3 Up 3 Down - Episode 44

WAKA VA Peninsula Fall Registration is OPEN!

Ladies and Gentlemen, WAKA Fall Kickball is upon us. Upon us in the sense that registration is now open and we are less than a month away from the deadline. So don't hesitate and lose out on the most fun, most competitive kickball league in the nation (I feel confident that is NOT an exaggeration)!

How do you register? Follow this link:

http://www.kickball.com/season/vapeninsulafall2013

Below are some important dates/details you may want to jot down to help your prepare for the upcoming season:

- Games are every Wednesday night
- Games are played at War Memorial Stadium. Best kickball fields in the area. Great grounds, music pumping through the PA, and cold beer served from the Tiki Bar!
- After the games, players head to our sponsor, Luckie's, for great specials, games, dancing, and more!- End of Season Tournament in November after Regular Season finishes- Players enjoy two awesome blowout parties during the season! (mid-season and end of season!)

- August 1st: First tee shirt order (to ensure you get the bar logo on your shirt you will need to be signed up by now).
- August 14th: Registration Deadline. Free agents will be placed on 8/15 based on available need.
- August 21st: Week 1
- November 16th: End of Season Tournament & Party!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact myself or Brent and we will be glad to help. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the field and the bar this Fall!!

--
Keith Morehart
Hampton Customer Service Representative
WAKA® Kickball
The World Adult Kickball Association®
keith@kickball.com 
Best Parties. Best Games. Best Friends.KICKBALL.COM

50/50 Raffle!

Attention VA Patriot players!     

WAKA Kicks Cancer 50/50 raffle

to be held every Wednesday night during the season!

·         $1 for 1 ticket

·         $5 for 6 tickets (FREE ticket!)

Winner receives HALF of the collected ticket sales and will be announced each night at the bar (you do not have to be present to win).

To purchase, look for Randi Brown (Hump Day) or Andrea Hoffman (Big Easy).  They will be on the field and at Toby’s Keith’s selling raffle tickets. 

No Shirt No Shoes No Motorboating

No Shirt No Shoes No Motorboating
Captains: Jason Riley & Bailey Brown
First Round Pick: Brent Wentworth

Jason Riley and Bailey Brown are two incredible people. Riley has made an impression on That Just Happened this past Spring playing all over the place and driving in runs and Bailey, well, she's pretty cool too I guess. Also, they have my favorite team name from this season.

NSNSNM made a terrible mistake with their first pick. They chose Brent Wentworth. If based on skill, this pick is actually pretty good because they get a high quality pitcher and someone who has greatly improved his striking at the plate. However, if they would have just waited one more pick, we wouldn't have to hear for the next 365 days how Brent Wentworth was both picked in the Top 10 and in the first round. With their next pick though they grabbed Brad Kirby. Outfielder, charger, kicker, great music taste. Sounds like a steal to me.

NSNSNM had a uniquie position of being the last pick of every other round and the first pick of every successive round after that. Their next two rounds saw them picking up their first female with Nikki Leblanc. One of the smartest females on the field and a very good outfielder/3rd baseman. Then snatched up David Merritts. It was said when the draft league registration first opened that Merritts may be one of the most improved players over the last year. Predominantly an outfielder, he has learned to be a successful catcher and (as long as he's not breaking bones) one of the most aggressive base runners there is.

With their next two picks they chose the star-crossed lovers Francesca Scrosia and Rob Kroll. They both wear blue in the Fall & Spring, just not the same color blue. So they will actually get to come together and bring Fran's hustle and Rob's hands and big foot to ice grey this season. 18 picks later they picked up David Griffin, who has won a championship with Pop Pop over there and was making plays in the outfield this Spring with Who's Driving Home? Rounding out this pair of picks they chose the oft over looked Holly Lenard. Maybe over looked in stature, but I have literally seen her bowl over guys on her way to first base twice her size. She's fierce and will show you who's boss.

Laura Schmitt was their 9th round pick, and is definitely a steal this late. She can bunt with precision and makes great decisions out in the field saving many runs. Andreas Beyersdorf was next and offers not only some well improved play in the outfield, but somehow every single one of his facebook comments gets "liked", so he must be a good guy. Jason Williamson won a WAKA Championship in his first season. Nuff said. Brad Gault provides a big leg and lots of high quality cell phone pictures at the bar. Kristen Saunders & Jon Lenard round out the Motorboaters with a lot of experience and ability.

