2009 NY Star Fall Champions!!!!

On Tuesday, December 8th, under a starry sky and on a brisk 40 degree night, Dumpster Fire took to the East River Park fields one last time to do battle with Our Balls Your Face and, eventually, a championship rematch with cross-town rivals Lock It Up.

Dumpster Fire started the night off hot, scoring 6 runs on OBYF in the bottom of the 1st and they never looked back from there.  While LIU had a smidgen of trouble on the other field with Ramrod – one of NY’s hottest up-and-coming teams – DF was able to easily lock down an 8-0 victory.

LIU was eventually able to secure the victory setting up one of the most highly anticipated rematches in NY Star history.  The two heavyweight teams in NYC slugging it out, one last time, to close out the year and put another chapter of New York kickball to rest.

DF had the higher seed and elected to be home team, giving LIU a chance to execute their bread-and-butter style of bat first, score first, hang-on kickball.  And while DF was successful in stealing this comfort from them in the first game, they put their stalwart defense to the test, asking it to respond on the highest stage.  And respond it did.

DF shut down the explosive top of LIU’s order 1-2-3, getting Sajac to pop out, Jared to ground out and Sandy to ground out.  In the bottom of the 1st, DF responded by getting its first three runners aboard, giving Dematas the chance to sac kick in JHard and Rabidou the chance to kick in KP before the inning ended.

In the 2nd inning the defense started hot again, getting Wilson to ground out.  However, KP walked Skalocky and a quick foot off the bag at 1B on a sure out vs. the Sage allowed LIU to get runners on 1B and 2B with only 1 out.  The next kicker bunted on perefectly to load the bases for Ad-Rock, who managed to tuck a kick in shallow LF, just in front of 3B woman BonFire.  Diving for the catch, she was unable to control the ball and scooped to Rabidou who was able to throw the ball between his legs on a no look pass to peg Sage advancing from 2B to 3B.  Skalocky scored on the play to make it 2-1 before DF could close out the side.

The DF offense then started to sputter, going down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 2nd and 3rd innings.

LIU showed signs of life in the top of the 4th when they were once again able to put runners in scoring position with their big kick, Wilson up to bat.  However Wilson blasted a laser of a shot to a perfectly positioned JHard in RF to end the inning.

The DF offense showed life in the bottom of the 4th inning finally get some runners aboard with a good kick from Cullen, but were unable to captilize on kicks from Marlene and JHard to move the runner.

DF huddled at the mound one last time as the heart of LIU’s order came up in the 5th inning.  Three outs away from glory.  But LIU would not go quietly in to the night.  Former DF teammate, Skalocky, once again burned the Dumpster with a perfect bunt on.  Sage once again laid down a perfect bunt to get runners on 1B and 2B.  Ad-Rock followed the first two kickers with an absolute beauty of a kick up the middle.  And while Marlene was quick to get in to position and make the force out at 2B, Skalocky took off immediately on the kick and was able to score, tying the game and setting up a potential overtime battle.  DF finished out the inning for last-ups.

KP lead off.  After Sajac had mowed down nearly all of the DF bunters that evening, KP lead the inning off with a line drive kick to shallow RCF that was nearly caught on the run by former DF’er Corvigno.  However the stars were aligned in DF’s favor this night and the ball bounced off her fingers and harmlessly to the ground.

NY Star Fall Classic MVP Allison Willis was up next and true to form she put down a perfect bunt that was bobbled by the fielder who eventually made the out, but the damage was done. KP was able to advance to 3B on the throw, setting up the game winning run.

LIU elected to walk Dematas and Rabidou to get to Oakley, long time DF c0-captain and founder.  With ice water running through his veins, he picked the perfect kick and blasted it to RF.  Ad-Rock, the former Bulletproof Tiger, looked to make the catch and throw at the plate, but at the last minute took his eyes off the ball and bobbled it, enable KP to get a solid head start running home.  As he bobbled, Rabidou came off first base, uncertain as to what would happen.  At the last minute, Ad-Rock caught the ball and made a laser throw to peg a diving Rabidou headed back to the base.  But Rabidou’s hand reached the bag moments before the ball hit him and as KP crossed the plate, DF won its first ever NY Star Championship: 3-2.

And so ends the first ever 16 game season in NY Kickball history.  DF runs the table, 16-0.  155 runs for, 10 runs against.  Congrats to the entire league on a great season and thank you to the inimitable Shane for running everything so smoothly.

Where we go now is anyone’s guess.   See you at the SoFL tournament in 2010!

