Distressful, disruptive and dramatic, Friday’s playoffs were anything but dull.

Distressful watching Captain Connor Pullman, our two-time league champion and his current roster of Erin Go Bocce get soundly defeated by Barb’s Bocce Ball Busters 12-8. Pullman will be joined by teammates Burke, Alderete and Garcia at the awards ceremony on September 2, as they climb the podium to accept the ignominious Wooden Spoon. Meanwhile Captain Barb and the rest of the BBB’s Nate, June and Bobby will watch in relief as their season ends saved by just 4 points.

Disruptive Ball Breakers led by Captain Chris Cattich jumped into the upcoming Championship match by destroying the hopes and plans of Captain Carla and the Hot Rollers 12-8.

What a ride the Ball Breakers have had this season. In last place after Round 2 with an absolutely dismal TPS of 9, Chris, Rich, Lynne and Michelle battled back winning every subsequent game to earn a playoff berth against number 2, Cozzie and The Hot Rollers. The last time these two teams faced off the Ball Breakers suffered a devastating loss 12 – 4. But this time was different, aided by substitutes Clay Lingo and Captain Conor, who perhaps stung by his mediocre performance earlier in the evening, showed the true brilliance of a two-time Campbell Bocce League Champion, assisting in the decisive victory.

Meanwhile, Carla also down two regulars, Moshia and Woodcock relied heavily on the skills of substitutes Nate and Clay. With one regular player Jamie Milliner, 2015’s Rookie of the Year, the quad rolled deep and long but couldn’t keep pace with Cattich’s Ball Breakers. Heartbreaking for Captain Carla who for the second year running as a new Captain has managed to get her teams so close to a championship.

Drama was the watchword of our final playoff game Friday. Captain Ted’s Balls Deep started strong with DeGiere and Campbell living up to expectations and hype nearly destroying Captain Jill’s Game of Throwns, with Chris, Carol and Rupert. At 8 points down and nothing on the board, GOT Captain Jill exclaimed “they’re f***ing shutting us out”! Finally Jill and Rupert chalked two points followed by an emotional four point casino rolled by Chris & Carol and closely examined by Balls Deep’s Leslie. Now only 4 points down GOT turned the pollina over to Ted and Jim Leon. With perfect accuracy and speed Ted and Jim pulled off the evenings second casino, ending the frame with an additional 4 points, winning the game 12-6 and launching Balls Deep into the 2016 Championship.

So Friday, September 2 it will be a pair of balls, Balls Deep and Ball Breakers rolling for the CBL 2016 League Champion.

The night will begin with Cozzie & The Hot Rollers playing Game of Throwns for 3rd and 4th place. This swan song for both teams will commence during Cocktails and Appetizers at 6:30pm. Then we will light the BBQ and thrown on the Ribeyes. We will keep an eye on the steaks and enjoy the rare opportunity to see two great teams Balls Deep and Ball Breakers battle for the right to clam the Teddy and have their names emblazoned on the Campbell Bocce League perpetual trophy.

RSVP to Chris 415.893.0153 or cmcoates@aol.com

Results Playoffs

Barbs Bocce Ball Busters 12, Erin Go Bocce 8

Ball Busters12, Cozzie & The Hot Rollers 8

Balls Deep 12, Game of Throwns 6

Menu “High Steaks”

• Ribeyes – Jack & Chris
• Twice Baked Potatoes – Deb & Chris
• Classic Green Salad- Carol
  
• Tomatoes with Basil – Lynne
• Cheese Plate  – Bobby
• Salami & Olives –Lori
• Chocolate Cupcakes– Leslie
• Champagne –June & Rich
• Red Wine – need volunteer

 

The key to a Balls Deep championship. The big-game difference maker. Rollers you can build a playoff around.

Don’t look now, but is it possible that the force of September has been under the Captain Ted’s nose all along?

“Right now the way Jack & Leslie are rolling, their stuff plays anywhere,” Balls Deep Captain Ted Lusher said of Jack Campbell & Leslie de Giere, the so-called old timer and stalwart who might be rolling better than anyone in bocce right now.

Pairing that performance with the consistent play of Jim Leon, Captain Ted has brought his team to first place. Ted praising Leon stated, “His stuff is unbelievable. It’s always been unbelievable. Now he’s just really putting it where he wants, and it’s fun to play behind him.”

