B.I.A. Stays Tied For First Place With Two Strong Victories

Even without their coach present at the games last Wednesday, Balls In Action proved that there is nothing that will distract them on their focus to finish this season on top. 

In their first game against BHP Billiton, Roy pitched a shut-out, his first of his career and the first shut-out for the team this season, allowing only a few hits at best.  The team's kicking was solid, with six players crossing home plate at least once, and three players driving in at least 2 runs.  Justin, Chance, Jeff, Stephanie and Claire were perfect from the plate.  B.I.A.'s defense was solid, not letting up on one of the league's newest teams. 

Roy's pitching, and the team's kicking, led Balls In Action to an 8-0 victory on Field #2.

KFC Double Down Play of the Game went to Stephanie for her RKI double.

McDonald's McGangBang Player of the Game went to Justin, going 1-for-1 with 2 RKI's (one driving in by a sac fly) and 1 run scored.

Staying on Field #2 for their back-to-back night, B.I.A. faced a familiar foe, D'Feeters.  B.I.A. led the overall series going into tonight's game with a record of 7-0, and the streak continued with a 6-1 victory.  D'Feeters would strike first in the first inning, but B.I.A. began their assault in the second and never let up.  Roy, after giving up one run in the first, allowed zero for the remainder of the game.  Again, the team's kicking was solid enough to driving in 4 runs in the fourth, which would eventually seal Balls In Action's fifth win in a row.

KFC Double Down Play of the Game went to Jacob, for his line-drive that nearly took the pitcher's head off.

McDonald's McGangBang Player of the Game went to JT, going 2-for-2, with 2 RKI's, 1 run scored, and a triple.

Balls In Action Take Two Wins, Despite Plague of Injuries

B.I.A. claimed two more victories on Wednesday night, but it came with a price. 

Going up against Toe Poke (1-1) on Field #1, Balls In Action took to the offensive attack quick by posting a 4 run first inning.  Chance and JT would both drive in 2 runs a piece.  Roy found himself bringing Toe Poke back into the game as they were able to come within one run of B.I.A. on two separate occasions.  However, great kicking efforts by the entire team, including Chance's first home run of the season, and Kay's solid kicking, a temporary sub, put the team back on top 7-4.  Giving up another run in the sixth, B.I.A. took it upon themselves to shut the door on Toe Poke and clinch their first victory of the night by producing a 5 run seventh, including a home run by JT, his first, and doubles by Claire and Stephanie, who was making her season debut.

In the end, Balls In Action took the win 12-5, but it came with a price.  Amanda left the game after the first inning with a sore quad.  Stephanie finished the game with both of her knees cut up from sliding at second.  Both are expected to recover by next game.

KFC Double Down Play of the Game went to Claire for her diving catch in right field.

McDonald's McGangBang Player of the Game went to Chance, going 3-for-3, with a homerun, 2 runs scored, and 4 RKIs.

Back on Field #2, B.I.A. took on Brews on First, and this game definitely became an instant classic.  Balls In Action struck first with Chance driving in Ashley.  From there, it became a defensive battle, but Brews on First would take advantage of a couple of mistakes made at first, which would drive in two runs, and taking the lead 2-1 after 3 innings.  The bottom of the sixth saw another run by Brews on First extend their lead to 3-1.  However, the seventh demonstrated B.I.A.'s determination to not quit and tied the game at 3 on a two out single by Jacob, driving in Jessica from third.

An extra inning, and some lackluster pitching by Brews on First, would help Balls In Action take the win, as the pitcher walked seven kickers and allowing 8 runs.  Roy would only allow one run and would end the game with a called strike, his first strikeout of the season.  The final score:  11-4 in favor of B.I.A.

Although the team collected it's second win in a row for the night, third in a row for the season, Ashley would be the next victim of injury with a sore quad.  She is expected to recover by next game.

KFC Double Down Play of the Game went to Ashley for setting up the crucial double play in the seventh at second base.

McDonald's McGangBang Player of the Game went to Roy for his excellent pitching effort.

Happy Birthday to Amanda!!!

From all current and former players of Balls In Action, we would like to wish Amanda a very happy 29th birthday (her 3rd 29th birthday in a row)!!!

Bad Start Ends With Strong Finish

Balls In Action took the field for the first time since their second place finish for the 2009 Winter season.  Entering their ninth season, all eyes were focused on starting and finishing this season strong and consistent.  Their first opponent, New Kicks on the Block, had other plans for B.I.A.

