2007 EASTERN MISSOURI DODGEBALL ASSOCIATION
Week 2 Highlights
21 & Done:The 21 game win streak that has lasted as long as the Zumwalt Bad Boys have been competing, is now over. In April of 2006, the Zumwalt Bad Boys began the trek that concluded yesterday when the 636 Boys trampled on their world. The Austin Steinbecker/Bill Kannady/Blake McGinnis led entourage gave ZBB their first lost EVER in Missouri state competition. Hats off to the Panther wrestlers, as the league roles in a new red carpet to a team so good (636 Boys) that they have obtained sponsorship from Little Caesars. Pizza pizza. But, not to be outdone, is the Dream Team which believes that they deserve the top spot in wake of the Bad Boy collapse. Believing that they lost a game on a controversial technicality (Hitmen leader Justin Alcorn won a 2-on-1 after the Dream Team had left the ring believing they had won), the Dream Team believes their record should be 10-0 with a #1 rank. We'll see just how good they are next week as Chris "Sarah" Connor attempts to tackle the new champs.
In one additional note, the E-Town Rangers round out this week's top 4.
Though their competition may not be what teams in the Boys division may be facing, nobody goes 10-0 by accident--not in this league--not ever.Hats to off to team leader Travis "Perfect" Pruitt for his strong arm and great teamwork.
Hit Me With Your Best Shot: The National League West is by far the best and most competitive division in the EMDA. After the Dream Team, the Hitmen, This is Sparta, the Dudley Boyz, and the Raunchy Burritos all took their turns shin-kicking each other into oblivion until all of them went home quite a bit frustrated. For example, the Hitmen beat the Dream Team & This is Sparta, then lose 2-0 to the Dudleys. This is Sparta beats the Burritos & Dudleys, but then lost to Vendetta. The #4 ranked Dudleys lost 3 games. Time will tell which of these teams will emerge and which will submerge. Right now, it is the only division that does not have a team with a losing record--and the current last place team was in the Final Four last year. Go figure.
Cream is Rising to the Top: 3 Co-ed teams to turn in spectacular performances after average to dismal first weeks were the Cuts, Not to Mess With, the Hillbillies, and Vendetta. The Cuts, with their solid play form Josh "Mean Green" Brandt, are finally earning the respect they feel they deserve. After beginning last season a horrid 2-6, they won their final 7 games and eventually the consolation championship crown. Using that momentum, they are currently 7-3 and lead the AL Central. But on their tales is Not to Mess With who got back on track with 4 wins (and having only about half their team present). Seriously, if they can ever field a complete squad and regain all their players back from the DL, N2MW should be a team to avoid in a dark alley. Alyssa White's Hillbillies came back to surprise some folks. With wins over the Jackalopes, the Guardians, and Dodge This, these country rednecks really have shown the league that they are serious contenders. Likewise, Vendetta posted a 4-1 mark including a win over a heavily favored all boys team that had been previously ranked...and their uniforms look oh so cool.
Hanging Tough: For other teams, week two was a disaster--but not because of win-loss records (every team can only do their best), but because the ball just didn't drop in their favor. The Dustin "Rhodes" Ebeler led Unicorns missed their opportunity to spike anybody down, but had about as much fun as any team out there. Street Signs had the same kind of night, except they posted a win against the Unicorns in a friendly rivalry that is beginning to develop in the AL West. Dodge This has a host of some of the best lady dodgers in the state, if they can just get their throwing a bit more accurate, the corner is going to turn for this franchise. Meanwhile, the Eric "the Red" Vahle led Roaring Jackalopes picked up another win, but were close at a couple of others. Do not count the 3-7 long-eared rabbits out of this--they have a habit of sneaking into gardens whenever they want.
Girls Rule & Boys Drool: In the first ever divisional match-up of HS girls versus MS boys, it appears that the ladies came out victorious. Overall, the softball throwing arms of Aubri "Bicep" Perez from the Vicious Vixens and the incredible dodging skills of Shannon "Daugherty" McKenzie from Sweet Feet won out over the lower tier middle school teams that represent FBC of LSL. Yet, the Wildcats tend to be in every game.