Full Roster:
Jason Riley
Bailey Brown
Brent Wentworth
Brad Kirby
Nikki Leblanc
David Merritts
Francesca Scrosia
Rob Kroll
David Griffin
Holly Lenard
Laura Schmitt
Andreas Beyersdorf
Jason Williamson
Brad Gault
Kristen Saunders
Jon Lenard

Crunksauce

Crunksauce
Captains: Andrew Schlicte & Jill Simms
First Round Pick: Mark Flores

Andrew Schlicte was the very first person to come to me and say he wanted to captain. When he said he wanted to captain with Jill Simms I thought "Yeah, you and the rest of the league." Jill is easily one of the best girls in the league, and while she is quick and can bunt with the best of them, she may very well be the best female defender I've ever seen play.

Crunksauce mixed things up with their first pick and took the first true pitcher off the board with Mark Flores. Maybe one of the nicest guys in the league, except for the 3 seconds right before he pitches when he turns into The Incredible Hulk. I don't like him when he's angry. They quickly turned around a picked up a guy that has been getting a lot of attention lately. Alex Jackson recently made 1st Team All Peninsula, most likely based solely on his skills at 1st base, and while it may not be much of a secret anymore he is actually developing into quite the charger as well.

Speaking of first class 1st baseman, Crunksauce chose Patrick Jones. A guy who hasn't played since last summer league due to an injury. However, he went out on top as possibly the best pound for pound first baseman on the market, so regardless if he feels up to playing the role again, he still has a pretty big defensive reputation he will undoubtedly live up to. Michael Wezensky was chosen next. He made his WAKA debut last summer season and came bursting on the scene being able to play multiple positions and making it obvious he has been playing soccer for a long time with well placed strikes all over the field.

They then took their first female of the draft with Amber Kirby. Amber played kickball this Spring during the Sunday league for Kickasaurus Rex, has played in that other league, and plays in an all girl league. I've only seen her on the offensive side of the ball a few times, but I've seen her make some great heads up plays in the field while playing some very strong teams. Their next girl selected was Christina Race. Spring was her first season playing kickball, but it was a very impressive debut. She proved she can catch and straight up run the bases. Gizelle Roman is another player who has only played one season with a talented Dirty Mike squad, but her determination to continue to improve is evident with all the running she has been doing lately.

They continue to fill their stable with all kinds of experience. Jason Wiseszek & Jason Lantz both represent big legs and sure hands at 1st and in the outfield. Brent "The Denim One" Obershaw may match the intensity of his Spring teammate Eric Schessl, but he brings a ton of experience to the field. Fellow PBJTer, Theo Gardner, also got some experience during VA Freedom playing that will surely translate on this team. Michael Peele is another player that made his kickball debut in the summer league last year and has been garnering game time ever since. He is a runnng maniac it seems lately, so just get him on the base paths and let him do his thing. And then there is Wade Brock. What can we say about Wade Brock? Not much. But he is finished with school, so at least he's got that going for him.

Crunksauce picked up two female rookies, and to be honest, I don't know anything about them. And my one inside source on Crunksauce had no information to provide on either Heather Walters or Rachel Nelson. So I'll say this... I can't wait to meet all these new people!

Full Roster:
Andrew Schlicte
Jill Simms
Mark Flores
Alex Jackson
Patrick Jones
Michael Wezensky
Amber Kirby
Jason Wieszek
Jason Lantz
Christina Race
Brent Obershaw
Heather Walters
Theo Gardner
Wade Brock
Michael Peele
Rachel Nelson
Giselle Roman

Joffrey's Disciples

Joffrey's Disciples
Captains: Nick Schmidt & Amelia Harveycutter
First Round Pick: Wes McClain

Amelia Harveycutter was one of the first people to come to me wanting to be a captain. In fact she was so adamant on captaining, she was actually able to talk Nick Schmidt out of his summer kickball hiatus to join her. For that, we thank you Amelia.

On to their draft. And with their first pick, they took another first round pick from last year, one of the biggest legs and one of the strongest arms. Wes McClain is always a nice pick up because he can easily fit in almost any situation offensively or defensively. They quickly followed up with the man, the myth, the legend, Jeremy Edge. His ability to get on base rivals his own ability to get a rise out of folks via social media (and that's saying something). Seriously though, he's virtually a sure shot to get on base and trolls the outfield like it's a thread in WAKA VA Peninsula (I kid... kinda).