New Kicks on the Block lead the overall series 2-0, winning both games by only one run.  In the first game of the Spring II season, they would dominate the first inning by exposing many weakness and posting a strong four run inning.  Roy, pitching in his first season for B.I.A., found himself in an early bases loaded situation, but the team, after giving up four runs, began to make plays to get themselves out of the inning. 

The remainder of the game was a pitcher's duel, with both teams holding each other to no runs.  Both teams were unable to produce any quality kicking.

New Kicks on the Block would hold on to their lead to win 4-0.

McDonald's McGangBang Player of the Game went to Jacob, going 2-for-3.  The KFC Double Down Play of the Game went to Ashley, for her excellent catch at second.

With the first game resulting in a disappointing loss, changes would need to be made to prevent finishing week 1 with two losses.

From the beginning of this game, Balls N' Dolls had no chance of winning this game as B.I.A.'s kicking improved dramatically, JT would finish the game one home run shy of hitting for the cycle, as his single, double and triple were recorded in three at-kicks.  Jacob and Chance would also drive in runs, with even the ladies, Claire and Amanda, bringing in their teammates home as well.  Ashley and Roy showed much improvement as well, each crossing home plate one.

Overall, the team played very well the second game, revealing a very solid defense with little errors, something that was quite the opposite during their first game.  B.I.A. would win 7-1, giving up a run in the last inning.

McDonald's McGangBang Player of the Game went to JT, going 3-for-3, with 2RKI's, a double and a triple.  JT would also take home the KFC Double Down Play of the Game honors for his monster triple in the sixth.

Stephanie Out for At Least One Week With Foot Injury

B.I.A.'s first basewoman, Stephanie, will not see any playing time for at least the first two games, as she is out with a foot injury.  Little is known as to what caused this and why.

"I dropped something heavy on my foot."

Stephanie has kept a tight lid on the subject.  However, Jacob shined a bit of light on the subject at Sunday's practice.

"It's not so much of 'what' as it is 'how'."

Stephanie is expected to recover fully by the third week of the season.

Scott Tears Meniscus; Out for Spring II and Summer Seasons

This morning, Scott walked out of the Texas Orthopedic Hospital at the Texas Medical Center in Houston with news that he had a meniscus tear on his left knee and would be out definitely for the Spring II season.  He will go back this Friday for an MRI, which will reveal the extent of the damages.  Orthoscopic surgery is likely to repair the knee, which could be, at most, a 2-3 month recovery and rehabilitation period.

"I never would have thought that I would be in this position where I won't be able to play kickball."  Scott was not in the best of spirits when leaving the hospital, but tried to keep his head and spirits up.  "I still want to be the guy who leads them to victory.  I may not be able to pitch and kick and run, but I'll be able to coach them to a championship."

Scott's knee shows physical signs of swelling, and his movement on his left knee is limited.  "I can barely bend it at the knee and running is out of the question."

This will be B.I.A.'s first season playing in the Spring II league, and it will also be the team's first season without Scott playing. 

AC/DC Remains Official Band For Pre-Game and Post-Game Music

In what was an easy decision at B.I.A.'s headquarters, it was unanimously decided that the music of AC/DC will continue to be the teams official pre-game and post-game entertainment.  There was little to no doubt that songs like "Are You Ready" put a defining moment in the team's pre-game warm-ups.  Balls In Action will still use the song "Thunderstruck" after every win and "Ride On" after any loss.

Spring II Season Reduced To Seven Teams; New Schedule Released

Following up on our previous story, it was confirmed on Friday, through the City of Houston, that Fear My Spheres has dropped out of the 2010 Spring II season.  This now puts an uncertainty on the historic, heavily anticipated, rivalry between them and Balls In Action, as there does not seem to be any indication that Fear My Spheres will regroup anytime in the near future.

Head coach Scott was saddened when he learned of the news.

"You hate to see something so intense, so important to kickball as the rivaly between us was.  Everyone circeld those games on their schedule because they knew who won those games would win the league championship."

As it stands, Fear My Spheres leads the series with 5 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie.  Scott had been preparing this season's team to even the score.

"There's a hole in my heart right now.  I always look forward to playing them.  It's the best competition we have.  Does it change our strategy for this season?  Absolutely not.  We'll just treat each opponent this season like they were Fear My Spheres."

The City of Houston has released an updated schedule for the 2010 Spring II season.