Fall 2013 All-Peninsula 3rd Team

At the conclusion of each WAKA VA Peninsula season, the polls open and the members of the league vote on which players they feel had the most outstanding season at their position. Out of 348 players, 33 players are honored with the distinction of being an "All-Peninsula" player!

Let's take a look at the 3rd Team!

The "Utility" was created to recognize the players who contributed to their team by playing multiple positions. Few people, if any, embody that definition more than Pop Pop's Alex Jackson. Whatever the team needed, whether it was first base, charger, or catcher, AJ stepped up and performed at an elite level. At the plate, the speedster was a difficult out for opponents with well placed bunts. But just like on defense, he is far from one dimensional. His line drives are some of the most deadly on the Peninsula. The 5 O'Clockers know what I'm talking about. His laser in week 3 gave Pop Pop a big early season walk off victory.

I remember years ago when Ashley Carte first began playing kickball down on the south side. Although clearly athletic, she was not a natural to the game. She played on mostly lower tiered teams and did not do much to stand out. However, over the years, she's worked hard to get better and is now among the top female kickballers in all of Hampton Roads. With added skill and technique, her athleticism is now a weapon for The Situation. Carte's great speed and bunting had her putting pressure on opposing defenses and earned her well deserved recognition from the league.

Free Ballin's Mark Flores has been one of the hardest throwing pitchers in the league for the past 3 years. This has made him a staple of the All-Peninsula team. But what's really stood out about Flores is the work he's put in on the offensive side of the ball. While once a somewhat one dimensional defensive specialist, Flores has developed into a dangerous line drive kicker in the middle of the Free Ballin' lineup.

Ballsagna had one of the most potent offenses in the league this Fall, scoring 7.18 runs per game. A big part of that devastating lineup was Nicole Graziano. The former Ms. Plesha can paint the line with a bunt or drop a bomb into the outfield with equal skill and consistency.
Defensively, she holds it down on 3rd base. You'd have better luck trying to pick on someone else than to kick towards her sure hands.

One of the biggest off-season moves was Pop Pop's acquisition of outfielder Nathaniel "Jorts" Johnson. Fresh off of a Wentworth Trophy® victory with Kick Ass, there was a lot of pressure on Jorts to deliver for Pop Pop. And certainly he did, stepping into the middle of the lineup and providing a lot of the 'pop' in Pop Pop. But just because he's adept at kicking away doesn't mean he's a one trick pony. As he will be quick to tell you, he's got 'big man speed' and sneak a bunt down three.

 JFK's Josh Joyner has some of the best pure instincts of any outfielder in WAKA VA Peninsula. He just always seems to know where the ball is going off the foot and seaks it out. Kickers who get frustrated trying to bunt on against the stellar JFK defense found no more success when they tried to kick away thanks to this ball hawk in center.

Eat. Breathe. Sleep. Kickball. Very few individuals play more kickball than Boom's Kim Morgan. The obsession with playing has helped her improve season over season. Defensively, she's one of the strongest women in the league. Nothing drops if she can get her hands on it. Offensively, she's a good bunter and has a strong leg when kicking away.

Nique Williams is a beast. Playing the hot corner can be tough. Often times right footed kickers will lace liners down the line that even the best players struggle with. Not Nique. She handles the position and makes it look easy. Which makes me jealous, since I make the most routine plays look incredibly difficult. I don't know how she does it.

This veteran kickballer has been building a reputation as being one of the most consistent and reliable players in WAKA VA Peninsula. Mike Ramey bunts well up either side of the field, kicks deep balls to right, and displays soft hands on first for Rumspringa.

Eric Stevens has a motor that never stops. With boundless energy, he explodes out of the box and gobbles up bunts. If you put any air under your bunt against Stevens, you're probably going to find yourself sitting back on the bench a few seconds later.

Few kickers are more feared in the league than the 5 O'Clockers' Wes McClain. With good reason. Push your outfielders back and he'll rip a line drive right in front of them. Pull them in, and he'll crush one over their heads.
At the charger position, the best word to describe Wes is 'unorthodox'. From where he lines up (almost directly behind the pitcher) to his wind up and delivery (a hooking slingshot soccer style throw). But another word to describe it is 'effective'. McClain has hosed a lot kickers with some laser throws to first. And that's why he's an All-Peninsula player yet again.