Joffrey's then decided their next best move was pick a female. Whether it's a biased pick or not, Dani Buchanan (Nick's sister) has burst onto the scene in the last few seasons. I don't know how long she's been playing, but she is about as good in the outfield as any guy I've seen out there. Their next pick was none other then Sir Matt Wellbrock. Pitcher extraordinaire slinging hot fire from the mound. Then followed by Mike Harvey who is a very underrated charger.

Emily Ross Cook adds a world of situational knowledge and is valuable with the sacrifice. Nick Sutton is a speedy outfielder and has a great bunt coupled with base running ability. Patrick Smith will undoubtedly be sharing the mound with Matt to create a pretty damn good 1-2 punch towards the plate. Michael Via, while he is still new to kickball, proved himself on a very talented Moose Knuckles team this past Spring season and plans to continue to make waves. And don't forget their trifecta of remaining ladies. Geralyn Mitchell is one of the most consistent female bunters that can be utilized in so many situations. Gwen Gorski has been under the tutelage of Jen Nardi the past couple seasons. Will she take some pitching time away from the Pat & Matt connection? And Laura Nelson-Rogers, someone who can really get a hold of the ball and surprise you with her power to get it out into the outfield.

Joffrey does have two new players in Todd Klayum and Kenny Dunscomb. They are both friends of Amelia and Nick (respectively), so I can only imagine the type of plans and players they've been keeping from the rest of the league.

Full Roster:
Nick Schmidt
Amelia Harveycutter
Wes McClain
Jeremy Edge
Danielle Buchanan
Matt Wellbrock
Mike Harvey
Emily Ross Cook
Nick Sutton
Patrick Smith
Michael Via
Geralyn Mitchell
Todd Klayum
Kenny Dunscomb
Gwen Gorski
Laura Nelson-Rogers

The Big Easy

The Big Easy
Captains: Daniel Shaw & Katie Litle
First Round Pick: Gene Efird

Let me just throw this out there now, The Big Easy appears to be the team to beat in my preseason poll. On paper, they have a stout team with lot's of experience. If last year taught us anything though, that doesn't always translate 100% when it comes to game day. Chemistry, game plan, attendance all play a bigger part than "Look who we got."

Whenever you start a draft team with the 1st Team All Peninsula Pitcher and Female combo... you probably have a leg up. Dan is quite possibly the best pitcher in the league and Katie the same as females go. Problem is, where do you go from here? How about drafting your next four picks directly from the All Peninsula Pool. Gene Efird was their first round pick and an All Peninsula honoree on the 2nd team. He is feared at the plate for the power he exerts and is a wall as a top charger in the league. Then there's Roger Jackson, who only made the 3rd Team All Peninsula (only!), as one of the most athletic catchers wreaking havoc on all stray bunts within a 20 foot radius of home plate. They headed back to the 2nd Team picking Allen Walker who, as his Spring team mate Brent Wentworth said in the podcast, was his pick for best 1st baseman out on the field this passed season. And to round out this disgusting display of who's who, they chose their first drafted female in Courtney Efird. There are 4 females on the 1st Team All Peninsula and both Courtney & Katie are 2 of them. They have exactly HALF of the 4 best girls in the league. Any questions why they are the proverbial favorite as of right now?

If this were a salary cap league, they would have wasted all their resources in the first 4 rounds and it should all be down hill form here. Au contraire mon frer. Justin Shauf is hell on the base paths, Michaels Seals is an above average pitcher and charger, David Tortolini own the outfield, and Justin Waddles can catch you off guard with deep kicks. Well maybe they wasted all their picks on guys and didn't get anymore quality girls? Guess again. Andrea Henry is about as tactically sound at the plate as you can get and knows exactly what role she has to play every time she gets up to kick. Marilee Columbus, who may only be a self diagnosed "team mom", has vastly improved her bunts over the last year and dare we say, actually enjoys PLAYING kickball and not just being around people who are playing kickball.

They still happened to snag some late round talent that just adds to their depth. Chase Feller has only played one season with NKotB, but he was an anchor for them on the mound and an offensive insurgence. Dom Guarry has a lot of hustle in him and gives 100% on every play.

I haven't been able to spy on their two rookies yet when it comes to on the field performance, but if Amy Mabry's high energy personality on draft night is able to translate on the field, she'll be a sleeper for sure. And while I honestly know nothing about Abigail Riffle yet (sorry, I'm only soo good at Facebook stalking), look at the people she has to learn from. She will have no problems picking up on exactly what it takes be a positive influence on the field.

