2007 EASTERN MISSOURI DODGEBALL ASSOCIATION
Week 4

Got in Goin' On in Ballwin: Parkway South High School is located at 801 Hanna Road in Manchester. Their colors are red, white, and blue while their mascot is the Patriots. This school of over 2000 students is a class 6A and had big wins over Lafayette and Lindbergh in the last football season. Parkway South is also home to our new Number One Team in EMDA dodge ball--the Stingrays--who posted a strong 5-0 record this week including a decisive win over the 636 Boys.

Any Challengers? Yes, the Stingrays have plenty. The Zumwalt Bad Boys successfully knocked the #1 Dream Team off of the top spot in a solid 2-0 victory in which they didn't play around. Expecting to hit the top spot, the sorrowfully dropped their last game in the cage against an AJ Fox led Saints team which is finally hitting on all cylinders. ZBB hopes to challenge the top spot again this week in the A-Mrazek Invitational Tournament. The Dream Team, though they have nothing to worry about with their dynamic 17-2 record, was close to collapsing more than once. With 2-1 wins over the Wild Dogs, Mean Machines, and the Cuts--either they weren't on their "A" game or other teams are just getting a whole lot better. Two other challengers for the EMDA title appear to be both the 636 Boys and the red hot Captain Planets. The Planets posted a solid 5-0 record last Thursday (one of only two teams to go 5-0 this week) and really massacred the competition in the process (they actually went a perfect 10-0 in games winning every game 2-0).

For the 636 Boys...not so lucky. They posted their first 2 loss night of the season, which transpires to a drop in the rankings and an overall lost of momentum heading into the playoffs in 2 weeks. The loss to the Dudley Boys was an amazing turnabout that the league was not expecting to see--this is the 2nd time the Dudleys have upset a major player such as the Boys from Little Caesar.

E-Town Rangers Collide: With an internet challenge posted to the leagues last undefeated team, and knowing that they faced a pair of opponents that could outlast, outwit, and outplay them, the E-Town Rangers should they are indeed human and came up short against the Planets and their own cross town rivals--Not to Mess With. No heads should be held in vain and hats go off to E-Town for their 15 game winning streak--the second longest in EMDA dodgeball history. But it does bring to light some vulnerability. If N2MW can beat them, and N2MW looks to probably lock up like a 4th or 5th place Co-Ed seed, it means that E-Town is not a lock on making the Co-Ed final four that so many other teams believe them to be. Time will tell. As for N2MW, they again concluded a solid night with solid wins over the Magnums and the Crazy Ivans. As for the Ivans, they have not improved as much as they had anticipated and are still in the recruitment phase for about one more additional gunner to off set the speed of "South Dakota" and the firing of "The Underberg." The Magnums, on the other hand, have played magnificent. Their 5-14 record really doesn't indicate that this is actually a solid 5-4 boys team that will be one of the favorites to win the consolation bracket. Usually, most late add-on teams suffer from the inability to adjust to the speed of the game. But since most of these guys have experience on last year's Operation Overlord team, they came in like a banchy.

Co-Ed Chaos: Don't look now, but 7 teams (Emo, Vixens, Cuts, N2MW, Ivans, Saints, and Vendetta) are all within 2 games of each other! Nothing like it has ever been seen before and probably will never be seen again. Now, technically since the 7 teams listed above would be seeded 2-8 if the tournament started next week, all of them would make the tourney. However, the jockeying for position in the next two weeks is going to be amazing! The Vixens, with wins against the Hillbillies and Sweet Feet, have officially separated themselves from the .500 pack and have tied the Emo Kidz for 2nd place in the AL East. One can never forget that these two titans met last year for the Girls Championship--and it looks like it is going that way again. The Emo Girls had some struggles getting all their people to show because of HS sporting conflicts--their loss to the middle school Wildcats team is the thing separating them from sole possession of 2nd. They'll have their full team back next week. The Cuts are finally gaining the respect they deserve. Even without their Alpha Horse Michael Nanny--they almost upended the #1 ranked Dream Team prior to defeating an almost infallible Saints team. Their 12-7 is solid and in winning 3 last Thursday, kept their narrow one game lead over last year's co-ed champs N2MW. Vendetta, under the vigilante leadership style of Matt Gillardi and Jarrod Dattilo continue to impress, but like the Mean Machines, come up a bit short from time to time. Hurting them is the fact that though they are a Co-Ed team, they have yet to have a girl play with them, thus handicapping them down to 4 people every Co-Ed match. Can't one of them find a date? Lastly, the story of the Co-Ed league is the elite play of the Saints. A Co-Ed team that has skated a bit under the spotlight so far this year that has finally emerged. With their win over the Zumwalt Bad Boys (which by far is the greatest upset of the entire season), they have finally pulled even with the Crazy Ivans. The 3 game lead that the Ivans once held has now been erased, and both teams are looking ahead to their week 6 showdown in 2 weeks.

