Best Rivalry on the Peninsula?

Red Sox vs. Yankees. Duke vs. UNC. Redskins vs. Cowboys. Warlocks vs. Trolls... These are some of the most famous rivalries in the country. I was thinking about kickball (what a shock) as I watched SportsCenter this morning, and it got me to thinking; What is the best rivalry on the Peninsula?

We're going into the 9th season of WAKA kickball in VA Peninsula, and over the years, there have been some great match ups. I'm going to run down some of the league's biggest and best rivalries, both historic and new. In the end, you decide which matchup you think is the best.

Let's get it on!

5 O'Clockers vs. Foul Balls

Rivals on the field. Pals off of it.

Both of these teams were in rebuilding years last season (sports code for they used to be good, but now they kind of suck), so newer players might not have know that these are two of the most successful franchises in the league. These two teams have both captured a championship, and it seemed like every season, they were facing each other in the playoffs in tightly contested games. The 5 O'Clockers came out on top in the Fall 2008 finals over the Foulies for the Wentworth Trophy. The very next season, the teams squared off in the semi-finals with Foul Balls coming out on top en route to their only League Championship... Although, these two teams have had some memorable playoff clashes, ultimately, the rivalry has been onsided, as that Spring 2009 playoff win was the only one the Foulies would earn. Lifetime, the 5OC leads the series 9-1. But make no mistake, this still counts as a rivalry. When former Foul Ball Greg Moore signed up as a free agent this season, he made one request to the commissioner's office, "If you have any kindness in your heart, you will not put me on the 5 O'Clockers (it's an arch-rival thing)."

5 O'Clockers vs. The Emperors Club

The Emperors Club always looks forward to playing the 5OC.

LOTS of history here. The two most tenured teams in the league started off as rivals from day 1. When the Clockers first joined the league in the Spring of 2008, this young team of up brash upstarts immediately took to the league's Myspace page (For you younger kids, myspace used to be a popular social networking site) and talked copious amounts of trash to the division leading VIPs. In the 6 seasons since the 5OC joined the league, the two teams have met in the playoffs four times, with The Emperors Club winning 3 of the games, including two matchups for the Wentworth Trophy (S08 and F09)... Last season the feud escalated when The Emperors Club "stole" the Clockers trademark black unis, which lead to great controversy... All in all though, much like the 5OC vs. Foul Balls rivalry, it's been one-sided though. In fact, In 13 match-ups, the VIPs have gone 12-1 (!). The last game these two played was in the 2nd round of the Fall 2010 playoffs, when the VIPs killed the Gym Tan Kickball 16-0 in three innings... The rivalry has been softened a bit as well recently, when four members of the Clockers, Jeff and Kristen Pauley, Josh Waldrop, and Allen Walker actually joined The Emperors Club for the Winter '11 VA Recess season. The Clockers are vowing to come back strong for this season though, and I know Coach Britney Travis has beating the VIPs as one of her top goals, so don't be surprised to see a rebirth of this great rivalry.

Battlestar Ballsacktica vs. New Kickheads on the Block

We could see a celebration

on the bar if NKotB can beat BB.

These two teams have never played each other, but that's only because they used to be teammates. After the NKotB's first year, the team split into two camps, after reportedly experiencing some internal strife. "We had a good time, but there was just drama at times." NKotB captain Amanda Hassell recently stated. No doubt, when these two teams meet, it will be an interesting match up, with both sides going all out. Sounds like it could be the spark of a new rivalry.

Rumspringa vs. Jagernauts

Ain't no party like a Rumspringa party!

This one is not so much a rivalry on the fields, although they have had some good games (including an 8-4 Rumspringa win in the quarterfinals of the Fall 2010 playoffs). This is more about the rivalry at Luckie's. "Rumspringa is always talking about how hard they party", the 'Nauts Trici Fredrick said recently, "But they aren't consistent. The Jagernauts bring it every week."
Sounds like the challenge has been laid!

Just For Kicks vs. Vicious and Delicious

Vicious (right) and Delicious (left)

Another inclusion of two teams that have yet to play each other. But all indications show that this might be one of the all time great rivalries (unless the teams split up and then reshuffle under new names which is a trademark of southside kickballers). JFK has had a historic run through the Peninsula in 2010, going 21-1-1 in regular season play, and making the finals both seasons. So when former VIPs Dave Dixon and Chris "Bundy" LeBlanc began forming their own team, VD, they immediately set their sites on JFK's biggest stars. They've already officially signed Noelle Walsh, Sarah Rourke, Joey Smith, Joey Smith's washboard abs, and Bryan "NoShoes" Moore. And they are reportedly not done recruiting from JFK as they have been rumored to be targeting others as well... The result is a bad ass VD team stocked full of veteran players, while JFK is reloading with young talent who are determined to not only get revenge for the ruthless poaching, but to prove to the league that they can rebuild stronger without the deserters. Personally, I can't wait to see these two lock up, which is why they got included in the best rivalry conversation

Chubby Gangsters vs. Chicken Tetrazzini

When CG and CT play they don't fuck with

rock, paper, scissors. 

This is the definition of a friendly rivalry. These two teams are so close off the field, that sometimes it's hard to tell where the Chubby Gangsters end and the Chicken Tetrazzini begin. But when they play each other in kickball, it's on (usually because the loser buys the beer at Luckie's afterwards). "We look forward to playing them, because it's always a fun game playing against your friends", Gangbanger Melissa Rarick said, "We want to keep our undefeated record intact against them too." In their only meeting last season, the Chubby Gangsters won 6-1.



Just For Kicks vs. The Emperors Club

When the VIPs and JFK mix it up, it can get intense.

JFK formed two seasons ago and have been wrecking havoc on the league ever since. They've rolled through the competition, scoring 215 runs, while only allowing 22. They've looked as invincible as Superman, but they have one kryptonite, and that is The Emperors Club. The two teams have squared off in 5 games since the Spring 2010 season. The Emperors Club leads the series 3-1-1 and is the only team to win or tie against JFK. Two of the victories came in the finals of the league tournament... And although, the VIPs have edged JFK more often than not, each game has been extremely close (no game has had a winning margin of more than 2 runs)... In the championship game of the Fall 2010 season, JFK had a two run lead with the VIPs down to their final out, with no one on base. And although they had several chances, Just For Kicks couldn't close it out. The Emperors Club miraculously scored 3 runs in the top of the 5th and secured another title.
"I've played on the southside for years now, and I've seen the great rivalries between the top teams like Panik Attack and The Situation," JFK Head Coach Bryan Freed said recently, "I feel like we have a rivalry that's on par with that. It's good to be a part of. As our two teams can bring out the best in each other."