(Previously on the GMOT: 3rd Team and 2nd Team All-Peninsula Teams Announced)
The number 1 charger spot went to the most dangerous offensive weapon in the league. Wes McClain is an assassin at the plate when he's got runners on base. The accomplished soccer vet strikes low hard line drives with consistent power and precise placement. It didn't matter who was on the mound pitching to him, McClain had his way with them and was a major source of RKI's for the league's top offense... Defensively, Wes has developed into an elite charger. Quick to the ball and with a cannon for an arm, he robbed many kickballers who would have otherwise been safe. Wes McClain was a superstar on both sides of the ball for JFK this season, and is recognized throughout the league as one of the best.
Runs were hard to come by against Just For Kicks this Fall (only 1.18 rapg, first in the league), and their catcher Eric Stevens was a big reason for that. Stevens, affectionately known as "The Pirate", explodes out of the box and snatches up opposing players bunts, firing lasers to first base. He may have the quickest reflexes in VA Peninsula. At least once a game, he'll barely snatch a pop up just before it touches the ground. What probably stands out most about Eric, is that his motor never stops. He hustles on every single play and rarely lets his focus slip. In doing so, he set the tone for his entire team and earned a spot on the All-Peninsula team.
It's no secret that the backbone of Shake N Bake was the play of the ladies. All in all, SnB has three female players who placed in the All-Peninsula voting, including Jiselle Anderson. Anderson is one of the most athletic women in the league. Great skill and instincts. This lifelong sports enthusiast is always in the right position and rarely makes an error, physically or mentally. In fact, I don't recall her making a single mistake in the field all season long, as she patrolled right field for the Bakers. This consistent fielding helped SnB win the championship this season. In the 5th inning of the Final Game, Anderson made a sliding catch on her knees to secure the third out of the inning and send the game to OT, and keeping Shake N Bake's title hopes alive... Offensively, she uses places the ball well and uses A+ speed to reach base. Once on base, she's always a threat to score and many rallies started with Anderson's turn in the lineup. Just ask the Jagernauts. On August 31st, Jiselle went 3-3, with 2 runs and an RKI, leading the team to a big early season victory. All around great player.
This seasoned kickballer continues to impress her peers from across the league. Noelle Walsh is a very well rounded player. At the plate, perhaps no girl in the league consistently lays down a bunt as well as Walsh. It seems her bunts are always crisp, on the ground, and close to the line, whether it's going down 3rd or sacrificing down 1. In the field, Noelle plays shortstop in a very efficient and mistake free manner. If you make the mistake of trying to test her out there, you will be disappointed. Simply put, Noelle catches anything kicked in her direction. One of the smartest players in the game, she's always aware of the situation and knows what to do when the ball is in her hands.
Katie Litle, as you can see from the picture above, is a girl who is not afraid to get down and dirty. This fiery competitor goes all out and leaves everything out on the field for the Jagernauts. She's a vocal leader for the 'Nauts, encouraging the team and rallying them... Offensively, Litle stands out for her all around ability and skill. She can lay down a bunt with the best of them or kick away with power if needed. (Just check out this 2 run double she smacked against KA). All in all this season, Litle kicked 0.617 and drove in 6 runs. Very impressive production from any female.
For the first month of the season, Tracy Colby was in a bit of a funk at the plate. She uncharacteristically struggled to get on base, but once the weather started cooling down, Tracy started heating up. For the last 6 games of the season, Colby was as good, if not better than any female player in the league. She went 8 for 11 (0.727), scored 4 runs, and drove in 3. The hot streak continued on into the End of Season tournament, where she painted the lines with picture perfect bunts and helped spark several SnB rallies throughout the day. Her consistency all day opened a lot of eyes and really impressed the All-Peninsula voters and earned her a spot on the 1st team.
Josh Waldrop is more than just a pretty face. This dude can ball. Perhaps no center fielder covers more ground than Waldrop. On more than one occasion, I saw kickers smack nice line drives that looked as though they'd fall into the gap, only to be robbed by a streaking Waldrop. On offense, Josh is a deadly line drive kicker who has a unique ability to find the hole in any defense. And while he used to be a one dimensional player that only kicked away, that is no longer the case. Waldrop has developed a nice slap bunt that he pushes down the line consistently. Combined with his speed, it's nearly impossible to stop. Simply put, Josh can kill you more than one way. This season he went 15-19 (0.789), scored 6 runs, and drove in 9. This production was undeniably a big reason the Clockers re-emerged as one of VA Peninsula's elite teams.
