Spring 2012 All-Peninsula 2nd Team

Oh man, I know you all have been waiting patiently for this (I apologize, this week ended up being a very busy one). Without further ado, I present to you, the 2nd Team All-Peninsula award winners!

"If you want to jump start your offense an solidify your infield defense, Manny Anderson is one of those rare players that can do both at the highest level," teammate Nathaniel Johnson was quoted earlier this season. Indeed, Anderson has always had the physical gifts. The guy is a fitness freak. But what was missing in previous seasons was the experience. Well, in his 4th full season of WAKA Kickball, Manny has gotten the reps needed and his now an elite contributor on both sides of the ball. From the charger position, he lead Kick Ass to the #1 seed with an 8-1-1 record, while also serving as captain. "Manny always strives to make those around him better," Jorts commented, "and has even managed to help his best friend, Danger, clean up his life."

The eccentric Matt Barcus may be known more for his outlandish actions off the field, but he rightly deserves recognition for his performance on it. He's one of the best all around first basemen in kickball. A former football punter, when Barcus gets a hold of a pitch he can bomb it. Just ask the Clockers. In their week 5 matchup, Barcus drove in 3 runs with a triple to spark a JFK comeback to tie the game. But he's not just a one dimensional player. The experienced Barcus fields his position with the best of them. Sure handed and with great instincts and range, Matt takes care of business.

Not too many girls can spray liners all over the field like the talented Tracy Colby. Hell, not too many guys can. Colby, a lifelong soccer player, has skills that make her a threat to drive in runs every time she's at the plate. Don't bring your outfield in against her. She'll make you pay. In the outfield, Tracy Colby was solid all season. Opponents would occasionally try to test out right field, but she'd leave them disappointed every time. Colby can track down fly balls and effortlessly makes catches on the run. All around, Tracy, is a great player and we'll all miss her next year. In the Fall, she'll be transferring to the WAKA MA Indepence League.

Hassan Dubose, better known as Hass Dooby, was a dominant force on the mound for Kick Ass. The KA defense had a league leading 1.5 runs allowed per game, and it all began with the imposing presence of Hass. The powerful lefty hurls his pitches with a tough mixture of speed, movement, and bounce, leaving opponents confused and uncomfortable in the box.
"I have never seen Hassan Dubose have an 'off' night. Hass brings sick southpaw speed and spin to the mound," teammate Nathaniel Johnson said recently, "Even some of the most offensively talented players in the league have fallen victim to foul outs at the hands of Hass."
Indeed, there was no greater display of this than the week 7 matchup with Shake N Bake. Hass absolutely dominated the top ranked offense, including several foul outs of other All-Peninsula players.

Courtney Efird has always had the potential to be one of the best girls in kickball. The athletic Poquoson native has always been able to field her position well, and has one of the strongest female legs in the division. This season she took a giant leap forward as she expanded her game to the travel scene. Within the last six months, Efird has played in competitive tournaments in Ft. Lauderdale and Atlanta. And while her teams haven't done all that well, the experience she got playing against the top teams in the world has paid off, and she helped the Clockers win the championship. The league has definitely taken notice of her performance and has voted her into her first All-Peninsula team! 

The legendary Roger Jackson is a staple of the All-Peninsula voting. Perhaps the quickest catcher in the league, the nimble Jackson bursts out of the box and smothers bunts. No catcher gets to more balls in the air than Roger, and with sure hands he makes more than his fair share of highlight reel diving catches. One of the pioneers of the position on the Peninsula, any aspiring catchers should watch the way he plays the game and see how it's done.

Oh Johnny! Shake N Bake's John LaNeave is one of the most feared kickers in the league. Despite a dubious "C" rating in the VA Patriot mock draft (JP Wilkinson is never going to live that down), he can do it all. The former soccer and competitive softball player can paint the lines with crisp bunts and slice up defenses with accurately place liners. LaNeave gave SnB coaches Tracy Colby and Jeffrey Scott plenty of options, as he's been deployed up and down the lineup depending on who is available. With talent like LaNeave on the squad, it's not hard to see why Shake N Bake had the league's most explosive offense.

When you give yourself the nickname of "The On-Base Machine" than you better be prepared to back it up. Bryan "NoShoes" Moore did just that. Kicking in the top 3 of the order for Kick Ass, NoShoes was nearly flawless this season, reaching base over 20 times and scoring several runs. Moore's consistency on offense was a big reason why KA finished with the top seed. But it wasn't just the offensive performance that Moore contributed. With over 50 seasons of kickball under his belt, NoShoes brought a wealth of tactical knowledge to the young Kick Ass squad. With his advice, Kick Asses lineup and strategies were greatly improved this season and the result was seen on the field and in the standings. Take all that and also add that according to teammate Jorts Johnson, "He had a pretty sweet mohawk sometimes." and you can see why he's a worthy member of the All-Peninsula team.

Ryan Schmid is a passionate player who is always down to strike up a kickball conversation. His love and dedication to the game has turned a lot heads after his second full season in VA Peninsula.
"Ryan's always high strung and intense on game day," Burning Bridges head coach Phillip Baltzis said, "He plays as hard as anyone on field and always gives me everything he's got."
A versatile player, he can both kick away with power and bunt with skill. In the outfield, he holds it down, covering plenty of real estate (his aerodynamic faux hawk cuts through the air, giving him a speed advantage) and very rarely misplaying a ball in the air. Overall, Schmid is a all around baller and worthy of the All-Peninsula honor.

If you're a 5 O'Clocker and your first name is Courtney, than chances are you are pretty damn good. Courtney Travis is no exception. When she first came into the league, she was known mostly for being Britney Travis' little sister, but she's definitely made a name for herself, on and off the field. The former softball player is a natural athlete. She's got speed and great bunting skills. Once she gets on the base, she's smart, aggressive, and most of all, dangerous. She's an all around talented kickballer, a champion, and now an All-Peninsula Team honoree.

Typically, the 2 spot in the lineup is filled by one of the team's best bunters with speed and base running ability. The idea is that you need to have a person with a high on base percentage in that role to get on and score runs. It's very rare to see a woman kicking in the #2 spot on a high ranking team. Jenn Tull is exception. "Jenn is extremely well rounded," captain Phillip Baltzis said recently, "She is probably the most consistent offensive threat on our team." Tull is a lifelong soccer player and has played at high levels. Her experience on the pitch has left her with elite foot skills. One of the best bunters in the league and enough speed to make them count. When needed Tull can also rip them with the best. "Without a doubt, I consider her one of the top girls in the league." Baltzis stated. The league agrees; voting Tull onto the All-Peninsula team.