2010 Summer Schedule Revealed

Yesterday, the City of Houston revealed its 2010 Summer kickball schedule online, and Balls In Action will be making new friends this coming season!

Teams like D'Feeters, New Kicks on the Block and Balls N' Dolls were not able to register for either day, but teams like We Got the Runs, One Legged Hobos, Houston Taggers, Kickballas and Sports Clips will join B.I.A. on a quest to win the summer championship.  BHP Billiton and Brews on First, two opponents from last season, will try to stop Balls In Action this season from repeating as champs.

Here is the schedule as of today.  It is tentative as you never know when the city might change it prior to opening day.  All games will be played at Memorial Park in Houston.

Something To Do In Between Kickball Seasons

If you're like me, then the time in between kickball seasons can be excruciating.  If you're like me, you might noticing signs of withdrawal; shaking, pacing, etc.  If you're like me, then you'll appreciate this.

I came across a website called Sustain Lane, a "people-powered sustainability guide".  In this website, they have an interesting how-to on making a kickball planter.

"As we are not prone to ever throw anything away (ever), it just lamely drifted around the office as people slowly kicked it about in dissatisfaction from spot to spot. This continued for a while until one day I had the idea to resurrect this ball by cutting it in half and turn it into a hanging plant basket. And, that is precisely what I did. Follows are directions so you can do the same."

You can read all about it by clicking here.  Enjoy!

D'Feeters Will Not Play 2010 Summer Season

The 2010 Summer season registration opened yesterday at 8:00am.  By noon, all 8 spots for Monday and all 8 spots for Wednesday were filled.  Unfortunately for some teams, they were not able to register in time.  D'Feeters, a long-time rival of B.I.A., was one of those teams.

Yoli Rios, team captain for D'Feeters, decided to register her team yesterday evening, but quickly noticed that both days were full.

"I got on this evening to register for the next session and they are all taken; even Monday!  So we will have to see ya in the fall."

Scott, who has kept in touch with teams like Fear My Spheres and D'Feeters, was a bit disappointed upon hearing the news.

"I like playing against them.  They are a fun team to be around and the competition that they bring is always exciting.  I was looking forward to going up against them this coming season."

B.I.A. By The Numbers: 2010 Spring II Edition

B.I.A. would post record-breaking numbers this season, including tying some all-time records.  Their 8 win season is now considered their best season, beating out the back-to-back 7 win seasons they had during the 2009 Spring I and Summer seasons.  Their .800 winning percentage is the best they have posted when playing a full 10 game schedule.  Balls In Action would score 75 total runs, shattering the previous record of 55 total runs from the 2009 Spring I season.  The team concluded its season with a +46 point differential, again breaking the record set during the 2009 Spring I season of +30.  After a victory over D'Feeters this season, B.I.A. continued its undefeated winning streak against them, which now is at 8 games.

B.I.A. tied its win streak record of 5 wins this season, a record that was set during the team's first championship season back in the Fall of 2009.  When Balls In Action took on New Kicks on the Block the second time this season, they defeated them 13-1, forcing a 5th inning mercy rule.  This ties a mark they set during the 2009 Spring I season when they defeated Houston All-Stars 13-1, forcing a 5th inning mercy rule.

Roy would become the first pitcher in B.I.A. history to record 8 wins in a single season.  Stephanie, despite missing the first two games of this past season, now leads the club with 66 total games played.  Scott would collect his 25th win as coach, and now leads the club with 28 total wins as coach.

Coach Thanks All Players & Subs for Championship Season

Scott, restricted to coaching duties this past season due to knee surgery, thanked all players over the weekend for their "hard work and effort" in bringing home a co-championship.

Here is your 2010 Spring II Co-Championship Team:

Amanda
Ashley
Chance
Claire
Dan
Doug
Jacob
Jeff
Jessica
JT
Roy
Stephanie

Special thanks goes out to all those that helped us out by subbing in and filling in the holes in the lineup each and every week.  Without you, we would have forfeited quite a few games.

Carly
Cara
Chris
Colin
David
Justin
Kay
Lynda
Michael

B.I.A. Shares Championship with Balls N' Dolls

The pressure was on both Balls In Action and Balls N' Dolls.  Both teams were tied for first place going into last Wednesday, and both need to win to keep their championship chances alive.  In the end, the result was the same as before, a tie. 

