Colorado Springs - Week 5 - Highlights

Fresh Kicks of Ball Air (black) vs All My Pitches Love Me (sapphire blue):

All My Pitches Love Me was looking to even the series against a shorthanded FKOBA squad. FKOBA got the scoring started in the top of the 1^st; after loading the bases with 1 out, Joey Vincent knocked in Alan Paquin with an RBI single followed by another bases-loaded RBI by Miles Andrews. Up 2-0 after 1, Erik Martin would take the mound for FKOBA and give a lead-off walk to Alex Koehler and a single to Joe Karlik. Beau Kelly came to the plate with an RBI opportunity and he certainly didn’t fail to cash in, plating both runners for 2 RBIs; however he wasn’t satisfied with just a single, so he attempted to go for 2^nd on the play but got thrown out. Tied at 2, both teams would go down 1-2-3 in the 2^nd inning. FKOBA got a leadoff bunt single by Alan Paquin in the 3^rd, and later advanced to 3^rd with 1 out, but neither Erik Martin nor Joey Vincent would be able to bring him home as they both popped it up for outs. AMPLM got their mojo going again in the 4^th, after back-to-back singles by Joe Karlik and Beau Kelly, they’d score on a fielder’s choice and sac-fly by Kristin Porter and Eric Hopfenbeck to make it a 4-2 contest. Both defenses stepped up their efforts for the remainder of the game, and AMPLM’s pitcher Joe Karlik sat down the FKOBA offense 1-2-3 in the 7^th to seal the win and move into 2^nd place in the league standings.

Final Score: All My Pitches Love Me 4, Fresh Kicks of Ball Air 2

Bazinga (red) vs Booze on First (royal blue):

In what appeared to be a very close defensive battle for most of the game, Booze on First held their own against Bazinga despite having only 8 players in the field. Bazinga got an early run in the 1^st after a Shane Jahnke bunt single and an RBI single by Nate Kischer. Booze on First’s offense struggled to find any gaps in the Bazinga defense, as Bazinga was able to prevent them from getting any runners past 2^nd base. Booze on First was also able to keep Bazinga from getting any runners to advance past 2^nd base, until the 6^th inning when Bazinga woke up. Tim Menditto and Shane Jahnke led off with a bunt and double. Nate Kischer knocked Tim in with a sac fly, and Keith Hausam cleared the bases with a booming home run to the near-empty outfield to make it 4-0. Bazinga added another 2 runs in the 7^th, and retired all 6 kickers for Booze on First in the final 2 innings to secure the shutout win.

Final Score: Bazinga 4, All My Pitches Love Me 3

Bazinga (red) vs Gold Ballerz (gold):

Bazinga kept their hot streak going from the end of their first game, taking control early in this game. In the top of the 1^st, leadoff kicker Tim Menditto scored on a Nate Kischer single, and Nate would score on a Keith Hausam double. Bazinga was relatively quiet (for their standards) for the next 4 innings, scoring 2 more runs to go ahead 4-0. In the 6^th, Todd Brewer got in on the scoring action, plating Luke Bramble and Keith Hausam on a clutch double. In the 7^th, Bazinga’s Tim Menditto led off with a single, and with some savvy and speedy baserunning was able to advance and score on a sac fly to the infield by Casey Young to make it a 9-0 game. Bazinga successfully got their leadoff kicker on base every inning, and that leadoff runner scored 5 out of the 7 innings. That’s how you win by playing small ball, ballers!

