VA Raptor - Season Preview: Foul Balls

Alright kickball addicts! After a couple of months off, the DTs are starting to kick in. But don't worry. I got your WAKA fix. This Saturday, the inaugural winter season of kickball gets underway on the Peninsula! We have 9 teams and over 150 kickballers. Some of the team names will be familiar from VA Peninsula Wednesday nights (Chubby Gangsters, Kick Ass, JFK, Foul Balls), while others are brand new teams or teams with a collection of many kickballers from different teams (Pounders, Snipers, All Up In The Bunt, Frosty Ballin', Whiskey Kick).

How do you know who is on what teams and what you can expect from each squad? Well, you could look at the individual team rosters broken down on the league schedule. Or, you can sit back and read my recap and analysis using my "expert" kickball knowledge. Without further ado, let's break this down like a shotgun and look at the nine teams competing in the first ever WAKA VA RAPTOR LEAGUE!

Foul Balls
Captain: Jen Nardi & Andreas Beyersdorf
Color: Irish Green

WHOSE BALLS?! FOUL BALLS!

The Foulies are an institution on Wednesday nights, as the franchise has fielded a team for the past 7 seasons in VA Peninsula. While they have had successful seasons in the past on the field, they've fallen into some losing ways lately. In fact, they've lost their last 20 games in a row. However, this is a brand new league and a brand new start.

The team is lead by the captain Jen Nardi, who is one of the best female players on the Peninsula. There are few girls who can kick harder than the Nard-dog. Unfortunately, due to some travel and work conflicts, she'll be missing about 1/2 the games.

Joining Nardi from the Fall 2011 VA Peninsula season is the core of the Foulies, Andreas Beyersdorf, Brad Gault, Wade Brock, and John Max. The team received a boost, when Marie Harper rejoined the franchise after playing the Fall with Vicious & Delicious. Also coming over from VD is the powerful kicker, Wilson Gideon and Zoe Holcomb. Jiminy Kick-It's Laura Brown also joined the team. Additionally, a couple of Chicken Tetrazzini veterans, Justin Waddles and Derek Patterson have joined the Foulies in their quest for winter glory (or, uh, inebriation).

They really are friendly. I promise. 

Beyond that, the rest of the team is loaded with rookies and unknowns. Newcomers Joe Presault and Akiro Davis came out to the open scrimmages last week and looked good. Presault can drive the ball deep, while Davis is a speedster who seemed to adapt quickly the bunting strategy. As these two raw players develop, they could be a dangerous combo for the Foulies.

It's not clear how much success the team will have on the field, although I wouldn't take them lightly in any game. One thing that is for sure is that win, lose, or draw, the Foulies will be a friendly squad that knows how to party and have a good time.