Fort Collins - Week 1 - Highlights

GO Kickball: Fort Collins Highlights (August 23, 2017)

Edora Park Field 1 (5:45pm)

Team America (Red) vs. Florida Mike and the Free Ballers (Purple):

With a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the 1^st inning, things looked promising for Florida Mike and the Free Ballers after “Downtown” Eric Brown’s IMPRESSIVE diving catch in center field for the first out. But then Ryan “Out-of-the” Parks from Team America began an offensive onslaught with a three-run homer. There was no chance of catching that ball! By the end of the 1^st inning, Team America was winning 6-1, and by the end of the 2^nd inning it was 11-2 after Luke Anger-Hofer’s solo home run! Additionally, Anger-Hofer’s impressive performance on the mound in his pitching debut kept Florida Mike and the Free Ballers at bay for most of the game. But those Free Ballers never gave up—they even notched a five run rally in the last inning! It was too little too late though. (Insert sad face emoji.) Team America wins 19-10.  

Edora Park Field 3 (5:45pm)

Ballz n Dollz (Indigo Blue) vs. Mighty Fightin Narwhals (Tropical Blue): Mighty Fightin’ Narwhals is one of the new teams on the block this season and they came out with their tusks fully developed for their first game of the season. Ben Schisler and Chad Chesire led their pod with home runs in the top of the 1^st inning.  Followed by the delivery of more Home Runs by Darren Ashton in the 2^nd and Sean Blair in the 4^th. It was a tough game for Ballz and Dollz to get on the board, but they started to get their bearings by the bottom of the 6^th inning. It could be a chilly season with the Narwhals icing out their competition – only next week’s games will start to show who on top and who is not. Mighty Fightin Narwhals wins 29-5.

Edora Park Field 1 (6:45pm)

Kickin Grass and Takin Names (Forest Green) vs. Forney Sparks (Irish Green):

Welcome to the battle of the captains! Brady Andersen from Kickin Grass and Takin Names started things off with a diving catch in center field to end the bottom of the 1^st inning. Then Captain Jimmy Hebbein from the Forney Sparks did him one better with two diving catches at 1^st base in the top of the 2^nd and 3^rd innings. Now that’s some good hustle! Bryan Salimbeni from Kickin Grass and Takin Names also tried to hustle his way to a score in the top of the 3^rd, but the ‘stache seemed to slow him down. (You can see a picture of his mustache in the game photoshere.) Nothing could slow down Kickin Grass and Takin Names offensive prowess though! Kickin Grass and Takin Names wins 43-0.

Edora Park Field 3 (6:45pm)

99 PROBLEMS BUT MY KICK AINT ONE (Neon Orange) vs. Flint Tropics (Light Pink):

Champions v. Champions was the theme of this game! What a great way to kick off the fall season. Rebranding themselves as “99 PROBLEMS BUT MY KICK AINT ONE” – “Can’t Kick Us Out” has returned to their competitive nature after winning the Summer 2017 Social League. However, back to back season champions, “Flint Tropics” brought their A game to remind their competition what the league is all about to include recruiting a player or two from other competitive teams.  Flint Tropics captain Matt Kelly started the game out strong for his team with a Home Run in the top of the 1^st followed by another in the top of the 3^rd.  Randy Albertz answered for “99 PROBLEMS BUT MY KICK AINT ONE” with his own Home Run in the bottom of the 3^rd. While neon orange came in blazing, they have some refining to do if they anticipate taking down their competition as easily as they did in the summer. Flint Tropics Wins 12-5

Colorado Springs - Week 1 - Highlights

Kick in a Box (neon orange) vs Brews on First (gold):

Fresh off their summer league Pikes Peak Cup win last week, Kick in a Box came into fall league looking to keep their two-season undefeated streak alive. In the top of the 1^st, Seth Dufendock got the action started for KIAB with a double, and Devin Williams booted a nice line drive double to left field to score Seth giving KIAB an early 1-0 lead. KIAB looked sharp on defense early as well, getting 7 outs on the first 7 kickers for Brews on First. In the top of the 3rd, KIAB put together one of their signature rallies, getting 8 consecutive singles, until an outfield fly-out led to a double play on an attempted tag-up by Cortney Brunner. KIAB would score a whopping 7 runs in the inning however to take a dominating 8-0 lead. In the bottom half of the 3rd, BOF’s Sam Schultz got a 1-out single and advanced to third on a single by Rachel Powell, but KIAB left him stranded at third to keep the shutout alive. BOF’s pitcher Dan Scogin kept the KIAB attack relatively quiet for the remainder of the game with his wicked curveballs. In the final two innings, BOF would get a pair of runners to third base, but just couldn’t manage to bring them home, giving KIAB the shutout win.

