Battlestar Ballsacktica (2-2) vs. Chubby Gangsters (3-1)
The Ballsacks have beaten the teams they are supposed to beat, with victories over SbtB and OitC, but haven't been able to beat a top 10 team yet. I've had a chance to watch this team, and can tell you they definitely have talent on both sides of the ball. It's only a matter of time before the BBs put it all together and pull an upset. Could this week be the week? The Chubby Gangsters were once the laughingstock of the league. In fact, going into this season, the Gangsters were 10-23-2 in VA Peninsula competition. Now, thanks to steady improvement and very good recruiting, they are one of the league's top teams. They'll be looking to continue their winning ways against a frisky BB team.
Chicken Tetrazzini (3-2) vs. Off in the Corner (0-5)
This is a game between two very familiar opponents. Let's flash back 1 year ago. In the Spring of 2010, Adam Henry, Andrea Hoffman, Derek Patterson, Amanda Lawrence, Joey Lawrence (Whoa!), and Taylor Wilson all played on Off in the Corner (then known as the TailGators). After the spring season, they set out on their own, leaving the 'Gators to form Chicken Tetrazzini, hoping to find the success that never seemed to come while wearing orange. Their defections left Off in the Corner in a rebuilding stage, which they still haven't fully completed. Off in the Corner is off to a rough start, losing the first 5 games of the season. What better way to get into the win column, then by earning one against their former teammates?... Last season, these two teams played each other twice. OitC went 1-0-1 against Chicken Tetrazzini in the Fall.
The Emperors Club (4-0-1) vs. Moose Knuckles (3-2)
So, I ordered a dry fit WAKA jersey from the online store a couple weeks ago (Very comfortable, by the way! Only $19.99! Get yours today!) and it turns out that it's just a couple of shade darker than the normal VIP Cardinal Red uniforms. To a drunken Lori Medford and Lorraine Adkins, you could say it looked closer to maroon than red. Maroon being the color of the Moose Knuckles, the two decided to spend the entire night last week yelling "MOOOSE!" and then "KNUCKLE" at me repeatedly. Seriously, it didn't get old at all. Not even when they got home from Luckie's and continued the taunts on Facebook. So, this week, I was hoping that the pair would forget about this promotion and drop it. Then I checked the schedule and noticed that we play the Moose Knuckles. Fuck. No chance they'll let this one go... Well, all that aside, as far as the game goes, it has potential to be a good one. The Emperors Club boasts one of the sickest defenses in the league. So far this season, they are holding opponents to only 1 run per game on average. Which is even more impressive when you consider that they've played top tiered teams like JFK, Rumspringa, and VD so far. (In fact, if you take away a 3 run bomb by SbtB's Trace Ferre last week, the VIPs are only allowing a microscopic 0.4 rpg). Simply put, it's tough to score on The Emperors Club. But scoring is what Moose Knuckles does best. Lead by the powerful legs of Justin Blair and Bryan Turcotte, the Knucks are leading the league in runs scored, averaging 6.6 per game. Which team will come out on top when it's strength vs. strength?... One other game note: This will be the first time MK's Jesse Jones will face off against his former team. Jones was a member of the VIPs Fall 2010 Wentworth Trophy winners. In a preseason interview, Jones said he was looking forward to playing The Emperors Club so he could, "... show them I can now bunt."
Jiminy Kick-It (2-3) vs. 5 O'Clockers (3-2)
After starting out the season 2-1, JKI has dropped their last two games in somewhat frustrating fashion. In both games against Chicken Tetrazzini and NKotB were competitive. A few breaks here or there and they could very easily be 4-1 instead of 2-3. It'll probably take more than a few breaks for the rookie team to pull out an upset this week, as they face the resurgent 5 O'Clockers. Britney Travis has her team playing very good kickball. This week, they'll be trying to rebound after a tough loss against JFK. The explosive 5OC offense, lead by Josh Waldrop, Allen Walker (when he shows up), and Corey Carlyle will test the JKI defense by both bunting and spraying line drives all over the place.
Saved by the Balls (0-5) vs. Chicken Tetrazzini (3-2)
The only team that loses more than SbtB is the Washington Generals. The former HRSSC team is 0-17 lifetime in WAKA competition. You gotta feel for them a little, and I'm personally looking forward to the day when I get to write about their first win. No team is full of more nice people and positive energy than Jon and Allison Hund's team. I don't think I'm alone in rooting for the league's ultimate underdogs to pull out a win this season (not necessarily in this specific game)... And while the wins haven't come yet, there were some sparks of life last week against the VIPs. SbtB became the first team to score more than 3 runs against the first place Emperors Club, when Trace Ferre crushed a ball deep to right. And don't get it mistaken. Even though the VIPs were perhaps a little less intense than normal, these were legit runs. Scoring those runs should be a good confidence booster for the Balls, and if they can continue to build on that, than don't be surprised if they give the Angry Birds in Pink a run for their money on Wednesday night.
New Kickheads (3-1) vs. Jagernauts (3-2)
The Kickheads currently boast the league's 3rd best record at 3-1, but none of their victories have come against teams ranked in the coaches top 10 poll. Not their fault, of course; you play who is on the schedule. But this week, they'll finally have the opportunity to test themselves against a quality Jagernauts team. The 'Nauts were only 1 out away from putting Rumspringa away, but Brian Yohn spoiled the win with a walkoff. It remains to be seen how the Jagers are going to respond after losing in that traumatic fashion. (Good thing they actually have a psychologist, Dr. Nicci Surething, on the team to help the team move past the heartbreaking loss).
Vicious & Delicious (4-1) vs. 5 O'Clockers (3-2)
This is definitely the game of the week. Two of the league's top teams will face off. After falling the JFK in a close game last week, the Clockers will have another stiff challenge in a VD squad, that many kickball pundits still believe to be the class of the Peninsula despite the loss a couple weeks ago (VD received 2 first place votes in the Coaches Poll this week). While both teams boast impressive offenses, the real story is the defense. Both teams have All-Peninsula caliber talent at the infield skill positions of catcher and charger. What really stands out though, are the pitchers. VD can kill you with Jimmy Wilcox's power or Daniel Reyes' movement. While the Clockers' Corey Carlyle is among the most effective pitchers in the region. If this game was a low scoring pitchers duel, I would not be shocked.
Just For Kicks (2-2) vs. Saved by the Balls (0-5)
JFK unfortunately lost their starting charger, Phil Nadolski, to injury last week and will have to rework their lineup to compensate. Luckily for them, they should have plenty of opportunities to experiment with their defensive alignment, in what will more than likely be a low-stress game against SbtB.
Rumspringa (1-3-1) vs. Foul Balls (2-4)
After an absolutely brutal schedule that included The Emperors Club, JFK, VD, the 5 O'Clockers, and the Jagernauts to start the season, Scotty Moriarty and Sabra Swilley have got to be breathing a sigh of relief to have the Foulies on the schedule. But they shouldn't get too relaxed. If they take the Balls lightly, they can and will take advantage and score the upset... Although the 8:30 start time probably won't do the Foul Balls any favors. If the past experience is any indication, they'll more than likely be pretty bombed by game time. This should be a pretty fun game between two of the league's hardest partiers.
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