This is my favorite kickball week of the year. The bracket reveal, two podcasts, bracketology, and two games guaranteed for every team to top it off. I can totally geek out and immerse myself in all things kickball while totally ignoring all my other priorities with the excuse that this may be my last week to play until next year.
First round games
There will be two games for everyone this weekend, but I only did lines for the first round since we won’t know second round matchups until the day of.
(32) Harper Valley @ (1) Happy Shirt
Favorite: Happy Shirt Line: 12 O/U: 24
Happy Shirt is the favorite going into the tournament again. They have been the favorite for the last five seasons (maybe more), won the first two, lost to Los Luchadores in the championship, lost to Star Bar in the semis, and lost to Wildman in the championship. They went from the early ’90s Dallas Cowboys to the early ’90s Buffalo Bills. It will be interesting to see how they finish this tournament.
(17) Screamers @ (16) Dirty Mike
Favorite: Dirty Mike Line: 3 O/U: 20
Two teams going in opposite directions. DM has a 5-game winning streak, Screamers has a 4-game losing streak. This is a good matchup for DM, their offense will possibly be able to take advantage of the Screamers struggling defense.
(25) Brew Ballers @ (8) Hurtz
Favorite: Hurtz Line: 8 O/U: 18
The Hurtz offense improved more than every other team this season (see table below). They were only team to score in double digits in all of their division games. Their kicking attack slowed a little in pool play before getting back on track against the Goats (even though they lost).
(24) Free State @ (9) Chalmersiz
Favorite: Chalmersiz Line: 5 O/U: 15
Free State’s record isn’t representative how good they are (or maybe it is). They have won 4 in a row, and when they lose, they rarely get blown out. They lost to Wildman by 10 runs and Afterparty!! by 8 runs, but mostly because they didn’t get their offense going in those games.
(29) Asteroid Head @ (4) Love Garden
Favorite: Love Garden Line: 12 O/U: 18
Love Garden had the last couple of weeks off, which worked out well for them, so they could recover from some injuries. Even if they are a little rusty, they should advance without issue.
(20) Liberty Hall @ (13) Toe Pokes
Favorite: Toe Pokes Line: 6 O/U: 24
Liberty Hall hopped over Slowride in the seedings despite losing to them in week 9. Not much of a reward. They need to have a good game defensively because the Toe Pokes have shown that they will run up the score if they can.
(28) Balls Deep @ (5) Los Matadores
Favorite: Los Matadores Line: 8 O/U: 22
Balls Deep played well in their pool and got a couple of wins under their belt to finish the regular season, but they are overmatched against Los Matadores who have been strong all season long and now have a championship goal.
(21) Slowride @ (12) Afterparty!!
Favorite: Afterparty!! Line: 5 O/U: 16
Slowride slipped a little this year, but will try to make up for it here. Afterparty!! seems to be a little underrated. (The seedings seem right, but he talent gap between the 5-seed through the 12-seed is tiny.) They lost by 1 run to the Goats and Wildman, and their only real hiccup was against a good Cork Suckers team.
(31) $P@C3Pu$$y!! @ (2) Wildman
Favorite: Wildman Line: 13 O/U: 19
Wildman now enters title defense mode. Last season they had some expected growing pains before turning it on in the playoffs. This season they have shown that their tournament run was not a fluke. A repeat is definitely possible.
(18) Rats @ (15) MUrda
Favorite: MUrda Line: 4 O/U: 13
The Rats have had a good first year in the league. They beat well established teams in Slowride, Rockets, Free State, and West Coast. MUrda is slightly better than those teams, but if their name went on that list, I wouldn’t be shocked.
(26) Jazzhaus @ (7) Goats
Favorite: Goats Line: 8 O/U: 13
This game could be closer than expected. Jazzhaus has a defense that can keep them in games, but they just don’t score a lot of runs. Goats were knocked out in the second round last year (by Party!!), and although they have bigger goals this year, their tournament path won’t do them any favors.
(23) Tellerdactyls @ (10) Red Lyon
Favorite: Red Lyon Line: 4 O/U: 12
The Red Lyon kickers won’t have as much trouble getting runners around the bases this week, but Tellerdactyls should not be overlooked. Tellerdactyls played RoT – another team from the 3-pool – close at the beginning of the year when they lost 7-5.
(30) BP Tigers @ (3) Abraxas
Favorite: Abraxas Line: 12 O/U: 21
Abraxas is trying to get back to the championship game after an early exit last year (earlier than expected). They are definitely one of the most balanced teams in the league with a stacked kicking order and shutdown defense.
(19) Rockets @ (14) Cork Suckers
Favorite: Rockets Line: 2 O/U: 18
This is the only rematch in the first round. Rockets beat the Cork Suckers solidly the first time around. This is the only lower seed picked to win because we all saw how the first game went. We will see if the stakes change the outcome.
(27) West Coast @ (6) Das Boot
Favorit: Das Boot Line: 8 O/U: 21
They fell in the seedings, but Das Boot is usually a great playoff team. They have made the final four the last couple of years and they won’t go down easily. West Coast did go undefeated in pool play, but DB is a little better than those other opponents.
(22) Ghosts @ (11) Reign of Terror
Favorite: RoT Line: 6 O/U: 24
Ghosts will get their offense back on track, but it will only be enough to keep the game close for a while.