With Friday’s dazzling performance in a 12-9 victory over Erin Go Bocce, Balls Deep earned their fourth victory in five decisions and essentially retained their league lead by one point in TPS over Cozzie and the Hot Rollers.

With the Playoffs looming, Captain Carla and Hot Rollers Jamie & Woodcock shanghaied this years leading candidate for MVP, Jim Leon as substitute for Moshia in Friday’s face off against Game of Throwns.

The season’s slowest match dragged on in single point frames. DePhillips controlled his end for GOT stating afterwards . “It’s just about simple thoughts and placing balls.” It’s also about command and confidence that seem to get better with every start and a slow ball that looks as accurate as anything Leon rolls.

“We fell behind Cozzie 12-7, and I said, There it goes” Captain Jill said with a laugh. No matter, GOT is ending regular season with a 2-3 record and retains a playoff berth.

With a 3-2 standing after defeating Barbs BB Busters 12-6, Ball Breakers moved up to third place. “It’s a good stat I guess, to have going into the playoffs, but I’m not focused on that,” said Captain Cattich, who tapped Clay Lingo as the night’s substitute for the vacationing Michelle Smith. “When you’re rolling like this you just try to stay in that same mindset,” he said, “and keep doing your same work.” Rookie Weaver and veteran Lynne were essential to the win, “Rich’s known how to roll since he’s come to the league, and you just see his confidence getting higher and higher”.

A win loss record of 1-4 doesn’t tell the heartbreaking story of EGB’s season. Speculation then was two-time Champion Captain Conor Pullman was poised to deliver the League first hat trick with a strong veteran lineup joined by crossover bowler Lori Burke debuting in her rookie year.

Though nearly defeating both first and second ranked Balls Deep and Cozzie & the Hot Rollers, each and every EGB game was just a near miss. Their season TPS of 45  matching third place Ball Breakers neatly tells the story. Just two weeks ago EGB veterans Carl & Deborah stunned the League with spectacular throws we haven’t seen in years. Reviewing his team’s performance, Conor stated “No one promises you anything, it all has to be earned, and this year we just didn’t deliver”.

Captain, O My Captain award winner Kutschinski was hampered by no-shows in her line up. Barb’s BB Busters started the season remarkably strong, defeating second place Cozzie and The Hot Rollers in Round 1 for their only win, and what was anticipated to be a strongly competitive year. Corso, and Castillo never quite got their mojo, though rookie June Weaver showed steady improvement in both technique and strategy. Captain Barb ever kind and gracious, ended Friday’s night game declaring “ no matter the outcome, it is not just a game, its friendship, and when the game is forgotten the friendship endures”.

Entering the Playoffs, there has been just one change in the previous standings. Ball Breakers moves up one place to Third.

Playoffs begin Friday August 19^th at 6:30 pm with the Wooden Spoon match between Erin Go Bocce and Barb’s Bocce Ball Busters. Then second place Cozzie and the Hot Rollers plays third place Ball Breakers. The nights final game is first place Balls Deep playing Game of Throwns. The winners of Game 2 & 3 advance to the Championship.

The top four teams all have an equal chance at becoming the 2016 Champions.

Results Round 4

Cozzie and the Hot Rollers 12, Game of Throwns 7

Balls Deep 12, Erin Go Bocce 9

Ball Breakers 12, Barb’s Bocce Ball Busters 5

Standings                                                                       TPS

Balls Deep                                                 4-1                 57

Cozzie and the Hot Rollers             4-1                 56

Ball Breakers                                          3-2                 45

Game of Throwns                                 2-3                 45

Erin Go Bocce                                         1-3                 44

Barb’s Bocce Ball Busters                1-3                 29

 

The playoff dinner theme will be Southern BBQ. Let me know what you can bring, and I will get it posted.

• Pickled Veggies- Chris
• Pimento Cheese & Crackers– need volunteer
• Southern BBQ Chicken- Chris
• Mac & Cheese- need volunteer
• Coleslaw- Clay
• Corn on the Cob- Lori
• Cornbread-Carol
• Watermelon- June & Rich
• Red Velvet cupcakes-Jill & Jaime
• Alabama Slammer-Chris
• Wine- need volunteer
• Beer- need volunteer