Fort Collins - Week 1 - Highlights

City Park Field 1 (6pm)

high rollers (Ash Grey) vs. Kickin Grass and Takin Names (Purple):

Some things change, and some things stay the same… For Kickin Grass and Takin Names, their name might have changed, but for the high rollers, they wanted to keep up their winning ways from last season! The high rollers jumped out to an early lead 3-0 after the 1^st inning, and then put on the defensive clamps for the duration. Colter “Fancy Feet” Schutte led the defensive charge with his nifty footwork in getting outs as catcher. Kickin Grass and Takin Names kept things close though with some solid defensive of work of their own. In particular, Brady “Oh Captain, My Captain” Andersen and Heather “Hot Hands” Cox made some impressive catches in the outfield. But without an offensive spark, Kickin Grass did not make much progress. The high rollers keep it rolling into Summer 2016—high rollers win 6-0.

City Park Field 2 (6pm)

Saved By The Balls (Lime) vs. Oilers (Violet):

After losing in the playoffs the last three seasons, the Oilers came out with a vengeance to start Summer 2016! They scored three runs in the bottom of the 1^st inning while showcasing their speed on the base paths. Meanwhile Adam “The Iron Horse” Morse and Garrett Dean had some impressive bobbling/jumping catches on the defensive side. Then captain Paul Schwarz booted a two-run homer to ice the game in the bottom of the 6^th inning. Hopefully those balls are kinder to Saved by the Balls next time… Oilers win 7-2.

City Park Field 3 (6pm)

Merican Made (Red) vs. Kick It To the Limit (White):

Make-up game TBD.

City Park Field 4 (6pm)

Where My Pitches At (Neon Orange) vs. Little Lebowski Urban Achievers (Sport Grey): 

For awhile, this contest was a defensive battle… Or was it a defensive struggle…? Either way, things started out ominously for Where My Pitches At as the Little Lebowski Urban Achievers put two runners in scoring position in the top of the 1^st inning. However, a close play at home as Captain Chad Cheshire attempted to slide in for the score ultimately ended the inning. The Little Lebowski Urban Achievers also had some impressive defensive plays, including Krista Stanley’s running/bobble catch in the bottom of the 4^th. Finally, we arrived at the top of the 6^th inning, with the score still 0-0…. Bum bum bum!!! Then an error at first base for Where My Pitches At finally opened up the floodgates, as the Little Lebowski Urban Achievers scored a whopping five runs before the close of the inning! Then they sealed the deal with an ESPN Top-10 worthy diving catch by Logan Rutt to end the game!!! Little Lebowski Urban Achievers win 8-2.

City Park Field 1 (7pm)

A Swift Kick in the Grass (Irish Green) vs. Kicktease (Neon Yellow): Talk about some highlights!!! For Kicktease, Matt “The Leg” Letuk’s one run homer in the top of the 1^st inning got them on the board. But A Swift Kick in the Grass quickly answered with Doug “Multi-Leg” Liedle’s impressive base running in the bottom of the 1^st inning to tie the game. The real show stopper however was John “Scene Stealer” Miller’s catch and somersault for the third out in the top of the 4^th inning for A Swift Kick in the Grass. Ultimately, Kicktease’s offensive prowess helped them triumph over the flash and pizzazz of A Swift Kick in the Grass. Kicktease wins 5-1.

City Park Field 2 (7pm)

Kickass Data Nerds (Charcoal) vs. Really Really RiKICKulously Good Looking (Carolina Blue): 

This game would have been extremely close… If not for one play—but we will get to that in a little bit. It became obvious early on that both teams were very capable on the defensive side of the plate. For the Kickass Data Nerds, Graham Gilliland’s epic throw from the outfield for an out at home kept the scoring to only one run in the top of the 1^st. Then Ross Montgomery from Really Really RiKICKulously Good Looking came back with his own stellar sliding catch in the bottom of the 1^st. But the play of the day was a tip drill-style catch by hair twins Amanda Lark and Abrahimovic on Really Really RiKICKulously Good Looking. (See the highlight here!) That one play I mentioned earlier though—a two-out grand slam in the top of the 4^th—sometimes all it takes is one play! Really Really RiKICKulously Good Looking wins 7-3.

City Park Field 3 (7pm)

Ballz N Dollz (Tropical Blue) vs. Florida Mike and the Free Ballers (Texas Orange): Make-up game TBD.

City Park Field 4 (7pm)

Balls Deep (Navy) vs. Kick Balls and Kick Grass (Tennessee Orange):

In another hotly contested matchup, everything came down to the 7^th inning… But let’s not gloss over all the good stuff in between ;) Ryan Brunk’s double for an RBI in the top of the 3^rd helped score the first run of the season for Kick Balls and Kick Grass. Meanwhile, Balls Deep was led by James Hartsig, who not only pitched a stellar game from the mound, but he also assisted on both the Balls Deep scores. Finally, Michael Meyers for Kick Balls and Kick Grass came through in the top of the 7^th inning to finally put his team ahead with a double that scored two runs! Even in a losing effort though, Hartsig was awarded game MVP honors—he commented after the game, “You win some, you lose some. But since ‘some’ is such a relative term, hopefully the winning outweighs the losing if you know what I mean…” Such a philosopher. Kick Balls and Kick Grass wins 6-2.