So The Big Easy may pass the eye test, but will they pass the smell test? We'll find out in two days.

Full Roster:
Daniel Shaw
Katie Litle
Gene Efird
Roger Jackson
Allen Walker
Courtney Efird
Justin Shauf
Michael Seals
David Tortolini
Andrea Henry
Justin Waddles
Marilee Columbus
Chase Feller
Amy Mabry
Dom Guarry
Abby Riffle

Pitches Be Trippin'

Pitches Be Trippin'
Captains: George Kiriazidis & Angie Weatherhead
First Round Pick: Alex Noctor

George has been in this situation before. He was a captain last year and drafted a very competitive team. This year, he brings a highly touted female to the table with him to help draft a team just as competitive. While George has the knowledge, Angie brings the passion, and their team is a very solid mix of both.

Pitches first pick of the draft is a very highly regarded catcher and set of wheels in Alex Noctor. Coincidentally, George also used his first pick in the draft last season to select Noc.  It's a great pick too, probably even more so this year as he has added lots of competitive innings of kickball traveling, both playing and captaining. Their next pick is probably one of the most versatile players in our league. He is a great first baseman, great in the outfield, he pitches well, and he can even charge (even if he says he can't). And like Brent said on the live podcast during the draft, Nick Anderson has had one the biggest improvements over the last year, which actually says a lot because he was no slouch beforehand.

Ryan Schmid was taken with their 3rd round pick to add another intense defensive presence. Their next male pick is technically a WAKA rookie, but Matt Garrett has more kickball experience than probably 75% of the league. He was highly sought after by a few teams, who most likely thought he would fall to some of the later rounds since he is "new", but Pitches probably got a steal with this 5th round pick based on what he brings to the field.

Pitches had to start picking ladies and it was no surprise to anyone that their first female taken was Kecia Warner, not only because her partner in crime and BFFFFFF was one of the captains, but also because this recently selected All Peninsula player is a beast on the field. The continue to go with familiarity and select George's spring team mate, Karen"The Silent Killer" Savell. I know George drafted her when he did because she's a kickball magnet in the outfield, but I'd also like to think he drafted her because he wants to be in the weekly write-up she will most assuredly be doing. Rounding out their experienced girls are Mimi Gill and Nolin Morgan. Mimi is a journeyman when it comes to kickball and has probably played with just about everyone in the league at this point. And Nolin, who just finished her rookie season in the Spring, made a big impact on NKotB quickly and became an instant contributor.

4 of the remaining male Pitches selected are all relatively new, but have made their mark in their own way. Justin Ferrel may be the quiet guy on PBJT, but his speed at lead off and his outfield play was a great pick up this late in the draft. Eric Shessl is NOT the quite guy on PBJT and brings about as much intensity to the playing field as I have seen out of anyone in VA Peninsula. I'm kind of excited to see what pink accessories Eric will be donning come Wednesday. Alex Childs. For those that don't know, Alex was actually picked up as a free agent by the Pounders in the VA Raptor Winter League this year and made his mark as a hustler (as in someone who hustles, not a swindler) and made the success in his first season look like... Childs play (credit to Jorts for the pun). And lastly, Geno Searfoss played for the Misfits in the Spring, and while he had to miss a few games, he proved himself as someone who can shag fly balls in their game against Battlestar who was relentless with bombs that night.

To complete their roster, Pitches be Trippin' has a few new players this season. Jason Jefferson, John Quinn, and Felicia Griffin, may not have kickball experience yet, but having George as a captain is a sure-fire way to start off on the right foot.

Full Roster:
George Kiriazidis
Angie Weatherhead
Alex Noctor
Nick Anderson
Ryan Schmid
Kecia Warner
Matt Garrett
Karen "The Silent Killer" Savell
Justin Ferrell
Eric Schessl
Alex Childs
Jason Jefferson
Mimi Gill
Nolin Morgan
John Quinn
Geno Searfoss
Felicia Griffin

Hump Day

Hump Day
Captains: Geoff Morehart & Lenora Harper
First Round Pick: Dom Smith

It was agreed upon amongst several pundits pre-draft that Geoff & Lenora seemed to have a head start compared to some teams as they would not have to draft a catcher early and they already have a top female. While that's definitely an advantage, you still have to draft your needs and go into it with some sort of game plan. How did they do?

