Spring 2011 All Peninsula 2nd Team

On Sunday, the 3rd Team All-Peninsula honors were released. Now we continue to look at the players who really stood out this Spring, as we present the 2nd Team All-Peninsula honorees.

Starting Pitcher
Daniel Reyes
Vicious & Delicious
Unlike his teammate Jimmy Wilcox (Spoiler Alert: We'll get to him in the next post), Dan Reyes doesn't rely on raw power to get batters out. Although that's not to say he doesn't throw hard, because he does, but he mixes it up with pitches that have a lot of movement and bounce. The result is that the kicker is always off balance and uncomfortable at the plate, which is really the only goal a pitcher should have. Reyes is one of the best pitchers at fielding his position. Very quick to come off the mound and make a play, at times it almost seems like he's a 2nd charger for VD (Just compare him to me: I'm like a statue out there on the mound)... On the offensive side, Reyes is a tough out. Fast and skilled. Dan Reyes is the total package.

1st Base
Jeff Lee
5 O'Clockers
"Jeff Lee has been awesome for us at first base." the Clockers Jeff Pauley said recently, "He is constantly scoring runs." And it's true, Lee was the perfect compliment for the Clockers offense this season. They've always had the big legs in the lineup, Josh Waldrop, Paul Phan, Corey Carlyle, and Allen Walker can all boom the ball. But if they don't have anyone on base ahead of them, often times it's wasted. Despite having surgery on his knee to repair a torn ACL in the off season, Lee was able to be very productive at the plate. His aggressive style was the spark plug for a Clocker offense that scored the most runs in the league (99).

Jeff Lee hustles to slide in under the tag in a late season game against JKI.

Charger
Anthony Williams
The Emperors Club

The Rocket Laser Cannon.

When healthy, Anthony Williams is without a doubt one of the best chargers in the nation. The legend of the "Rocket Laser Cannon" precedes itself, as even the most elite bunters have been victimized by it. Sure there are a lot of big arms in the league. Some might even be a little stronger (might), but what really makes Ant stand out is the quick release. Most guys with strong arms have to go through a big wind up in order to load the throw. Not Williams. When he gets to the ball, he effortlessly scoops it up, plants his feet, and releases the strike in one smooth motion... This season Williams did battle some nagging injuries, including a calf muscle that was strained in a tournament down at Georgia, that limited some of his effectiveness, especially on the offensive side of the ball. But on defense, he was simply lights out all season. His outstanding play was a big reason why the VIPs had a league low 1.17 runs allowed per game.

Catcher
Kevin Gitkos
Jagernauts

Gitkos may be one of the only
players to make both All-Peninsula
and All-Luckie's team.

Major Kevin "Glitter" Gitkos made his first All-Peninsula team this spring, but truth be told, he's been kicking ass for a few seasons now. His third season of WAKA Kickball was definitely his best though. Not only did he play outstanding defense at the catcher position, coming out hard on bunts and firing hard accurate throws to first, but he stepped his game up dramatically on the offensive end. Justin Littell sent over his stats for the season, and they were impressive. Gitkos went 15 for 20, batting average .750, and drove in 8 runs for the 'Nauts. His all around production on both sides of the ball make Kevin a worthy member of the Spring 2011 All-Peninsula team.


Females
Tracy Colby
Chubby Gangsters
If there is a female player who is more competitive than Tracy Colby, I'd be hard pressed to think of one. Simply put, Colby loves to win. And this season, thanks in large part to her leadership, the Chubby Gangsters won a lot of games. Colby is blessed with one of the most powerful legs out of any woman in the division. Teams are silly if they think they can bring the outfielders in when she's up at the plate. She can and will burn you deep. She's a good bunter with decent speed. Once on the base, she is smart and knows when to advance and when to hold up... Defensively, she is as solid as they come. If she dropped any pop ups this season, I'd be very surprised. All around great player. Great season.

Lorraine Adkins
The Emperors Club

Adkins hustles down the line.

