Fall 2011 Mega Preseason Preview (Part 4)

Ok, so technically since the season started last night this isn't the 'Preseason' any longer. But bare with me. For some reason, my employers actually want me to do work when I'm at the office, and my wonderful fiance actually wants to spend quality time when we're together. Throw in the fact that I had 300 tee shirts to inventory, last minute customer issues with registration, and the WAKA CEO in town, and I wasn't able to finish part four before last night.

But enough with the excuses. On to the final five teams to preview. (NOTE: The ranking order was determined prior to last night's games. So Lick It's victory over 5OC, JFKs win over VD, and SnB's tie did not factor into these previews).

#5 Shake N Bake
Captains: Jeffrey Scott, Tracy Colby
Color: Charcoal
Spring 2011 Record: N/A
All Time Record: N/A
Wentworth Trophies: 0

"We chose charcoal gray because it represents the ashes of all the teams we've burned." captain Tracy Colby said jokingly (I think).

And while she was just kidding, the truth is that depending on who you ask this is a very polarizing team. After Jeffrey Scott, Colby, and AJ Derr decided to leave the Chubby Gangsters, many of their former teammates took exception to the defections. CG captain Buster Patterson recently went as far as calling them the "Miami Heat of the league... They'll have a big target on their backs all season."

The trio if former Gangbangers have gathered a talented group of kickballers, including Jiselle Anderson, Nick Anderson, Justin Blair, Dani Moran, and Bryan Turcotte from the now defunct Moose Knuckles. They also were able to land John LaNeave, 1B Patrick Jones, and SP Brent Wentworth (3rd Person Alert!) after The Emperors Club disbanded.

Besides the Gangsters and Lick It (whom have many former VIPs on the team), I'm not sure that any other teams necessarily have put a target on the SnB's back, as Buster stated (if I'm wrong, please correct me in the comments), however it definitely is worth noting as those match ups will be very interesting to watch.

Wentworth, Jones, and LaNeave.

This is a team that is ripe with athletic ability and should be one that scores a bunch of runs (EDITORS NOTE: Just not against Rumspringa in week 1). But it will take a while for the team to gel together before they can get to that step. Certainly the tools are there though.

What probably makes this team stand out most is the quality of their female players. Colby, Anderson, Moran, Kim Koricich, Nina Richardson, and newcomers Beth LaNeave and Stephanie Lopez are all very athletic and talented. While the girls in most lineups may be considered 'easy outs', it is not the case with Shake N Bake by any stretch.

Justin Blair's powerful leg is just one of many weapons in the Shake N Bake lineup.

#4 Lick It Before You Kick It

Captains: George Kiriazidis, Amy Lowe

Color: Purple

Spring 2011 Record: N/A

All Time Record: N/A

Wentworth Trophies: 0

After the break up of the dynastic VIPs, George Kiriazidis decided to join forces with Amy Lowe to establish a brand new team. Together the duo recruited a mixture of former teammates from both VA Peninsula and the minor leagues of summer kickball.

Thomas "Juice" Welch will be making
the transition to 1B this fall.

Many of the new team members are rookies to WAKA, however they have a lot of talent and athleticism. How quickly they adapt to the different style of play in VA Peninsula will determine how successful Lick It is. Luckily, they have a wealth of experience on LIBYKI (I don't know if that acronym is going to catch on). The team has a combined 18 championship rings (Kiriazidis 4, Adkins 4, Jackson 3, Medford 3, Martin 2, Lowe 1, Welch 1). The learning curve will definitely be shorter than many other teams would have.

Defensively, the team is already in great shape anchored by 1st Team All Peninsula catcher Roger Jackson and standout charger Matt Martin. Both players are very skilled and possess cannons for arms. Lick It's bunt defense should be one of the strongest in the league, especially when you factor in their new lefty pitcher (Sorry, don't know his name yet).

I hope that the rest of the league is used to the slimy feeling of saliva all over them because there will be a lot of Lickin' going on this Fall.

#3 5 O'Clockers

Captains: Britney Travis, Josh Waldrop, Jeffrey Pauley

Color: Black

Spring 2011 Record: 9-3 (5th place)

All Time Record: 53-22-4

Wentworth Trophies: 1 (Fall 2009)

The Travis sisters are intense.

Last season saw the resurgence of the longest running current franchise in VA Peninsula. The Clockers earned a 9-3 record and scored the third most runs (99) in a single season in league history. This season they not only bringing back the core of the same team, but they are building on it. Earlier in the off season, they made big news when they signed Randy & Jenn Devlin to contracts for the Fall. With the addition of Randy, they now have player who can play both charger and catcher at an elite level. The addition will give the Clockers several options on defense with C Adam Flowers, Ch/SP Jeff Pauley, 1B Allen Walker, and Ch Jason Kidd. Their interior bunt defense could be one of the league's best, and getting base runners on will be a challenge.

Offensively, I don't know what else there is to say about this squad. They have a perfect blend of speed and power. Josh Waldrop is one of the best line drive kickers on the Peninsula and makes opponents pay if he has runners on in front of him.

All in all, the Clockers are a very dangerous team. There is every indication that they will be strong contenders for the Wentworth Trophy in November.