Final Score: Kick in a Box 9, Brews on First 0

BDBK (neon pink) vs Kick Pitches Get Money (carolina blue):

Despite the core of their team missing this week, BDBK made their regular league debut with high hopes after several seasons of kicking butt in the social league. Newbie Pat Morrissey started the game off for BDBK with a single and scored on a sac-fly by James Baumgartner. Kick Pitches Get Money retaliated in the bottom of the 1st with a lead-off home run by another newbie Koen Litt. Eric Swift then singled and scored on a sac-fly by Justin Collado to give KPGM a 2-1 lead after one. In the top of the 3rd, BDBK’s Lorenzo Trotter knocked a RBI single to the RF gap and Pat Morrissey followed with a RBI single to LF, putting BDBK back on top 3-2. In the 4th, BDBK broke out with six consecutive base hits including a 2-RBI double by Scott Johnson, helping to give BDBK a 6-run lead. KPGM rallied in the bottom of the 4th when Nancie Mogge booted a perfectly placed RBI single over the head of the shortstop, and Dave Fournier followed with a RBI double, cutting KPGM’s deficit to 3 runs. In the 5th, KPGM’s JC Lopez led off with a double and scored on a fielder’s choice grounder by Corrina Briggs, making it 8-6. In the final inning, BDBK got an insurance run with a monster lead-off home run over center field by Pat Morrissey, giving himself MVP honors for the game by going 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Now down 9-6, KPGM had one last chance to tie the game after getting 2 runners on base with 1 out, but Joe Aguirre popped it up to the shortstop and Michelle McGuire got doubled up by not tagging up to end the game.       

Final Score: BDBK 9, Kick Pitches Get Money 6

Blackout (black) vs Gym Class Heroes (royal blue)

Being the only new team this season, Gym Class Heroes received a lengthy welcome from the Blackout offense in the 1st inning. After loading the bases with no outs, Lucas Bramble booted a RBI single and Tim Menditto scorched a 2-RBI double to help give Blackout a 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the 1st, GCH’s Adrian Raszka led off with a single and scored on a RBI double by Mike Permar to get GCH on the board. In the 2nd, Blackout continued their attack with a pair of RBI doubles by Ryan Piper and Shane Jahnke to make it 8-1. In the 3rd, Blackout’s Ben Jones and Todd Brewer each kicked bases-loaded RBI singles to help stretch their lead to 11-1. In the bottom of the 3rd, GCH’s Nic Wetherill led off with a single and scored on Mike Selvage’s RBI double. Adrian Raszka followed with a single and Liz Alford plated Mike on a single, while Mike Permar plated Adrian on a sac-fly to make it 11-4 after 4 innings. Blackout’s veteran play proved to be too much for the GCH rookies, but there is plenty of time for GCH to improve and get revenge the next time these two meet.   

Final Score: Blackout 13, Gym Class Heroes 4  

Colorado Springs - Week 7 - Highlights

Blackout (black) vs Mediocre at Best (navy):

After a dramatic nail biter the last time these two met, Blackout was hoping to bring their A game this week to even the season series. After a scoreless 1^st inning, Blackout unleashed the beast in the 2^nd getting the first five kickers to safely reach base, including a 2-RBI bases-loaded single by Nick Medina. Blackout put up a stunning 6-spot in the inning, capped by Ben Jones’ RBI double. In the bottom half of the 2^nd, Adam Huerta singled and scored on a grounder by Kevin M. to make it 6-1. Blackout held the MAB offense in check all game and continued to light up the scoreboard on their side. In the 5^th, with a runner on base, Ben Jones again sent a shot to the outfield, but this time over the left fielder’s head. Getting the wave at third base from basecoach Andy Horn, Ben headed home just as the MAB defense got the ball into the infield, who then made a stellar throw to home nailing Ben in the foot as he stepped on home plate, but not soon enough to get him out. Now up 11-1, Blackout padded their lead in the 7^th with a 2-RBI triple by Lucas Bramble and then a RBI single by Tim Menditto to make it 14-1. In the bottom of the 7^th with one last chance to get some runs, Kevin S. booted a 2-out 2-run homer, but it was too little too late as Blackout retired the next kicker to end the game.

Final Score: Blackout 14, Mediocre at Best 3

Pitch Please (neon pink) vs Code Brown (irish green):

Code Brown struck first in the bottom of the 1^st, when Brad Hrinko nailed a 2-out RBI single. In the 3^rd, Code Brown’s Matt Dellacroce led off with a double and scored on a grounder by Kristin Damitz. Elise Swackhamer followed with a RBI single, scoring Alyssa Moore to make it 3-0. In the 4^th, Pitch Please got a rally together, getting a bases loaded 3-RBI triple and then a RBI double by Mike Crone to take a 4-3 lead. In the 5^th, Pitch Please’s Vinay Shah led off with a single and then scored on a single by Doug Fisher to give them a 2-run lead. Code Brown answered in the bottom half of the inning with a 2-out RBI single by Matt Dellacroce to make it 5-4. In the 6^th, Justin Collado sent a home run bomb to the outfield, scoring Cody Crowther and increasing their lead to 7-4. In the bottom of the 7^th, Code Brown found themselves in a 8-4 hole. Sean Rimmer led off with a single, and scored on Tina Stough’s grounder. However, the Pitch Please defense stifled the rally and kept the Code Brown attack from getting any more people on base.

Final Score: Pitch Please 8, Code Brown 5