Team Members:

Female — Amy Malbon, Allison Willis, Susan Marschall, Marlene Marji, Maitane, Jane Argetsinger

Male — Oakley Hall, Karl Pawlewicz, Jeremy Hardwick, Chris Rabidou, Marquis Scott, Dematas, Sean Duffy, Cullen Shaw, Nate Poeschl, Brian Piechowicz, Chris Ruiz, Duane Pena, Kendell Villaroel

]]> http://dumpsterfire.wordpress.com/2009/12/11/dumpster-fire-your-2009-ny-star-fall-champions/feed/ 0 KP DSC03796 DSC03797 DSC03807 DSC03802 DSC03799 http://dumpsterfire.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/its-go-time/ http://dumpsterfire.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/its-go-time/#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:46:24 +0000 KP http://dumpsterfire.wordpress.com/?p=266 ]]>

Time to silence all of the critics from this season.

Who: Dumpster Fire

What: The NY Star Fall Final Four — Dumpster Fire vs. Our Balls Your Face; Lock It Up vs. Ramrod; Winners battle for The Championship.

When: Tuesday, December 8th; Semi-Finals at 8:00PM; Finals at 9:00PM

Where: East River Park (Lower East Side of Manhattan)

Kickball365.com Natl. Power Poll Vol. 4 No. 2 (Fall 2009)

“Kickball365’s National Power Poll 2009 – Fall (11-20-09)

Rank Team Division Comments
1 The Others DC Liberty, DC Capital The goal was to win the big one. Mission accomplished. Only time will tell if the super-team stays together, but if they do, they enter the 2010 WAKA campaign as the favorites.

2 Balls Deeper FL Riptide, FL Beach No denying the run at FC and through Riptide. It’s always been the same top four in the FTL, but has the pecking order changed now? Will grumblings about their lack of depth continue?

3 Just Kickin’ It FL Beach Sometimes the folks in maroon don’t get the pub of their much louder SoFla brethren. But quiet is how JKI likes it. And being the current Coconut Keg holders counts for something.

4 Best Coast Ballers CA Gold Rush If last year was the opening act, this year was the coming out party for the West Coast flagship. The peanut gallery may bemoan the hometown & FC SOS … but BCB is headed in the right direction. Up.

5 Riff Raff for Life FL Riptide, FL Beach FC was the breakout performance we knew RR had in them. For some reason, it didn’t quell its critics, who feasted on the semifinal bow out in Riptide and on the so-called roster “rumors.”

6 Meatballs FL Beach JKI took the last hard duel in Beach. Then they dropped a tough decision at FC to a RR team they previously owned. Lots of chirping ensued. Still, don’t count the Meat out … they always reload.

7 Make It Rain VA Shore A consistent run during the early tourney season, along with generally strong league performances in Tidewater. But the tourney steam seemed to run out at the end of ’09.

8 Dumpster Fire NY Star Made a great FC run and have proven to be top dogs so far in the Big Apple over the past few months (NYCGN, Star Spring and Fall). The talent is there, and the mental game is vastly improved.

9 Frosty Balls VA Recess A tough tilt against a rapidly improving Maine squad, a slightly earlier than expected bow at FC to a determined BD team, and a loss in Tidewater has the aging defending champs down, although not out.

10 Ballers and Shot Callers DC Capital Not quite what they wanted out of K365 and FC, but more proof they can compete at the highest level. Look for them to turn a corner, or two, in 2010.”

Dumpster Fire took home the 2009 Regular Season Title on Tuesday, after a 15-1 slugfest with Our Balls, Your Face.  The crowd of more than 15,000 who gathered to see the Dumpster take home its second ever league championship was in good spirits, despite the cooler temps.

What’s Next?

“Maybe it’s because I kick so much butt, I kick ass…”

DF finished the season 13-0, amassing 140 runs while only allowing 8.  While some people on the team are drawing comparisons between the ’09 Dumpster Fire and the ’07 Patriots, co-captain Oakley Hall is quick to dismiss such rumors, in a very Bill Belichick manner.  “First off, we play kickball, not football, okay.  Not even the same sport.  Second, they won 19 games.  We only won 13.  I don’t see how people are overlooking that.  We played a lot of really good kickball this season, but comparing us to professional athletes is just silly.”  Thanks for the dose of reality, Oak!

In its final game of the season, Dumpster Fire rolled like a hippy on exctasy at a Disco Biscuits concert.  Plating 8 runs in the first, the team never looked back and even gave the Duane Cane-Cutta his first shot at catcher.  Sadly he didn’t get to touch a ball as the OBYF kickers were too afraid he would quickly snatch up anything within a 10 yard radius.

Brian aka Tripper also made his catcher and charger debuts, helping nearly shut down the navy blue squad who were ultimately able to get one run across in the bottom of the 5th inning.  The OBYF captain, SAS-a-frass could be heard shouting, “Thanks for teaching us everything we know Amy and Karl!”  With all due respect though, the Ballers/Facers were without their homerun boot, most-improved-player-of-the-year Blake.