The definition of reliable. You know she'll be there every game and ready to go. Playing a variety of different positions this season (RF, SS, 3B) you could put Adkins anywhere and she'd perform well. She catches well, is smart, gets the ball into the infield quick, and is rarely out of position. Offensively, Adkins has developed a very consistent, accurate bunt down the third base line. She won't always get on base, but she always makes the defense make a play. By putting this pressure on the defense, it leads to results. Adkins was actually among the leaders on The Emperors Club in RKIs, driving in 5 runs this season. When necessary, she will lay the bunt down first base to move runners over (Adkins lead the VIPs with 3 sacrifices this season)... Regardless of what task you give Adkins, she will execute it well, and for that reason, she is honored as one of the league's best women.

Nikki LeBlanc
Just For Kicks

Being on base is familiar
territory for Ms. LeBlanc.

LeBlanc, otherwise known as "The Most Honest Woman in Kickball" by the JFK blog, is just another member of Freed's amazing stable of ladies. She is among the most athletic players in VA Peninsula. With her speed and placement, she can bunt safely (as she did twice in JFK's big semi-final win over The Emperors Club) and once she's on base, the former member of the US Navy Softball Travel team continues to use that speed to make teams pay. Don't be fooled into thinking she is just a bunter either. She can kick too... In the field, she is steady and reliable. Has great instincts and range that helps her cover a lot of ground in the outfield. All in all, there isn't much this Super-Woman can't do, and that's why she's a member of the All-Peninsula team.

If you want to find out more about Nikki, please check out the interview I did with her and Wes McClain prior to the season beginning.

Katie Litle
Jagernauts
Litle is a mainstay of the All-Peninsula team, as she is someone that the local kickball media has a lot of respect for. Very competitive and athletic, Litle is a solid and reliable player on both sides of the ball. But perhaps her best attribute is her leadership. Nicknamed "Eddie Jr." after legendary Jagernaut Eddie Seavers, Litle works with Head Coach Justin Littell to set the offense and defensive alignments. Her vocal leadership, instructions, and excellent play has helped the Jagernauts finish above .500 for the 3rd consecutive season.
"Katie is a great leader." teammate Dottie Wood said, "She is always encouraging and coaching us out on the field."

Outfielders
Brian Yohn
Rumspringa
Yohn emerged this season as a leader on the 'Springas offense. Very athletic, intense, and focused, he was instrumental in Rumspringa's late season run (His absence really hurt 'Springa in the tournament. Yohn missed the tourney due to work conflicts, and 'Springa failed to advance past the 2nd round). He can both bunt and kick away with skill. And perhaps his best moment this season came late on April 27th, with the score tied at 3-3 against the Jagernauts, 2 outs, and Yohn at the plate. Brian stepped up and kicked a line drive into right field to score Ricky Holmes and secure the walk off win for  Rumspringa. This would turn out to be a big moment for 'Springa as it was the beginning of a 7-1 run after a bad 0-3-1 start to the season.

Chris "Bundy" LeBlanc

Vicious & Delicious

Intensity personified. 

Bundy is probably a guy who really needs no introduction. With his trademark black war paint, he shows up every Wednesday ready to go to battle. The veteran patrols the VD outfield and is as reliable as they come. Offensively, Bundy uses his dangerous left foot to spray line drives all over the field and drive in the speedy VD lead off men. When in bunting situations, he's equally adept at laying one down as well (except when he decides to just say 'Eff it' and do what he wants anyway. Then he'll crank out another line drive, much to Dave Dixon's dismay)... Keep in mind that this next statement is coming from a guy who spends hours writing blog posts about kickball, but I'd wager to say that Bundy probably takes kickball about as seriously as possible. The dedication to the sport is what makes LeBlanc stand out among his peers. When you think kickball, eat kickball, sleep kickball, and shit kickball, that's got to translate into results on the field. And certainly, Bundy does get results. 2 straight Wentworth Trophies.

Utility

Dan Moore

Jagernauts

Dan Moore was given the nickname "Ready to Score" Moore by his teammates before the season began. And although that may have more to do with his exploits off the field, it certainly applied to his kickball this spring. Moore was the most prolific lead off man in the league. He went an amazing 20 for 22 (.909 average) with 13 runs scored. Again. 20 for 22. For the entire season, Moore on made 2 outs?! The 13 runs represented 28% of all the Jagernauts runs scored this season. Ridiculous production. I don't even have anything else to add to this, because his performance speaks for itself.  

Keep checking the blog for the 1st Team announcement coming tomorrow night! Who will be the final superstars to make the team?