It is with mixed emotions as a player that I make this announcement (as a Commissioner, it's a clear job well done type of kudos):
Please join me in congratulating your 2016 Regular Season Champions: Skeleton Crew.
The Crew came into the weekend with their fate in their own hands. Slightly short staffed (playing with 9, including 1 pick up...ahem), the Crew managed to fight tooth and nail with the Nads in the opening game of the day, staving off elimination with a gutsy 17-16 win in the bottom of the 7th. The win moved the Crew 1 game ahead of the Nads and into a tie with the Aces for top spot (at that point in time). Next up - game 2 of the Crew/Nads doubleheader.
Game 2 brought much of the same - intensity, hits and great defense. The Crew jumped out to an early lead and led 7-1 at the middway point. But the Nads, living life on the edge of elimination for the past few weeks had just faced a similar scenario the week prior versus the Sexpos (down 8-3) and just like that game, the Nads fought and clawed the way back, putting up a 3-spot in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game at 8s forcing extra innings. The Crew started off with back to back hits to score a pair, but that was it, leaving the Nads an opening to scratch out another comeback in extra innings? Could they put another 9-run type inning together like the previous week? Alas, no - the Nads fell just short and with the loss, fell to 8-5 and owners of 4th place.
On the southeast diamond, their was an air of upset awaiting those playing the rest of the day. The 1130a game saw some positive 'results" coming from the Seymour squad as the head into the year end tournament riding a 2 game winning, putting their season opening 11-game losing streak in the past. The bats have come alive and Seymour took down a heated rival in the Riddlers 15-11. The loss dropped the Riddlers to 5-8 and solidly into 8th place in the final standings.
Next up on the Upset Diamond - the 1-win Kids up against the upstart Franchise. On the line - bragging rights between for the Kids (or Seymour). With Seymour pulling out back to back wins, the Kids needed to win this game to avoid dropping into the basement. Things didn't start out in the Kids favor though as the Franchise wanted to make a statement - rolling out to a solid 8-1 lead with the Kids coming to bat in the bottom of the 4th. From there on, it was the Kids show as they rolled out 11 runs in the next three innings to take a 12-8 lead. And as fast as they took the lead, the Franchise tried to take it back, driving 3 across the plate making it 12-11 before the Kids shut the door. With the win, the 2-11 Kids secured 9th place. The Franchise finished at 5-8, securing a tiebreaking edge over the Riddlers and taking 7th place. The Kids win relegated Seymour, also 2-11, to 10th place.
Skipping ahead to the final game of the day (due to the forfeit by the now 8-5 Sexpos to the 7-6 Dawgs), playoff seedings were up for grads as the Marvels and Aces matched up. Due to earlier results, the Aces had secured 2nd place overall, but the Marvels would finish either 3rd or 5th, depending on a win or loss. And the Marvels didn't want to leave it to chance, putting up a 4-run first inning. Defense then took over the rest of the game as the Marvels and Aces exchanged singles twice, but in the end, the Marvels secured 3rd place with a solid 6-2 win, moving their record to 9-4. The Aces, also owner's of a 9-4 record, take 2nd place after the tiebreakers.
And finally, in between the Kids upset of Franchise and the Marvels victory, the annual battle of the sexes took place as the boys and girls squared off the Mars/Venus game. Fighting against insurmountable odds and a litany of ridiculousness and hocus pocus, the men fought and scratched through the odds to win a protest as approved by the Commissioner and his advisers. On the field though, it appears Team Venus may have pulled out a resounding victory. But before we get to the score, let's list the rules that Team Mars had to adhere to:
Please join me in congratulating your 2016 Regular Season Champions: Skeleton Crew.
The Crew came into the weekend with their fate in their own hands. Slightly short staffed (playing with 9, including 1 pick up...ahem), the Crew managed to fight tooth and nail with the Nads in the opening game of the day, staving off elimination with a gutsy 17-16 win in the bottom of the 7th. The win moved the Crew 1 game ahead of the Nads and into a tie with the Aces for top spot (at that point in time). Next up - game 2 of the Crew/Nads doubleheader.