Regardless, Dumpster Fire put up another very workmanlike performance, capping an unprecedented 13 game season (thanks to Shane for getting us more games than we’ve ever had in an NY kickball season).  In the end DF amassed 140 runs while allowing only 8 runs to three different teams in the league.

The Fire takes a small break for some Turkey time and is back in action on December 1st for the first round of the playoffs.

Extra special big thanks to ladies who make the Dumpster Fire burn brighter: Maitane, Marlene and Amy who didn’t miss a game all season; Susan for second highest attendance; Allison for clutch performances in the, er, clutch; and Jane for being a super awesome (starship) trooper and attending two games despite a sprained ankle, and even kicking in TWO RUNS while barely able to run.  We <3 you like a fat kid <3′s cake.  Or like JHard <3′s Gossip Girl.

Big shout out to our newest recruits this year too: Rabidou and Marquis, our brothers from another mother across the Hudson; Dematas for a Favre on the Vikings-esque performance; Nate who has showed real promise in his first season with an elite team; and of course big-ups to all our usual suspects: Cullen, Duane, Duffy, JHard, Kendell, Oakley, and Ruiz.  Couldn’t have done it without you guys.

Dumpster Fire 2009 burns as bright as those stars that keeping coming out!

]]> http://dumpsterfire.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/dumpster-fire-wins-2009-ny-star-regular-season/feed/ 1 KP celebration Eazy-E32 Edmonton-Fire-712498 http://dumpsterfire.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/dumpster-fire-wins-inaugural-ny-star-fall-classic-where-the-stars-come-out/ http://dumpsterfire.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/dumpster-fire-wins-inaugural-ny-star-fall-classic-where-the-stars-come-out/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:06:50 +0000 KP http://dumpsterfire.wordpress.com/?p=239 ]]>

In what some are arguing was the most highly anticipated matchup in NY Kickball ever, Dumpster Fire took the field against Lock It Up last night to do battle in the NY Star Fall Classic.

What followed was a battle of Star proportions.  Our man Coach Chris submitted his write-up early this morning.  Have at it!!

This week featured the regular season match up of the season, Dumpster Fire (“DF”) versus Lock it Up (“LIU”).  The game was being dubbed by many as “The NY Star Fall Classic.”  The game was so big that Michael Buffer contacted the league on Monday night to perform his “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” before the start of the game.  Unfortunately, on such short notice the league was unable to get the appropriate permits and sound system.

This game reminded some people of game 7 of the 2003 America League Championship Series between the Yankees and the Red Sox.  For one hour on Tuesday night, the Lower East Side was transformed into the South Bronx.  Leading up to the game DF was wondering who would take the mound for LIU.  As the visiting team, DF found out real quick that their old teammate Steve Skalockitup would be starting on the mound for LIU.  Steve mowed down DF in order in the top of the 1^st.  In the bottom of the inning, ace pitcher Karl Pawlewicz had a relatively easy time posting three outs.  In the second, Steve got two quick outs before the Hoboken duo of Chris Rabidou and Marquis Scott reached base for the first two hits of the night.  With two on and two out, Steve squashed any DF hope of scoring a run in the second. In the bottom of the second, LIU threatened but came away empty.  In the third, both pitchers got out of the inning unscaved.

In the top of the fourth, Steve was starting to look a little tired on the mound and DF was finally starting to get their bunts down. Chris Ruiz and Nate Poeschl both reached base to start the inning.  After recording the first out of the inning, J-Hard had a huge sacrifice that went unnoticed by the casual kickball fan.  With two on and two outs, the LIU brain trust made a Grady Little type trip to the mound.  Were they going to make a pitching change or were they discussing what to do with Duane Pena?  In the end, they kept Steve in and chose to walk Duane.  Now bases were loaded, with 2 outs and Allison “Aaron Boone” Willis coming to the plate.  On Monday, there was talk on the Kickbal365 message board as to who would be the MVP of this game.  It should be noted that Allison did not receive a single vote.  With ice water running through her veins, she kicked a line drive that scored two runs giving DF the lead.  Duane and Nate both made great heads up base running decisions on that play.

In the bottom of the inning, LIU showed fight.  With one out, LIU executed two perfect bunts before DF recorded the second out of the inning.  With two on and two outs, it appeared that this was going to be a mirror image of the top of the inning.  DF chose to walk their lead off kicker bringing up a very interesting at bat.

Bases loaded, two outs, and now you have the face of DF versus the face of LIU.  Two players that generate the most revenue for the NY Star league in t-shirt sales were facing off with the game on the line.  Jared proceeded to ground out to third ending the threat.

