VA Raptor - Week 1 Results

We can't control the weather, but we can control our attitudes. Despite the chilly conditions, there was a lot of sunshine on our faces as WAKA VA Raptor 2014 kicked off yesterday in Hampton. Here is a quick summary of the results.

Dark Horses 5, Beast Mode 3
Nathaniel "Jorts" Johnson gave an inspiring pre-game speech that fired up the Horses. In the first inning, Justin Schauf slid in just under Geoff Morehart's tag to tie the game up at 1. Patrick Smith broke the stalemate the following inning with a line drive RKI up the middle. Ryan Schmids' 4th inning 2 run double helped add some insurance for the Dark Horses. They'd end up needing the cushion, as Beast Mode rallied in the 5th, lead by Brandon Silver, but it wasn't enough.

Denim Devils 10, Breaking Brad 4
In a battle between alliterative teams, the Devils came out on top of this one with an impressive 10 run explosion. 

Flip Cup Trainees 14, #WAKAholics 6
Just like a 1980s Nuggets vs Lakers game, this one was a shootout. Neither team provided much defensive resistance in the cold elements as the new scoreboards the league purchased were filled up quickly (well, it would have been if the wind didn't keep knocking it over). In the end, the experience of the Flippers would prove to be the difference as they scored 14 runs on the rookie 'Holics.

The Situation 12, Jabberjaws 1
Many pundits said that this could be a preview of the VA Raptor finals in March. But if you saw this game, you would not think so. With 2 outs in the bottom of the first, Blake Kalaikai sliced a line drive down the field line for a 3 run home run. From there it was no looking back for Sitch, as they scored in every inning en route to the blow out victory.

The Situation were big winners in week 1.

Dark Horses 7, Denim Devils 3
Thanks to John Vrooman's 3 run home run and some outstanding defensive plays by charger Josh Carr (see Jeremy Smithey's first person view of a diving catch/double play), the game was knotted up at 3 runs all in the 3rd. But the Dark Horses would not be denied. Putting up 4 runs late in the game, including an RKI single by newcomer Kate Otstot, to sweep their opening day double header. 

Flip Cup Trainees 6, Breaking Brad 1
FCT showed that they have a pretty potent lineup, scoring a combined 20 runs in their two double headers. So much for the 'kinder, gentler' Bryan Freed we heard about. He still loves running up the score. 

After week 1, here are the current standings.

Looking forward to next week already. Thanks for a great opening week of winter kickball!