If the Co-Ed Consolation Bracket was Today? The top teams to win it all would be the Wildcats, Hillbillies, Sweet Feet...and maybe even the Roaring Jackalopes. The Wildcats have the best record of this bunch at 8-11 (which puts them about 2 games out of the running for the actual Co-Ed championship, though they can make up the ground). Yet, can a Middle School team really match the firepower of the emerging Hillbillies who are really learning how to throw the ball hard. During one match last night, Hillbilly captain Alyssa White went toe to toe with 2 members of the Dream Team and beat them both. Can this type of improvement go unnoticed (Travis "Slap" Lappe is playing well too)? Sweet Feet...are you ready for this...went 3-2 last Thursday. That's right, they matched their seasons entire win total in one evening, and they are playing great, inspired dodge ball. Few people know that the history of St. Louis is a history of footwear. And Sweet Feet carries on our city's history proudly. As for the Jackalopes, sometimes they play well--sometimes ugly. If they could ever get a 3 win night, they could emerge as serious consolation bracket contenders.

5 Teams & 3 Spots: Though the boys playoff picture is far from over, it does appear that the top 5 teams are in a good position for an almost guaranteed spot, and that the next 5 are in a dogfight over claim of the last 3. So who looks good and who does not? Well, it appears the Dudley Boys look like they are in a good position. They sit 14-5, have just upset the heavily favored 636 Boys, have their "comprehensive dodgeball" strategy placed solidly together under the coaching abilities of Trey "Riga-gig" Griggs. Next week is their first softer and friendlier schedule than those in the past and they appear to be peaking at the same time. They also tend to never stub their toe, which is an asset in a league that requires consistency in order to reign. Likewise, This is Sparta is sitting well, in all actuality, for the first time this season. Though 12-5, they are the heavily favored favorites to win the Principal John Waters Tourney next Thursday. A potential 4-0 performance would move them up the ladder faster than hungry raccoon on a dead bobcat. As for the last three, the Broncos, Mean Machines, and the Hitmen...they all have to play each other in a round robin because of their tournament play. The Hitmen were a near perfect 4-1 last Thursday with only one small setback against ZBB. Other than that, they were a perfect 8-0 in game play. The Broncos continue to impress by maintaining their #8 ranking with a tough win over This is Sparta. The Broncos' 4-1 night kept them in the running, and specifically gave them a 2 game lead over the Hitmen and This is Sparta--and since they beat Sparta--they own the tie breaker advantage over them. Finally, the Mean Machines had the most exasperating night of all the teams. Missing 6 of their key players to vacations and track meets, they posted a tough 3-2 record. In their 3 wins, they won 2-1 against lower tier teams that almost upset the fellows from the Longest Yard. But in their 2 losses, they went 2-1 against both the Dream Team and ZBB, and that was despite missing their best two players! This week, their top gunner, nationally ranked All-American dodgeball player Andrew Merz returns from college in Chicago to play for the first time. Could he be the spark?