In the top of the 5^th, Karl and Rabidou would both reach base and later score – Karl off a perfect sac bunt from Amy BonFire; Rabidou off a laser of a kick to LF from Pancakes – to put the final nail in the LIU coffin.  It was final, DF 4 LIU 0.  Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!  The game featured great defense by J-Hard,  Dematas, Brian Piechowicz, and Marquis.

Dumpster Fire (White) takes on Lock It Up (Orange)

Game Time – 8:00pm sharp

East River Park

See you there!!

Tomorrow Dumpster Fire heads back to Dump Vegas to do battle with the best teams in the country.  72 teams, to be precise, although we won’t play all 72 of those teams, duh.  Read on for what you need know about the 2009 Founder’s Cup and the famed Dumpster Fire, a.k.a. Bulletproof Tigers.

When last we saw the Dumpster Fire burning brightly in Sin City, the team had just wrapped an epic day.  The little upstart team from The Big Apple had vanquished the defending world champions, Drinkers With A Kicking Problem (RIP), and went toe-to-toe with their archnemsis, Blue Balls (RIP), in the only 7 inning game of the day, ultimately coming up just short by a score of 2-1 – the only two runs the defense allowed all day.

Fast forwarding through 2009 we see the team placing in the top 8 at the South Florida Open, the last one-bounce-pitch tournament ever (RIP), after coming up just short again, 2-1, this time to The Tricky Bunnines; a top 8 finish at the K365 Open, suffering yet another 2-1 elimination loss to The Meatballs (2008 Founder’s Cup Runners-Up); and finally having the stars align for a tournament victory in the first ever New York City Grand National Tournament, with wins in the semi-finals over Wiggle It For Ghana and in the finals over Menace 2 Sobriety.

Neatly sandwiched in between those tournaments was an impressive spring side project: Bulletproof Tigers.  Inspired by the legendary Kenny Powers (Whoo!), the Tigers amassed an astounding 124 runs over the course of the season, surrendering only 4 runs in both the regular season and post-season.

Scheduling conflicts and other prior commitments meant personnel changes for the Dumpster Fire Vegas roster and ultimately it was determined that the Bulletproof Tigers would this year light Dumpster Fire pyre in Sin City.

So before we embark on this new journey, we pause briefly for a look at last year’s team:

And now…..THE BULLETPROOF TIGERS!

Returning players: Allison, Amy, Oakley, Karl, Duffy, JHard, Pancakes, Cane-Cutta

First time appearance in Vegas: Shanna, Susan, Jane, Kendell, Marquis, Chris

Game Schedule for Saturday, October 10th, 2009 (all times are pacific):

• 11:30AM — Super Skinnies (FL)
• 12:30PM — Ball Busters (CA)
• 2:30PM — Monster Cartel (CA)

Elimination Rounds to follow. Wish us luck.  Better yet, wish all of the other teams luck.  Cause the only thing that beats a Bulletproof Tiger is a Manticore, and The Manticores didn’t qualify for Vegas!

People just can’t seem to get enough dumpster in their lives these days.  As the team gears up for the infamous NY Star Fall 09 Season (Where the Stars Come Out), a couple in Kansas celebrates!  Read on…

Kansas Couple’s Trash Bin Tryst Takes Wrong Turn

The couple wanted to be alone but were held up at knifepoint instead

WICHITA, Kan. - A tender moment in a trash bin went all wrong for a couple who found themselves being held up at pocket knifepoint.

Police said two 44-year-olds had climbed into a dumpster to be alone just after 6 p.m. Saturday when two men interrupted them and demanded their belongings. Officers said the man and woman were engaged in “an intimate moment” when they were robbed of their shoes, jewelry and the man’s wallet.

Police said one of the robbers was a 64-year-old man who egged his 59-year-old companion on during the robbery.

The suspects were found a short time later and the stolen property was returned.

(From L to R, standing:) Chris Rabidou, Sean Duffy, Steve Skalocky (hat), Cullen Shaw, Kendell Villaroel (back row), Erin Dawald, Susan Marschall, Karl Pawlewicz, Ryan Gang, Jeremy Hardwick, Oakley Hall

(From L to R, kneeling:) Duane Pena, Amy Malbon, Allison (Whatchootalkinbout) Willis

Epic

From:	noreply@urbandictionary.com
	You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as junk
Sent:	Mon 8/03/09 3:58 PM
To:	kpawlewi@xxxx.com

Thanks for your definition of Dumpster Fire!

Editors reviewed your entry and have decided to not publish it.

To get a better idea of what editors publish and reject, sign up as
an Urban Dictionary Editor here: http://editor.urbandictionary.com/

Urban Dictionary

-----

Dumpster Fire

The best kickball team in New York City

"Dumpster Fire is ruining kickball. Those guys are real jerks and
that girl who plays 1B is intimidating!!"