Final Score: Bazinga 9, Gold Ballerz 0

Fort Collins - Week 5 - Highlights

Edora Field 1 (6pm)

Flint Tropics (Tropical Blue) vs. Kickin Grass and Takin Names (Carolina Blue):

You just knew that this game was going to come down to the last pitch—and the sellout crowd wasn’t disappointed! The Flint Tropics stormed out to an early lead 1-0, but both teams had some stellar defensive plays early on. Bryan “Slamming” Salimbeni from Kickin Grass and Takin Names made a line drive catch at the hot corner in the top of the 3^rd inning. Then Jon “Bruce” Lee from the Flint Tropics turned an impressive double play from the pitcher position in the bottom of the 3^rd. However, the Flint Tropics still had a commanding 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the 5^th… That’s when Kyle “Old Man” Oldham from Kickin Grass and Takin Names came through with a two-run RBI to tie up the game 4-4. Finally, it came down to the final inning, with “Kickin Katy” Forte at the plate—and she came through with a walk-off single! And the crowd went nuts!!! Kickin Grass and Takin Names wins 5-4.

Edora Park Field 2 (6pm)

Benny THE JET Rodriguezes (Navy) vs. Kicktease (Neon Orange):

Benny THE JET Rodriguezes thought they had this one in the bag… But they learned to never count out Kicktease!!! After Captain Trent Darrough’s triple in the bottom of the 4^th for Benny THE JET Rodriguezes, it looked like they had it all wrapped up 6-0. But lo and behold two innings later Jon Flack from Kicktease would go on to boot a three-run homer to make things interesting! Brian Caffee from Kicktease also had an impressive “kick out” as the runner headed to first base that stunned his opponents. Darrough would say after the game, “We took our foot off the gas and let Kicktease back into this one. We can’t have those mental lapses again if we hope to win the Horsetooth Cup!” Benny THE JET Rodriguezes wins 6-3.

Edora Park Field 3 (6pm)

Lunchbox Violators (Neon Orange) vs. RiKickulous (Neon Yellow):

Now those are some highlights! Corey Bernhardt from the Lunchbox Violators had some jaw-dropping catches at first base and as the catcher, but it was Dan Winnega’s headfirst slide into first base for RiKikculous that really showed his team’s determination to win. RiKickulous led throughout, but just when it looked like the Lunchbox Violators might storm back in the bottom of the 7^th, the tag team duo of Paul Hueber and Aaron Gast from RiKickulous forced a double play that ended a bases-loaded threat from the Lunchbox Violators. Avid kickballer Super Mario commented after the game, “Those-a Lunchbox Violators were so a-close to a comeback! They are a-like Luigi—almost great like me, but not quite.” RiKickulous wins 4-1. 

Edora Park Field 1 (7pm)

Flint Tropics (Tropical Blue) vs. Freeballers (Purple):

Check these plays out—Emily “Mighty Mouse” Mitchell from the Flint Tropics set the tone early by getting all three outs herself (including a double play) in the bottom of the 1^st inning. But the Freeballers had their own defensive magic, including an amazing catch/double play by Jake “The San Francisco Treat” Rice in top of the 3^rd and a diving catch by Luke “Balls to the Walls” Birky in the top of the 4^th inning. Unfortunately, there just wasn’t enough offense to go around for the Freeballers… Flint Tropics win 11-4.

Edora Park Field 2 (7pm)

Ballz n Dollz (Lime) vs. Oilers (Violet):

Such drama that only kickball can provide! Kristen Baker from Ballz n Dollz made sure that the Oilers wouldn’t get on the scoreboard early in this one after a juggle catch at second base ended the top of the 1^st inning. However, the defending champion Oilers would take a 2-0 lead going into the 3^rd inning before Tom Torres from Ballz n Dollz knocked in a two-out RBI to tied up the game in the bottom of the 3^rd! Then Elijah Ledezma from Ball n Dollz would have the go-ahead RBI in the bottom of the 4^th! It definitely seemed like the ball was bouncing in Ball n Dollz’s favor, with the game ending on a diving catch by Captain Jeremy Glanzer from Ballz n Dollz. Glanzer commented after the game, “Sometimes you get lucky, but other times the people on your squad just come through in the clutch… This game was the perfect combo of both. The zombie outfits definitely helped too, so be on the lookout for those in the playoffs.” Ballz n Dollz wins 3-2.