Well, if you start with a catcher, smart money tells you to draft a counter part and go for a charger. That's exactly what they did. But they didn't draft just any charger. Dom Smith's name has been thrown around in conversation as "Best Charger in the League" for several seasons now. Michael Ramey get's picked up with their next pick, and although he put down his primary position is pitcher, he is an excellent 1st baseman. Both of their first 2 picks are hell at the plate for any defense. I expect a lot of runs to cross the plate for them.

Hump Day's next move may have surprised some out there. They already have a top girl, so why would they pull the trigger so early on the first female drafted in the whole league? You've solidified your infield, and as I've said before, ladies can make or break you. Why not take two more top girls with 2 of your next 3 picks? Randi Brown is great in the field and athletic on the bases. Kim Morgan will catch anything kicked to her and cuss you out as she does it. She's also pretty good offensively.

Back to their gentleman callers. Dave "Dbizzle" Baum may have flown under most people's radar in previous seasons, but he made big splashes this season with walk-off grand slams and incredible play at 1st base. Shane Nielson, Dbizzle's fellow Free Ballin' team mate and former team mate of Geoff, can contribute in a multitude of positions on the field and is very driven to win. Jason Burnette, yet another 1st base man, but maybe his biggest upswing is his ability to make plays on the base paths. He's an avid runner and is about as smart as they come rounding the rubber. Derek Patterson is a very underrated pitcher. His speed may not knock anyone over, but the amount of bounce and twist he puts on it as it comes across the plate makes it very hard to get around on. And lastly, Braden Merz and Blaine "The Train" Campbell. Both only have a season worth of experience, but both were contributors to their respective teams. Braden made some great catches in the outfield and even better throws in to cut off runners. While Blaine proved to have great hands on the corner base.

The list of ladies to round out Hump Day's females include Shauna Youtzey, who has kickball experience in both leagues, Sarah Ruch, who gives 100% every time she is out on the field, and Stacy Kyser, who may not have much experience but her husband (Andy Kyser) has been teaching her the ins & outs to get her ready.

Hump Day drafted one rookie to round out their team. It wasn't at random however, like maybe some of these other teams selections. A little insider information on Josh Lafountain has shown that he has played competitive soccer for 20+ years. In fact, after their first team practice today, Geoff simply said this: "Steal of the draft: Josh Lafountain". Which says a lot since he was drafted in the 6th round.


Full Roster:
Geoff Morehart
Lenora Harper
Dom Smith
Michael Ramey
Randi Brown
Dave "Dbizzle" Baum
Kim Morgan
Josh Lafountain
Shane Nielson
Jason Burnette
Derek Patterson
Shauna Youtzey
Sarah Ruch
Braden Merz
Blaine "The Train" Campbell
Stacy Kyser

Spring 2013 All-Peninsula 1st Team

The crème de la crème.

by Brent Wentworth

Alex Jackson is a quiet guy by nature and as such he has a tendency to fly under the radar... At least until recently. His play has been so spectacular that the All-Peninsula voters have noticed and recognized him with a first team spot. One of the most well rounded kickballers on the scene, AJ can kick for power, lace liners for base hits, or slap grounders up third. On the base paths, Jackson's combination of elite speed and aggressiveness causes nightmares for other teams. The man always seems to take the extra base (often times home). 

by Brent Wentworth

2nd Team All-Peninsula charger Gene Efird isn't the only member of the family who excells on the kickball diamond. Big sis Courtney Efird has been dropping bombs on opponents for years. Don't bring your outfield in too much when she is up to kick. She will drop it over your head.

by Brent Wentworth
The 5 O'Clockers had no shortage of talent with their ladies. Jillian Simms joins her teammates Nique Williams and Courtney Efird as members of the All-Peninsula teams. And while Nique was recognized for her defense and Courtney (above) was recognized for her power, Jillian brings a different strength to the field: speed and bunting ability. This combination makes Jill one of the more difficult outs in the league. I don't recall seeing her pop up a single bunt all season, so if you're going to get her out, you're going to have to make a play. And make it quick, because "The Sparrow" will fly to first in a flash!

by Brent Wentworth
For years, Josh Waldrop was most known for his deadly line drives and his stunningly handsome face. One thing not usually associated with him is his bunting. However, that's starting to change. As stacked as the 5 O'Clockers were following the JFK merge, one thing they lacked was a true lead off kicker. This is where Waldrop stepped up. He took over the top spot, and immediately performed at an elite level. His bunts painted the lines and his speed put him on base consistently. Waldrop ended up being one of the top run scorers in the league as the spark plug at the top of the Clocker offense.