Over-unders for the season
At the beginning of the season, I posted over-unders for wins, runs scored, and runs allowed for the season. The wins were adjusted for a 10-game season, but the runs scored and runs allowed were not, they were based off the 11-game season last year. Since it was mostly meant as a way to see if teams improve or not, I thought it was probably better to show the actual runs scored and runs allowed from last year through 10 weeks (excluding rivalry week).
| Runs Scored | Runs Allowed | |||||||||
| O/U | Wins | 2012 | 2013 | Difference | 2012 | 2013 | Difference | |||
| Abraxas | 8.5 | 8 | 161 | 152 | -9 | 59 | 49 | -10 | ||
| Pita Pit | 8.5 | 10 | 142 | 160 | 18 | 34 | 47 | 13 | ||
| Das Boot | 7.5 | 6 | 114 | 99 | -15 | 68 | 82 | 14 | ||
| Wildman | 7.5 | 9 | 129 | 110 | -19 | 64 | 44 | -20 | ||
| Love Garden | 8.5 | 8 | 171 | 143 | -28 | 39 | 47 | 8 | ||
| Hurtz | 6.5 | 7 | 79 | 125 | 46 | 95 | 63 | -32 | ||
| Los Matadores | 7.5 | 8 | 120 | 123 | 3 | 70 | 59 | -11 | ||
| Goats | 7.5 | 7 | 154 | 111 | -43 | 70 | 65 | -5 | ||
| Chalmersiz | 7.5 | 8 | 101 | 134 | 33 | 37 | 51 | 14 | ||
| Red Lyon | 7.5 | 6 | 110 | 107 | -3 | 56 | 81 | 25 | ||
| Reign of Terror | 6.5 | 6 | 109 | 100 | -9 | 64 | 96 | 32 | ||
| Cork Suckers | 6.5 | 4 | 109 | 82 | -27 | 125 | 104 | -21 | ||
| Afterparty!! | 6.5 | 7 | 127 | 119 | -8 | 71 | 69 | -2 | ||
| MUrda | 6.5 | 5 | 121 | 103 | -18 | 115 | 97 | -18 | ||
| Toe Pokes | 5.5 | 7 | 90 | 118 | 28 | 89 | 64 | -25 | ||
| Screamers | 7.5 | 4 | 97 | 65 | -32 | 56 | 146 | 90 | ||
| Dirty Mike | 4.5 | 6 | 98 | 102 | 4 | 107 | 102 | -5 | ||
| Slowride | 6.5 | 4 | 93 | 79 | -14 | 64 | 112 | 48 | ||
| Liberty Hall | 6.5 | 4 | 93 | 64 | -29 | 99 | 114 | 15 | ||
| Rats | 1.5 | 4 | 69 | 74 | 5 | 235 | 106 | -129 | ||
| Ghosts | 4.5 | 4 | 100 | 94 | -6 | 155 | 149 | -6 | ||
| Tellerdactyls | 2.5 | 3 | 57 | 77 | 20 | 107 | 93 | -14 | ||
| Rockets | 3.5 | 6 | 98 | 101 | 3 | 98 | 81 | -17 | ||
| Brewballers | 5.5 | 2 | 91 | 70 | -21 | 118 | 93 | -25 | ||
| BP Tigers | 4.5 | 2 | 81 | 82 | 1 | 112 | 120 | 8 | ||
| Free State | 4.5 | 4 | 93 | 100 | 7 | 138 | 81 | -57 | ||
| Jazzhaus | 1.5 | 3 | 71 | 53 | -18 | 176 | 118 | -58 | ||
| Astrokitty | 1.5 | 1 | 77 | 32 | -45 | 192 | 188 | -4 | ||
| West Coast | 4.5 | 3 | 88 | 70 | -18 | 103 | 126 | 23 | ||
| Balls Deep | 3.5 | 2 | 62 | 78 | 16 | 112 | 118 | 6 | ||
| Asteroid Head | 4.5 | 2 | 75 | 71 | -4 | 118 | 118 | 0 | ||
| Harper Valley | 2.5 | 0 | 66 | 46 | -20 | 210 | 161 | -49 | ||
Week 10 line scores
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| Happy Shirt | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | ||
| Wildman | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| $P@C3Pu$$y! | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | ||
| Jazzhaus | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | |||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| Abraxas | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | ||
| Das Boot | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| Brew Ballers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Tellerdactyls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| Murda | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 19 | ||
| Screamers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| Cork Suckers | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | ||
| Reign of Terror | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 13 | |||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| Afterparty!! | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | ||
| Toe Pokes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| Dirty Mike | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
| Slowride | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| Hurtz | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 11 | ||
| Goats | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 | |||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| Harper Valley | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| Balls Deep | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 21 | |||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| Red Lyon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Chalmersiz | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | |||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| Rockets | 5 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 22 | ||
| Ghosts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Total | |
| Rats | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Liberty Hall | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| BP Tigers | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| Free State | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 19 | |||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Total | |||
| West Coast | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | ||
| Asteroid Head | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | ||
Some notes about first innings
I just threw up the runs per inning for team last week without any discussion. But there were some interesting tidbits when looking at how teams teams performed based on the first inning or who scores first in a game.
The team that scores first home or away wins 105-55. (not necessarily the first inning)
The record for the league if a team scores in the first inning and their opponent does not is 68-12.
The record of the visiting team (team that kicks first) if they do not score in the first inning is 7-43.
The record of the home team if they do not score in the first inning is 22-40.
There were only 16 games (out of 160) scoreless after the first inning. (listed below by week)
Week 1
Balls Deep @ Screamers
Week 2
West Coast @ Rockets, Red Lyon @ $P@C3Pu$$y!
Week 3
Growlers @ Goats
Week 4
Chalmersiz @ Jazzhaus
Week 5
Screamers @ Chalmersiz, Jazzhaus @ Liberty Hall, Goats @ Wildman
Week 6
Screamers @ Jazzhaus
Week 7
Cork Suckers @ Goats
Week 8
Screamers @ Afterparty!!
Week 9
Das Boot @ Happy Shirt, Liberty Hall @ Slowride
Week 10
$! @ Jazzhaus, Abraxas @ Das Boot, Brew Ballers @ Tellerdactyls