we have all worked so hard at establishing in this league.  Fun being the key word there.  We are all adults to one degree or another and I personally abhor drama, unless it’s the drama generated by a good ol’ adult kickball match.  Any time you feel like losing your cool over a bad bounce of the ball, just remember it’s a big red bouncing rubber ball, and have another swig.  I hope to see you all out there this summer, and I truly hope you all have fun playing!

 p.s.  I am a horrid speller, and I do not teach poetry to college students unlike your last commissioner, so live with it :)