by Nathaniel "Jorts" Johnson
Ca-caw! The Condor is back in the top spot again. Daniel Shaw once again turned in a performance in the Spring which demonstrates why he is penciled into the First Team All Peninsula at the beginning of the season. His scorching bowling style pitches kept kickers second guessing themselves as he powered the 5OC to the leagues best runs against average (0.8 per game). It takes more than superb pitching to earn the top spot and Shaw is a powerful line drive kicker who regularly starts 5OC rallies in the latter half of the kicking order. On top of all of this, the Condor is the consummate teammate and defensive leader on the field. A well-deserved honor for the most well respected hurler in the Peninsula.

by Emily Ross Cook
It’s no surprise that Amanda Doolittle quickly rose to the top of the All-Peninsula ranks in just a couple seasons.  Equipped with a softball background and a fiercely competitive attitude, this Pop Pop lady turned quite a few heads this season. Not only is Doolittle defensively sound, she’s a threat on offense as well. Often kicking near the top of the order, the Pop Pop offense regularly relies on Doolittle to move runners into scoring position (or get on base when they already are), a job that she does with consistent bunts down the third or first base line. In the words of Nick Schmidt, “Pop Pop’s girls are BEAST!”

by Brent Wentworth
Up until recent seasons, Troy Southall had been one of the better catchers WAKA VA Peninsula. The emergence of teammate Guy Sumrell into a star catcher forced 'Springa to split time between the two players behind the plate. Now, many players in this situation would have been upset, maybe pushed for more PT, or even found a new team to be the alpha dog on. But not Southall. All he did was continue to shine when given catching innings, while becoming one of the top defensive outfielders in the league. His versatility and willingness to put the team ahead of his self, helped Rumspringa finish in the top 5 of the standings in the spring. But that's probably not even the best part of Troy's game. While he was once a pure bunter and top of the lineup guy, over the last year, he's transformed into a great kick away guy, in the 4 spot. Whether it's dropping a liner in space or booming a ball deep, he can do both. Another example of Troy's continued improvement. At this point, what can't he do?

by Nathaniel "Jorts" Johnson
Like any good indie kid, Brad Kirby likes to downplay his kickball abilities and play up his advancing age. One glance at a Pop Pop game and even the casual observer quickly realizes that neither could be further from the truth. Brad has boyish good looks and plays with a youthful exuberance for the game. The Bradlesnake is most often seen lurking in the Pop Pop short field position waiting to strike at enemy line drives, but his brilliance comes from his ability to move up and become a second charger or float back into the outfield. Brad has a strong arm which enables him to make jaw dropping put outs from any position on the field. On offense, once again Brad's value comes from his ability to do it all. He is deadly anywhere in the lineup and can be found leading off or kicking anywhere in the order. The Clemson grad is a tiger in the tank and has earned his first All Peninsula First Team selection through another excellent season.

by Emily Ross Cook
Clearly the voters know a great team when they see one, as Alex Noctor is one of five Pop Pop players to make the All-Peninsula first team. Noctor is the complete package: he bunts and kicks away with precision, possesses a quickness and agility that lends him to being one of the best catchers in the league, and an overall versatility that allows him to play any position on the field and kick in any position in the lineup. Not only does Noctor have great athletic ability, he’s got a great attitude as well, captaining the young Pop Pop team to a 6-3-1 finish in an increasingly difficult VA Peninsula league.  Expect to see his name on the All-Peninsula teams again and expect Pop Pop to continue competing for the prestigious Wentworth Trophy ® .

by Brent Wentworth
Katie Litle is a mainstay on the All-Peninsula first team dating back to the old Jagernaut days. Like a fine wine, she has only gotten better throughout the years. A great defensive outfielder, consistent bunter, and powerful kicker. Over the past year, she's been working out hard at TJH captain Geoff Morehart's Jungle Gym* to add even more strength and speed to her already impressive arsenal. Simply put, there are many, many ways that she helps her team win games and kills her opponents.

