Kickball Season recaps

I'm the manager of our division's kickball team participating through a local Park and Rec Board. We're through four games. After each game I write up a game recap. They're fun for light reading, so I thought I would post the game recaps and continue on through the rest of the season...

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ShopNBC Kickapoos
Game 1: May 28 Versus: Recess Rioters
Final Score: Kickapoos: 4, Rioters: 5

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn-- Several of you asked to get updated on the ShopNBC Kickapoos kickball team. Last night was our first game. We had a roster of 10 players last night who had never so much as practiced together prior to the first game. You would’ve thought we’d been playing together for at least two, three games!

It was a close game, where both team were equal in talent. We lost the coin toss and the Recess Rioters chose to be the home team. Right away, in the top of the first inning, we scored three runs. Eventually, the Rioters picked away at our lead and we came to the top of the 7th inning behind 4 – 5. We got the bases loaded and two outs. Could we do it? Could we get that tying run in? Alas, it was not meant to be—at least not this time. Final score: ShopNBC Kickapoos 4, Recess Rioters 5.

MVP goes to: Matt Theis. Matt stepped up to pitch the first game of the season. Unbeknownst to him, he wasn’t only pitcher, but because of kickball rules indicating any infield play between 2nd and 3rd base can be thrown back to the pitcher to qualify the runner to be out at first, he got A LOT of action.

Brute of the Week goes to: Toni Clemens. After having all the balls going down the 3rd base line, she thought it might be easier to bag 1st base. Not to be. One line drive and throw back to 1st had her reaching for the save catch and instead collided with the runner. Toni’s brute strength was too powerful for the runner who went sprawling in the dirt. All were able to dust it off and play continued.

Thanks to everyone for a great game! I haven’t received many injury reports other than a sore hamstring and a sore back, so the pre-game stretching and post-game hydrating did their job.

Up next week: Kickapoos vs We Got the Runs
When: Thursday, June 4 @ 6:10pm

You are invited to come and cheer on your team. Post-game gathering location TBD.

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ShopNBC Kickapoos
Game 2: June 4 Versus: We Got the Runs
Final Score: Kickapoos: 5, the Runs: 2

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn-- On a clear, sunny and seasonally polluted (thanks cottonwood trees!) evening, the ShopNBC Kickball crew of 10 met their newest opponent, We Got the Runs. Oh yeah, they looked real intimidating in their brown shirts with yellow logo and fancy numbers on the back of their t's, but we could smell their inexperience a mile away.

At game toss, we again were determined to be the visitors, which had us up to plate first. Quite unsettling to the manager, the umpire sabatoged the complex kicking line-up strategy that was created for this big game. He instilled the mandatory guy-gal-must-alternate-kicking rule. So we went up and down in the first inning scoring zero and leaving one stranded on base.

Bottom of the first inning, the dependable defense took the field. We came back in as fast as we went out--a 1-2-3 inning (if I recall correctly).

Then our legs got warm and it was all down-hill from there. We got in 2 runs in the second, 2 runs in the third and blanked the opponent until the 5th inning when they started a mini-rally and scored 2 runs against us. Just to ensure our victory, JJ (a.k.a me), who came in as pinch-runner for Amber Asman who heroically kicked a safe single despite a quad strain, did some smart decoy base running from 1st for 2nd and get tagged out so that Matt Theis could run safely home behind the action at second to score the defining final blow to the opposition.

A lot of smart play occurred during the game, no hot-shot catches or hero save attempts. Just playing for the good of the team and slowing it down when necessary to minimize the risk.

The MVP goes to Toni Clemens. Toni was a defensive warrior in her new position at 2nd base. We Got the Runs was sitting at 2-out, but two on base in the bottom of the 7th inning. A pop fly came her way. Everyone in attendance could hear, "oh god, oh god, oh god!" from the 2nd base area, but sure enough, she held firm, her eyes on the ball and when it came down, after what seemed to be an eternity, it stuck into her suction-like strong arms and stayed there for the final, dramatic out of the game.

The Digger award goes to: Amber Asman. Why digger you say? Well, she experienced a pull in her quad fairly early in the game, yet still played on. She dug deep into her heart and took it for the team, especially when asked if she was okay to kick in the 6th inning, she grimaced, but bravely said, "yeah...I can kick." She kicked a nice shot down between two infielders and limped safely into first.

Team newbie for the game was Mike Olson. He was unable to make it to the first game, but while he didn't want to go on record, a source close to Olson indicates he had a good time out there and looks forward to playing in the future.

The toasts and celebrations continued off the field at Old Chicago, Minnetonka. A good time was had by those in attendance.

So, here we are, dear fans, off to a nice start to the season. We are now 1-1. We had four fans in the stands...er, uhm, grassy hill,...that were young and old. Why don't you join us next week?