The City of Houston, who views the kickball league as "recreational" with no emphasis on "a high level of competition", has no tie-breaking system to determine the champion in the case of a tie.  Approaching Louis Moore, the person in charge of adult sports for the city, about the situation, he showed no desire to change the rules.

"Both teams are the champions.  Both teams will receive shirts."

The first game of the night pitted Toe Poke and B.I.A., however, it would be the huge early start by B.I.A. that would put the game away early.  The first inning saw the first nine kickers either getting on base, or driving in runs.  Taking advantage of the less-than sober team, Balls In Action would take an early 5-0 lead.  After giving up two runs, the third inning would prove to be the final nail in the coffin for Toe Poke, as two more runs were driven in, one by Chris and JT.  The result would be a comfortable 7-2 victory.

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

KFC DoubleDown Play of the Game went to Claire, for her running catch in the outfield, sacrificing her chest in the process.

Subway Sub of the Night went to Chris, going 2-for-2, with a double, RKI, and one run scored.

With Balls N' Dolls winning the 7:30 game, the pressure was now on for B.I.A. as a win would guarantee at least a share of the championship.

After a scoreless first inning, Balls In Action took it to Brews on First, scoring one in the second, with Doug driving in JT.  The third inning saw an additional 4 runs scored, including a three run homerun by Jacob.  Going into the fifth, up 5-0, Brews on First began it's rally, scoring one in the fifth, three in the sixth and 1 in the seventh.  However, consistent kicking by B.I.A. and smart baserunning led to 9-5 season finale and a share of the championship.

McDonald's McGangBang Player of the Game went to Jacob, going 3-for-3, with 2 hits, 1 HR, 3RKI's and 2 runs scored.

KFC DoubleDown Play of the Game went to Jacob and Roy for their double play, catching the runner off guard to complete the double play.

Subway Sub of the Night went to David, going 1-for-2, with a run scored.

Mission Accomplished!!!...Sort Of

Balls In Action entered last Wednesday night tied with New Kicks on the Block for first place, and a win over them would give B.I.A. sole possession of first.  Prior to their meeting, New Kicks would find themselves on the losing end of their first game, giving B.I.A. a 1/2 game lead in first, and half way to their goal for the night, or at least, they thought they were.

The first game of the night pitted B.I.A. against Balls N' Dolls, who they beat in their first meeting during Week 1.  With both teams tied at 1 after one inning, Balls N' Dolls took advantage of B.I.A.'s poor offensive production and erupted with four straight innings, beginning in the third, to secure a 6-2 victory, putting B.I.A now in a three way tie for first place with New Kicks on the Block and Balls N' Dolls.

"I don't know what happened out there", explained coach Scott.  "We were just over matched on both sides of the plate." 

Roy's frustrations on the mound led coach Scott to make a pitching change for the first time this season, putting Jacob on the mound for the first time in his career, to finish the game.

"He looked frustrated out there.  I needed him to calm down before our next game."  Coach Scott went on to comment, "The way we were kicking the ball, there wasn't anything he could have done to save the game from the mound."

In the fifth, Jessica was carried off the field by boyfriend Chance, as she sprained her ankle approaching third base.  She was called out.  She is expected to miss the rest of the season.


Despite kicking a team total .620 average, it was not enough to place B.I.A. on top of the standings after their first game of the night.

McDonald's McGangBang Player of the Game went to Stephanie, for driving in both runs.

KFC DoubleDown Play of the Game went to Jessica for her first double of the season.

Game two for B.I.A. pitted them against New Kicks on the Block, and revenge from their first loss of the season, a 4-0 shutout, was on everyone's agenda.

From the first pitch, Balls In Action took control of the game and never let up.  Roy's pitching allowed only one run in the fifth, and nearly the entire team kicked perfectly from behind the plate.  What started off with one run in the first, expanded with two in the second, four in the third, and finally 6 in the fourth, wrapping up the game with 13 total.

The 13-1 victory now leaves B.I.A. tied with Balls N' Dolls for first place.  Two wins this coming Wednesday will guarantee Balls In Action at least a share of the league championship.

"Balls N' Dolls definitely woke up a sleeping giant, and unfortunately for New Kicks, the giant was their problem," joked coach Scott.

McDonald's McGangBang Player of the Game went to Chance for going 2-for-2, with a triple, 4 RKI's, and a run.

KFC DoubleDown Play of the Game went to Chance for emptying the bases with his stand-up triple in the third inning.