If I was a mad scientist who was attempting to make the ideal offensive weapon for kickball, I'd take an accomplished soccer player and combine them (but not combine like the guy did in "Human Centipede" did) with a competitive softballer . Well, that's exactly what you get with John LaNeave. LaNeave played soccer most of his life, all the way up through college. The soccer background has given him superior foot skills. He's equally adept at slapping a bunt down 3, or cranking a line drive deep... After college, John got into competitive softball, and joined teams that traveled and competed in tournaments all across the country. LaNeave's softball experience helps him to aggressively, but smartly, run the bases, always helping Shake N Bake manufacture runs... In the outfield, LaNeave covers a lot of ground and is as reliable as they come. In just his third season of kickball, he's clearly established himself as one of the league's best all-around players.
As a WAKA rookie, the outgoing Scott Duncan got a lot of people's attention right away with his flamboyant tights and headbands. But it wasn't long before Duncan started getting people's attention with his play on the field as well. The skilled soccer player was recruited to JFK by Wes McClain and Nikki LeBlanc, and immediately exceeded expectations. In my opinion, Duncan is one of the best bunters in the league. No matter how difficult the pitch, he seems to effortlessly handle it and slap it right down the line, impossible to defend. In addition to being an outstanding bunter, Duncan is also blessed with one of the strongest legs in the league. Just ask Rumspringa. In week 4, Scott got a hold of one of Matt Wellbrock's pitches and absolutely crushed it for a home run. In fact, I'm not sure the ball has even landed yet... On defense, Duncan was a jack of all trades. He plugged into the D and played great wherever JFK needed him, whether it was playing first, catcher, charger, or patrolling the outfield. Pretty sure the only position, Scott didn't play was pitcher this season, making him the true definition of a 'utility' player.
No player received more votes for the All-Peninsula team than Shake N Bake's Patrick Jones. Jones received 35 first place votes, and 20 second place votes. He was 99 points ahead of the 2nd Team 1B, Allen Walker. It's not too hard to see why he has the respect and admiration of the entire league. Simply put, Patrick Jones as a first baseman, is a man without peers. Defensively, PJ's trademark is his diving stretch to catch balls while keeping his toe on the bag. No one is as good at catching an off target throw and making an out out of an otherwise costly error. Fellow first teamer Scott Duncan described Jones by saying, "His stretches and solid hands are awesome!" (99% sure he was talking about kickball and not something else)... And while Jones' defense gets the majority of the attention, what is somewhat over looked is his offensive abilities. PJ is a versatile player who can either bunt or kick away with equal skill. He lead Shake N Bake in kicking average (0.792) and sacrifices (4). He was also 2nd on the team in runs (9) and RKIs (10). In the tournament, he was a key contributor to Shake N Bake's first ever Wentworth Trophy®. In addition to his stellar defense all day, Jones scored the first run of the Finals and kicked in the winning run. All in all, it was another excellent season for one of the all time greats in WAKA VA Peninsula.
When the season started, Daniel Reyes played with the defending champions, Vicious & Delicious. But after week 1, Reyes was traded to the 5 O'Clockers for the rights to a future 1st round draft pick. The trade was a huge boost to the Clockers, as they gained one of the league's elite pitchers to compliment their great infield defense. Reyes is a pitcher who throws hard pitches with lots of movement and bounce that tends to cross up the kicker in the box. The result is several botched kicks that come in off the shin and leads to unintended pop ups. Defensively, no pitcher is as good off the mound as Reyes. He's like having a 2nd charger out on the field as he is quick to jump out and make a play. It's no coincidence that with Reyes on the mound, the Clockers limited opponents to less than 2 runs a game.
There you have it! The 2011 All-Peninsula team! Congrats to everyone who made the teams and thank you to everyone who voted and contributing... Later this week, we'll have another post with some of the honorable mentions who just didn't quite make the teams.
Have some thoughts on the AP teams? Think the voters got it right? Sound off in the comments below or on the Official Facebook Group for VA Peninsula!
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