Up next week: Kickapoos vs 3 Finger Salute
When: Thursday, June 11 @ 7:15pm (note later time)

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ShopNBC Kickapoos
Game 3: June 11 Versus: 3 Finger Salute
Final Score: Kickapoos: 1, 3 Finger Salute: 9

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn-- Post-game report submitted by Robin Dary, bench player and roving reporter--

Last night was game 3 for the ShopNBC Kickapoos kickball team. The team has spirit, enthusiasm and pride. The quiet rumblings of a low-budget team making Park and Rec Board Kickball League waves have piqued curiosity and the crowd of raving fans grew from 4 to 11 this week (6 of whom were aged 11 and under and playing in the park). Is there anything cuter than a child shouting, “Go Mommy’s team!" or "Nice try, Mommy!” It was a calm night about 72 degrees at a beautiful Minnetonka park. Ok, how long can I stall before I share the details?


(Insert big, deep breath here...)


The Kickapoos suffered a crushing defeat, 1 - 9 . In our defense, I must mention that the opposing team was made up entirely of former professional soccer players. Well, not really but for nursing home residents they played a mean kickball game. OR Well, not really but for 10 year-olds they played a mean kickball game. At any rate, they pulled out every trick in their bag--bunting, directional kicking, kicking it to the crazy 2nd basewoman who could be heard gurgling, "oh gawd, oh gawd!"

The other team got a little cocky after a while once settled into their 8-run lead. One line drive kick to their firstbaseman caused some potential for bench clearing. He officially caught the ball, proceeded to "drop" the ball as Matt Theis jogged off the field toward the bench and then sauntered over to the bag for the out. A little unnecessary teasing caused the collective to "boo!". The umpire decided to get into the action and called for 2 extra bases for Matt due to unsportsmanlike conduct, at which he followed up with a "just kidding!"--all this at the top of the 7th inning rally point. Grr.

The best quote of the night goes to Pat, a friend of JJ’s (who was recruited to help stack the number of guys on the team), in describing the opposing team. “You can be good and not be asses....that team was a little to the ' ass ' side of the line."

The “wish I had a video camera” catch goes to JJ. She caught a pop ball, almost dropped it, leaned back with arms overhead, kept the ball and got the final out at the bottom of the sixth inning.

Kim Bukoskey and Blaire Freeman made their season debut; Matt Theis and Heath Mast continue to be two of the most over-worked defensive players. Toni Clemens had a great catch just as her husband walked out of sight and Scott Dary (my hot husband) didn't let any balls fly past him in the outfield.

We are humbled, but not broken. We are now looking forward to the next match-up. Can we top 11 fans? Who knows...why don't you join us next week?

Up next week: Kickapoos vs TMNT
When: Thursday, June 18 @ 6:10 pm

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ShopNBC Kickapoos
Game 4: June 18 Versus: TMNT
Final Score: Kickapoos: 1, TMNT: 9

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn-- It was like the famous scene from the movie "The Right Stuff" (cue dramatic music here)

...where the first American astronauts take the slow walk out onto the tarmac...these big, behemoth men and women poised and possessing grit in their jaw took the field.
They had cleats, cool ray-bans and striped knee-high socks.

On the other side of the field was an unknowing rag-tag team of co-workers, just looking to have a little fun on a balmy June evening. Was there to be a dramatic turn of events this week for the Kickapoos?

Uhm, no.

The opponent was that good. And then some.

The Kickapoos took the field with the 9th player arriving just before a forfeit had to be announced. The Kickapoos were a bit shaken, but not stirred. A shake-up was needed indeed. Our very own Toni Clemens took the mound for the Kickapoos, relieving Matt Theis who valiantly pitched the firsts three games, and pitched some great looking balls to the fierce opponent. We were, however, no match for them. Quickly, they took advantage of the bunting allowance and ran circles around the Kickapoos scoring 6 runs in the first, 2 runs in the second, and 1 run in the fourth.

Then the lights went out on Mike Olson.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, a kick was made and Olson was on second. He tore down the line to take third base. But before he could get there, the giant third baseman (rumors indicate he may have been working the steroids shortly before the game) planted himself on the running line in front of the bag. Determined to get the bag, Olson bore down and tried to take the dude with him, but the greatest collision ever witnessed on a kickball field occurred: Olson made contact with the human brick wall and went spiraling up in the air (I kid you not!) landing with a thud on his shoulder defiantly tagging the bag. As a result of the rough play, the Umpire called an automatic base advance, which allowed Olson to limp home for the only Kickapoo run of the game.

After the fourth inning, the Kickapoos got their defensive game on and blanked the Ninja Turtles for two more innings. Our kicking toes, however, remained silent. Due to a mandatory "3-runs-scored" rule declared by the Umpire, the game was called after the 6th inning.

MVP goes to: Mike Olson. Need I say more? (Apparently yes...) Bruised and battered, he still showed up to work next day. Good thing his wife wasn't in attendance last night...TMNT would've seen some real ninja action outta that girl!

Given the losing record, 1 - 3, the team is looking to restrategerize (hey, if George Bush can say it, why can't I?) and get their new game on. Spring training is over, people! Now Boys (and Girls) of Summer will show up for next week's game. Are you ready to rumble?

Up next week: Kickapoos vs The Toematers
When: Thursday, June 25 @ 7:15 pm

We're always looking for new recruits to play for the team. Drop JJ a line to let her know you’d like to play.