#2 Just For Kicks

Captains: Bryan Freed, Nikki LeBlanc

Color: Texas Orange

Spring 2011 Record: 9-3 (4th Place)

All Time Record: 30-4-1

Wentworth Trophies: 0

In the early 1990s, the Buffalo Bills made history when they were the first team ever to make four consecutive Super Bowls, which is impressive. Unfortunately, they also made history when they became the first team to lose four consecutive Super Bowls. Just For Kicks is looking to avoid tying that infamous record (yes, The Wentworth Trophy is just as prestigious as the Super Bowl as far as I'm concerned) after making the Finals of the last three seasons in VA Peninsula. Each season, they've come tantalizingly close, losing by only 1-2 runs in all three championship games. (Sp 2010 VIPs 3, JFK 1; F2011 VIPs 5, JFK 4, Sp2011 VD 2, JFK 1)

So what is going to make this season different? Well, how about the fact that the team is friggin' STACKED! Bryan Freed and recently promoted to captain Nikki LeBlanc (no relation to Chris "Bundy" LeBlanc from VD) did a great job of retaining their core group of players and supplementing them with some of the best kickballers from the region. Most notably, they signed the outstanding pitcher Will Monroe at the deadline. Monroe is a great player who has played with the Ball Breakers and the nationally ranked The Situation on the other side of the water. He throws straight up nasty heaters with lots of break and movement. This gives JFK the option of putting Monroe, JC Cashwell, or Daniel Shaw on the mound at anytime. (Side note: Daniel Shaw made an All Peninsula team this season, and he's maybe the third best pitcher on the JFK roster. That's not a knock on Shaw. He's great. It just shows you how phenomenal the JFK staff is).

If nothing else, JFK will be
interesting.

Also joining the team is Matt "The Experience" Barcus. Barcus, who last played for Victorious Secret in the Peninsula back in the Fall of 2010, is best known for his out going personality and his crazy partying (What the fuck does 'Shabooms' mean anyway?). But if you look beyond the goofy mullet, handlebar mustache, and patriotic American flag shorts, there is a very quality kickballer. His powerful leg will blend in well with an offense that has multiple weapons including Eric Stevens, Wes McClain, Andrew Swenck, Dr. Jeremy Pinier, Cashwell, Phil Nadolski, Michael Buckman, and rookie Scott Duncan. Throw in the fact that they have girls who are quick and can get on base (Sarah Crecelius, LeBlanc, Jill Simms) and I feel comfortable going out on a limb and making this prediction: JFK will score a crapload of runs this season.

#1 Vicious & Delicious

Captains: Bundy, Dave Dixon, Betsy Dixon

Color: Orange

Spring 2011 Record: 10-2 (2nd Place)
All Time Record: 10-2
Wentworth Trophies: 1 (Spring 2011)

"To be the man, you've got to beat the man." - Ric Flair (although after reading this, I'm not so sure the Nature Boy is 'the man')

VD is the reigning champs, and that's why they begin the season as the top ranked team. The team was  a lot more vicious than delicious last year, ruthlessly running through the competition. This season, most of the original cast and crew return. And what a well rounded crew it is, let's break it down.

At VD headquarters.

Defense: The team has multiple options at every position. All Peninsula team members Daniel Reyes and Jimmy Wilcox give them a 1-2 punch on the mound matched only by JFK (see above). At charger, the team rotates in Joey Smith, Bryan "NoShoes" Moore, and Joey's abs. Each one as effective as the other. For catcher, whether it's their primary catcher, James Salgado or Justin "The Leprechaun" Schauf, they smother the bunts... Dave Dixon is reliable at first, and Bundy, Schauf, and Tom Zuppke roam the outfield.

Offense: Not a lot of easy outs in this lineup. The top is loaded with ridiculous speed, skill and aggressiveness. The middle is full of guys who can blast the ball. Bundy and Dixon are experienced leaders and great tacticians, so the lineup is always well built to maximize their potential. Add it all together and they're a team who can and will run up the score.

Females: Like most of the top teams, the ladies of VD are outstanding. Noelle Walsh is a member of the Spring All-Peninsula team as a player who contributes on both sides of the ball. Casey Davies is new to the team, but has played several seasons on the southside. She's a spark plug who's motor never stops running. Jesika Johnson continues to make improvements to her game and is an athletic compliment to her team. After a break of over a year, Betsy Hyman Dixon (BHD) is making her return to kickball. Also making a return is veteran kickball maniac Kate Barcus. Barcus last played Peninsula kickball for Victorious Secret in 2010 and was part of the national champions Frosty Balls, who won Founders Cup in 2008. She has the pedigree of a winner, and will definitely help VD on their quest to repeat.

Perhaps the biggest challenge to Vicious & Delicious' path to a 2nd title is the inexperience at the bottom of their order. With 3 new players, Bundy and Dixon will have to teach the rookies the ins and outs of the game. If anyone can, it's them given that they have a combined 398 seasons of kickball under their belts. But the learning curve will be something the team will have to overcome.

Without a doubt, Vicious & Delicious won't be easy to defeat this season, that's for sure.