Under the tutelage of Jeff "Papercut" Easterwood, players like "Ben Jammin" McAdoo have their play elevated so high that they could be writing in the sky. For the frustrated Boon Dox kids, hang in there. You guys are close and things are beginning to turn around this week. The league appreciates both of the MS teams for their early season commitments and recognize that one single team would have probably produced a better record (but the goal was for the 20 or students to all play to the best of their abilities). Finally, the Emo Kidz pulled ahead of the Vixens by a narrow one game margin. Their 2-1 win puts them in the lead, but the Vixens are in the ballgame this year and will have plenty of chances to upend the current reigning women's champions.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T: Just a little bit? That is what the Stingrays, 5-0 competitors and 2 game divisional leaders are crying out for. "Enough Bad Boy talk, enough stuff about 636...whatever" could be heard through the sweat equity that they paid as they went undefeated through the NL Central Thursday evening. Yet, their 2-1 game against the Mean Machines could have almost went either way, as one of the best catching teams in the league (the Machines) seem to always be one man away from winning or losing in the end. To beat N2MW, Machine member Ryan "the Werewolf" Hoff caught the winning ball while flying backwards into the blue midline canopy. Referees weren't even sure if the ball was a catch until Hoff was pulled up by his celebratory teammates. Teams also clamoring for the right amount of press are the Broncos and the Captain Planets. Both teams are completely opposites. The Broncos are tall, lengthy, basketball types--the Planets are ginormous football studs who are as cool as the other side of the pillow. But both are 7-3 and sit is prospectively good positions within their divisions. The Planets kicked their record up a notch by knocking out 5 wins (though they tend to let down from time to time like during their game one route handed to them in the cage by the Machines), as well as the Broncos consistently beating everyone (accept for the top ranked teams). Both of those teams are fighting for one of the lower end playoff berths (like all 7-3, 6-4 teams) and probably will be for the rest of the year.
To Russia with Love: Undefeated Crazy Ivans dropped a pair of games, which just about dropped them out of the Top 8. Led by 3 Timberland HS teachers ("Mean" Mike Underberg, Courtney "Frosty" Winters, and "Dr. Z" Melanie Zerr) they pounced on the Unicorns and Street Signs, but lost a crucial divisional game to 5-5 Vendetta. However, they currently hold a comfortable 2 game lead over the Saints, who again are pushing along at a constant, consistent, and charismatic way. "We just need to be within reach of the Russians," said AJ Fox, "like a cookie jar to be grabbed by a young child when their mother is not looking." We'll see how this battle unfolds. The Wild Dogs and the X-Men are fighting for ownership over the difficult 4th spot in the NL East. Both have three wins and both have just come up a bit short in their couple of upset bids. William "Passion Fruit" Passia has momentum right now and has the team aiming in the right direction. Lastly, the Guardians, playing with only 3 guys (and one of them had a broken hand), fought through with the spirit of our league by not backing down nor stepping away. Patrick "Henry" Gallaher could always be found to be the last person in, and the whole team was always in good spirits. They also were the first team last week to plug their whole group into the Bible Study. Great job gentleman. We are proud of you and the league appreciates your efforts. Oh, and by the way, did we mention that they won a game!
Vegas Predictions: Following are the predictions for the winners in next week's tournaments. Each tourney has 8 teams (which is about how many teams we had our first year of running a dodgeball league back in 2005). Good luck to all.
MARSHALL FORD TOURNEY PREDICTION: Stingrays over the Dudley Boys. The Stingrays are the top ranked team in this tourney and have the most speed. Look for Not to Mess With to provide an early round scare to the league's only aquatic team.
GOWRAN AUTO TOURNEY PREDICTION: Zumwalt Bad Boys over This is Sparta. This tourney is by far the most competitive with 4 ranked teams in it. Technically, all 4 ranked teams are on the same side of the district with ZBB, the Planets, the Hitmen, & the Crazy Ivans all having to play each other round robin style. This one is going to get wild.
PASTOR EASTERWOOD TOURNEY PREDICTION: E-Town Rangers over Vicious Vixens. This softer and friendlier tournament really is any teams to win. Though the Rangers are heavily favored, any other team can win depending on who from that team shows up.
MEADOWBROOK LAWN TOURNEY PREDICTION: 636 Boys over Mean Machines. 2 of the best teams in the game square off in round one of this tournament. That game would be worth the cost of admission. Look for the Cuts to make a run on the other side of the bracket.
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