Edora Park Field 3 (7pm)

Where My Pitches At (Cardinal Red) vs. Merican Made (Texas Orange): If you deleted the bottom of the 3^rd and 6^th innings, this game would have been a close one! Big Ben Burnham once again took home MVP honors with another shut out from the mound and some impressive defensive work as pitcher. (See the highlights here.) Merican Made wins 11-0.

Colorado Springs - Week 4 - Highlights

Fresh Kicks of Ball Air (black) vs. Gold Ballerz (gold):

Fresh Kicks of Ball Air certainly lived up to their name this week, freshly kicking a ton of balls into the air against the Gold Ballerz. Erik Martin started off the fresh kicking with a blast over the center fielder’s head for an easy home run. FKOBA captain Alan Paquin decided he wanted in on the action too, booting a 2-run homer to right field in the 2^nd inning, capping off a 4-run inning for FKOBA to make it 5-0. Gold Ballerz got some offense going in the bottom of the 2^nd, after Brandon Wilson led off with a solo home run. Qadry Jenkins followed with a double, and later scored on a Dylan Halford single to bring Gold Ballerz within 3 runs. The FKOBA attack was too strong for the Gold Ballerz defense though, as FKOBA put up 5 more runs in the 4^th to break it open, thanks in part to back-to-back RBI triples by Joey Vincent and Alan Paquin. Gold Ballerz were able to get a couple more runs, but ultimately came up short against a fresh team that took the previous week off from kickball.

Final Score: Fresh Kicks of Ball Air 14, Gold Ballerz 4

All My Pitches Love Me (sapphire blue) vs. Booze on First (royal blue):

AMPLM showed no mercy against the Booze on First crew after taking it to them last week. Beau Kelly was up to his usual tricks, kicking balls deep to the outfield, this time knocking in Alex Koehler for an RBI triple. Down 2-0 in the bottom of the 1^st, Booze on First managed to load the bases with only 1 out, but popped it up twice to the AMPLM defense to end their golden opportunity. AMPLM made them pay in the 3^rd inning, after Caitlyn Beans singled and Joe Karlik sent a bomb to the outfield for a 2-run homer. Now trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the 3^rd, Booze on First scrounged together some gutsy bunts and Mark O’Meara sent home Dylan Stoll with a 2 out single for their first run of the game. Beau Kelly put the icing on the win for AMPLM in the 5^th with a solo shot heard ‘round the park.

Final Score: All My Pitches Love Me 7, Booze on First 1

All My Pitches Love Me (sapphire blue) vs. Bazinga (red):

In the matchup both teams have likely been salivating for all season, these two rivals sure didn’t disappoint with the dramatics. AMPLM got things going in the top of the 1^st when Beau Kelly ripped an RBI single to left field to score Alex Koehler. Bazinga would answer in the bottom of the 1^st when Keith Hausam sent a blooper to short center field, and Shane Jahnke came around to score beating the throw to home. Todd Brewer followed with an RBI single to bring home Matt Howes, giving Bazinga the early 2-1 lead. The Bazinga defense and the stifling pitching of Matt Howes would hold the AMPLM offense without a base runner until the 6^th inning. Meanwhile in the 4^th, Todd Brewer made a gutsy run to home from third base on a grounder to third base by Laurel Smith to make it 3-1. Still down 2 runs in the top of the 7^th, AMPLM pulled together the late-game heroics. With Alex Koehler on first base and 1 out, Beau Kelly sent his kick to left field for an RBI to bring them within a run. Kristin Porter followed with a bunt, but the throw to first was bobbled and Beau scored on the play to tie the game and take us to extras. AMPLM got shut down in the top of the 8^th and in the bottom of the 8^th Bazinga’s Shane Jahnke led off with a bunt; pitcher Joe Karlik attempted to kick the ball to his first baseman but it sailed over his head and Shane advanced to third base on the play. Casey Young came up shortly thereafter and got a single to second base to easily score Shane on the play giving Bazinga the walk-off win.

Final Score: Bazinga 4, All My Pitches Love Me 3