Made of Iron: Whereas some teams make up and have success in dodgeball, for others that is not the case. And for those teams who seem to have some dismal records, you have earned the respect of the league and the EMDA dodgeball family admires your teams and your efforts week in and week out. Boon Dox, we see how hard you guys fight and the gutsy attitude you take into the arena. Keep up your everlasting fight for victory. When you finally climb over the hill, we will all celebrate with you. Guardians, we see you guys getting better each and every week--even this week in which you took 3 high quality teams to the rubber match. With minimal players and maximum intensity, your fight is evidently noted. It looks like Black and Glass are playing up to par with a host of the league's good players now. Street Signs and Unicorns have done a good job of coming out and having fun each and every week. Your great attitudes are evident. After all is said and done, the EMDA is a church league and your demeanors exemplify the savior who lives in your hearts. The Unicorns especially overcame adversity because of the car dinger that took place in the parking lot prior to the match, well done guys of keeping the faith.

So Close you Can Smell It: Trivia question, which boys team has had the most remarkable improvement over the course of the season? If you answered Wild Dogs, you would have been right. Since their rough beginnings, they have been in every game. And if either their game against the Dream Team or the Mean Machines would have had a flipped 2-1 score, they could be looking at a winniunheralded team does not look like incredible athletes--but they are fierce competitors and the sun is shining on them right now. Likewise, the Raunchy Burritos have not received enough credit for their season either. Hanging onto the lowly 5th place spot of the NL West--the Burritos put on a muscle bound display every evening. People are intimidated by the massive biceps of Ethan "Allen" Killian, but it does appear that these Green Mountain Boys just can't get a break. Technically, they still have an outside chance at the playoffs, but would have to go like 8-1 to give themselves a shot (and they have the talent to do just that). Dodge This sits with their 5 wins at the bottom of the AL Central. But like the Burritos, have really done a good job at times. Since only one game separates 1st from 3rd, a single ball or two is really separating them from a solid seed heading into the Co-ed consolation bracket. And their namesake is actually pretty good--since they are hard to hit. On a final note, Arson has officially been let go because of their failure to appear in the last 3 weeks. Teams will receive forfeit wins when facing this team that had a ton of potential.

A Look Ahead at the Upcoming Tournament Games:

H&S TIRE INVITATIONAL: The Dream Team will look to get back on track and play a bit sharper in Week 5 in comparison to their Week 4. Though they will get resistance against the Wild Dogs for the third time in two weeks (unusual scheduling flaw), look for them to conquer their bracket and face most likely the E-Town Rangers.
Prediction: Dream Team over E-Town Rangers

PRINCIPAL JOHN WATERS INVITATIONAL: This tournament is much softer than the tourney This is Sparta almost won 2 weeks ago. They should slide past the Vixens, Guardians, and Magnums fairly easier to lay claim to the best team at Holt High School. When they get to the finals, there is no telling who they will play--either the Ivans, Hillbillies, or Vendetta. Though conventional wisdom has Vendetta improving, the Ivans have their number this week.
Prediction: This is Sparta over Crazy Ivans

PRINCIPAL DAVID WATERS INVITATIONAL: In the toughest tournament this week (it has 3 ranked teams and 3 on the bubble), Vegas is going with the upset win set up by the Hitmen. Look closely...the Hitmen have superior talent and have themselves in a hole that they must dig out of this week. We predict that they run the whole gamut over the Machines, Broncos, and then the 636 Boys based on their lackluster performances the Boys have had since winning their first 10 matches. We predict the Planets win streak will also end in this tournament.
Prediction: Hitmen over 636 Boys

A-MRAZEK INVITATIONAL:
In the opening round, look for the Dudley Boys to scare the Stingrays--but that's all it will be--a scare. Technically, the Saints could also upset some folks forcing an odd three team combo on that side of the bracket. But it will be all for nothing as Vegas has the reigning champs--the Zumwalt Bad Boys--as the favorite to win. ZBB just tends to win big games.
Prediction: #2 ranked Zumwalt Bad Boys over the #1 ranked Stingrays (both teams should bring a crowd)

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