Game 2 brought much of the same - intensity, hits and great defense. The Crew jumped out to an early lead and led 7-1 at the middway point. But the Nads, living life on the edge of elimination for the past few weeks had just faced a similar scenario the week prior versus the Sexpos (down 8-3) and just like that game, the Nads fought and clawed the way back, putting up a 3-spot in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game at 8s forcing extra innings. The Crew started off with back to back hits to score a pair, but that was it, leaving the Nads an opening to scratch out another comeback in extra innings? Could they put another 9-run type inning together like the previous week? Alas, no - the Nads fell just short and with the loss, fell to 8-5 and owners of 4th place.
On the southeast diamond, their was an air of upset awaiting those playing the rest of the day. The 1130a game saw some positive 'results" coming from the Seymour squad as the head into the year end tournament riding a 2 game winning, putting their season opening 11-game losing streak in the past. The bats have come alive and Seymour took down a heated rival in the Riddlers 15-11. The loss dropped the Riddlers to 5-8 and solidly into 8th place in the final standings.
Next up on the Upset Diamond - the 1-win Kids up against the upstart Franchise. On the line - bragging rights between for the Kids (or Seymour). With Seymour pulling out back to back wins, the Kids needed to win this game to avoid dropping into the basement. Things didn't start out in the Kids favor though as the Franchise wanted to make a statement - rolling out to a solid 8-1 lead with the Kids coming to bat in the bottom of the 4th. From there on, it was the Kids show as they rolled out 11 runs in the next three innings to take a 12-8 lead. And as fast as they took the lead, the Franchise tried to take it back, driving 3 across the plate making it 12-11 before the Kids shut the door. With the win, the 2-11 Kids secured 9th place. The Franchise finished at 5-8, securing a tiebreaking edge over the Riddlers and taking 7th place. The Kids win relegated Seymour, also 2-11, to 10th place.
Skipping ahead to the final game of the day (due to the forfeit by the now 8-5 Sexpos to the 7-6 Dawgs), playoff seedings were up for grads as the Marvels and Aces matched up. Due to earlier results, the Aces had secured 2nd place overall, but the Marvels would finish either 3rd or 5th, depending on a win or loss. And the Marvels didn't want to leave it to chance, putting up a 4-run first inning. Defense then took over the rest of the game as the Marvels and Aces exchanged singles twice, but in the end, the Marvels secured 3rd place with a solid 6-2 win, moving their record to 9-4. The Aces, also owner's of a 9-4 record, take 2nd place after the tiebreakers.
And finally, in between the Kids upset of Franchise and the Marvels victory, the annual battle of the sexes took place as the boys and girls squared off the Mars/Venus game. Fighting against insurmountable odds and a litany of ridiculousness and hocus pocus, the men fought and scratched through the odds to win a protest as approved by the Commissioner and his advisers. On the field though, it appears Team Venus may have pulled out a resounding victory. But before we get to the score, let's list the rules that Team Mars had to adhere to:
- Men must bat using a triangular shaped bat
- Men must bat from the opposite side of the plate (switch-hit)
- Women cannot strike out - unlimited strikes
- Women can steal as soon as the pitch leaves the pitchers hand.
- Women can select "inside the shallow encroachment line" out outside the deep encroachment line (they all took the shallow option - every single one of the them!). Basically, the men are playing with 10 infielders.
- The Men's outfielders cannot throw a batter out at first directly - they must relay it (which happened twice!)
- The Women can chose to put any man at any position (including changing pitchers that shut them down!)
- The Women can make/change a rule at any point in time.
- The Men must adhere to all rules by the women.
The participants!
Next weekend is the FBL Playoff Tournament. Your managers will be updating you on the details (scheduling, duties, field prep, etc.). This should come out to you Tuesday evening after the manager's meeting.
Game Recaps
Skeleton Crew 17 vs 16 Nads
Skeleton Crew 10 vs 8 Nads
Seymour Results 15 vs 11 Riddlers
Kids 12 vs 11 Franchise
VC Marvels 6 vs 2 Aces
Dawgs 7 vs 0 Sexpos (Forfeit)
Skeleton Crew 10 vs 8 Nads
Seymour Results 15 vs 11 Riddlers
Kids 12 vs 11 Franchise
VC Marvels 6 vs 2 Aces
Dawgs 7 vs 0 Sexpos (Forfeit)