*not a paid sponsor, I swear! 

by Nathaniel "Jorts" Johnson
In his short kickball career, Dom Smith has ascended to a perennial All Peninsula First Team selection. The only thing more impressive than a mouth which never stops moving is the league's most powerful arm which enables Dom to make any throw on the field. In addition, Dom has a unique offensive skill set which allows him the ability to both lead off and kick clean up for Pop Pop. He represents a unique talent which is nearly impossible to counter on the kickball field and is the future of WAKA VA Peninsula.

Channing All Over Your Tatums

Channing All Over Your Tatums
Captains: Adam Waller & Tiffany Morehart
First Round Pick: Steve Midlik

Tiffany and Adam may appear, at first glance, to have a disadvantage compared to some of the other captains. Tiffany has played primarily for the same team her entire time in WAKA, and Adam has only ever played ONE season until now. I can tell you though, their preparation (probably because they're both teachers) was not half-fast. They knew exactly who they wanted and when they wanted them, and I would imagine their draft board looked very similar to their current full roster.

First things first, and Tiffany will tell you this vehemently, Steve Midlik was the one person she "could not live without" (her words on draft day). And rightfully so. Steve is a great charger and incredible on offense. He has the ability to put it where he wants to, and if that means he wants to put it over your head he can do that too. Second things second, she wanted Troy Southall. "If anyone takes him before I get him, I'm going to fight them." (once again, her words) Still a great pick in the 2nd round with someone who can bunt, kick it deep and fills that other critical position at catcher. So you make look at these picks as homer picks (Tiff played with both Steve & Troy in the spring), but they filled needs with marquee players at their positions.

With the infield taken care of, they decided to fill their outfield next and pick two more-than-reliable guys out there shagging fly balls. Nathaniel "Jorts" Johnson and Keith Morehart both also represent "big-man speed" on the base paths while laying down solid bunts and can kick it deep as well. If your core positions are filled, why not go after other versatile players that just keep adding to your depth and ability? Adam Henry can play anywhere on the field and has so much experience that will be great in every game time situation. Jesse Rogers proved himself last year in his rookie season on the Drago's, and then honed his skills over the last two season's on various Peninsula teams.

After Channing Tatum's were done gathering up guys, their ladies came rolling in. Picking up their first girl, Jiselle Anderson, someone who can bunt and make diving catches as good as any guy out there. Liz Tortolini, who is one of the smartest base runners in the game. Meghan Dorsey, whose soccer skills gives her one of the most poignant strikes at the plate. Stacy Carpenter brings experience at the plate bringing runs around the bases. And Barbara Wezensky, while she hasn't played very long, has been able to translate her many years playing softball into a viable defender.

Channing Tatum does have several rookies, but all show fits of promise. Juan Cruz was plucked out of the crowd, partly because after further invesitagtion he is just a generally athletic dude, and partly because his name is somewhat famous now within WAKA circles. Michael Bailey has never played kickball before, but he did play Division 2 soccer. Not too shabby. And Kelly Malone, in her kickball debut at her first practice, showed great will and determination at the plate laying down excellent situational bunts.

Full Roster:
Adam Waller
Tiffany Morehart
Steve Midlik
Troy Southall
Nathaniel "Jorts" Johnson
Keith Morehart
Jiselle Anderson
Adam Henry
Liz Tortolini
Meghan Dorsey
Jesse Rogers
Juan Cruz
Stacy Carpenter
Jonathan Aldridge
Barbara Wezensky
Michael Bailey
Kelly Malone

Spring 2013 2nd Team All-Peninsula

On Sunday, we took a look at the 3rd Team All-Peninsula honors. Now it's time to reveal who made the 2nd Team! 

by Brent Wentworth

Veteran kickballer Allen Walker has been an outstanding first baseman in WAKA VA Peninsula since the early days. Season after season, you can count on him bringing great defense and dangerous offense. And despite the fact that Walker is entering his mid-30s, he's only getting better with age. The dude has been hitting the gym and is in the best shape of his career. Stronger. Faster. More powerful. Just ask Kick Ass' Manny Anderson. Walker gunned him out at home in an early season match-up. Not many people can say they've thrown out Manny from more than 60 ft away, and that was only one of many highlights for Allen. Great season. 

by Brent Wentworth

Frank Council is possibly the nicest guy in the league. But don't mistake his kindness for weakness. He will destroy you on the kickball field. Always known for his powerful right leg, Council has shown a versatility on the defensive side of the ball that was invaluable to Free Ballin' in the spring. He saw major innings at first base, outfield, and charger. And in week 6, with Mark Flores unavailable, Frank stepped up and pitched 5 scoreless innings in a big 4-0 victory over Pop Pop. As Adam Henry said recently, "In a nutshell, Council makes your team better." 

by Emily Ross Cook

One of the most difficult things to do as an outfielder is judge the distance of a kickball once it’s been kicked.  Dani Buchanan-Schmidt has a strong depth perception and an innate ability to read a ball once it’s been kicked.  With a softball background, it’s understandable that Dani would bring that ability into the kickball realm and, in all honesty, she rarely ever drops a ball in left field. Not only is her defense a crucial cog in the Pop Pop wheel, she’s strong on the offensive side of the ball as well. She’s aggressive on the bases, and isn't afraid to get dirty - as evidence by her recent play in the Spring end of season Tournament.

by Nathaniel "Jorts" Johnson

The most imposing presence on the mound in VA Peninsula (and that’s really saying something), Hassan Dubose is a towering southpaw who pitched Pop Pop into the semifinals in their first appearance in the league.  Hass presents the extremely rare combination of speed, power, and movement on his pitches which blows away rookies and confounds wily veterans at the plate.  When he is at the plate, Hass uses a powerful left leg to consistently drive in runs and has added a sneaky bunt into his offensive repertoire.  Hass is making his return to the All-Peninsula Second team pitcher position which he held after the Spring 2012 season.

by Emily Ross Cook

Gene Efird has only been playing kickball for just over a year, but has already established himself as an elite charger, both in the Peninsula league and in the nation. A basketball player at heart, Efird can gun you out with an overhand throw or a quick chest pass to first base. Offensively he’s no joke either, as he can bunt or kick away with precision. The best thing about Efird? He’s young, which means you’ll be seeing his name on the All-Peninsula ballots for quite a while.

by Brent Wentworth

Very few males in VA Peninsula posses the speed of TJH's Lenora Harper. She puts hours and hours of work in at the gym and the practice field, and it paid off. As one of the best pure athletes in the league, Harper impressed opponents by beating out many great throws to reach base safely. Defensively, Lenora showed herself to have good range and sure hands... What's scary, is that she's still a relatively inexperienced player. She's just scratching the surface. Imagine what she's going to do in the Fall? 

by Emily Ross Cook

Jason Kidd has had the opportunity to play for a variety of top tier teams: Foul Balls (circa ’09), 5 O’Clockers, JFK, and Pop Pop. Its no secret that when you kick the ball to the outfield, you’ll want to keep it away from Kidd as he is quick to get to the ball and has sure hands for catching.  Offensively, Kidd typically leads off due to his speed, but his sneaky line drives can fool an unsuspecting outfield.  Kidd may be on the All-Peninsula team for his play in the outfield, but if you were there for the semifinal match between the Clockers and Pop Pop you saw his versatility as a pitcher and charger as well. If anything, J.Kidd should be on the All-Peninsula team as a utility player instead of an outfielder because the Kidd can do it all.

by Emily Ross Cook

In only her second season in the WAKA Peninsula league, Nique Williams has established herself as a tough contender on the kickball field.  Her sure hands at third base saved numerous “would be” singles during the regular season and throughout the tournament. Not only can she catch, but she’ll throw you out if you’re not careful. Snuck one past the charger?  Nique will throw across the field to get you out at first. When she gets on base she’s no joke either, aggressive on the base paths always looking to push for that extra base. Needless to say, Freed found a quality player when he recruited this one.

by Nathaniel "Jorts" Johnson

The Kick Ass captain fulfilled three years of guarantees in the Spring 2013 in winning his first VA Peninsula championship. Manny Anderson was an integral part of this championship run playing catcher at breakneck speed behind the plate and jump starting the KA offense from the lead-off spot in the lineup. A fierce competitor from his years playing high school and collegiate football, Manny is a guy who leaves it all on the field and never quits. The voters once again recognize his unique combination of offensive and defensive talent.

by Brent Wentworth

To say that Noelle Walsh has a serious kickball addiction would be an understatement. Since the beginning of 2013 Noelle has competed in kickball tournaments in Ft. Lauderdale, Austin TX, Washington DC, and Harrisburg PA. In addition to racking up frequent flyer miles, Walsh has continued to showcase her all around skills. Skills which have helped Free Ballin' to their most successful season in franchise history. Kicking. Bunting. Defense. Noelle is the total package. 

by Brent Wentworth

This man pisses excellence.