Wet Bandits hang tough to beat New Kicks on the Block

The Wet Bandits improved to 3-0 on the young kickball season with a rousing 7-3 victory over New Kicks on the Block on Monday night.

The back-and-forth battle featured two ties and two lead changes before the Bandits broke it open with a four-run fourth inning. The rally saw the first three kickers -- Helen, Amit and Amanda -- reach base and eventually score, with RKIs from Zach, Phil (who also scored later) and Big.

"They had an awesome pitcher, but at the end of the night, the Bandits proved they had the right stuff," said Big, who went 2-for-2 with 3 RKIs on the night. "Also, judging by the credit cards Asian found in the dirt by second base, we've moved beyond robbing houses and into identity theft!"

NKOTB got off to an early 2-0 lead as Big struggled with his command on the mound, but he helped his own cause in the bottom half of the inning with a single to drive in Amanda. The Bandits tied the game in the bottom of the second as Nancy followed Marshall's embarrassing strikeout with a single that scored Yuval. Frey added an RKI in the third inning to give the Bandits their first lead of the game.

On the defensive side, Kevin made several impressive throws from third base to first base, keeping his arm and shoulder fully attached each time.

But the play of the game came in the fifth inning, when Nancy and Marshall nearly collided on a pop-up to short center field. The ball bounced off Nancy and over her head, where Marshall bobbled it and was forced to make a diving catch. The play earned Marshall game MVP honors and help take some of the sting out of his earlier strikeout.

"Just when I think he couldn't possibly be any dumber, he goes and does something like this ... and TOTALLY REDEEMS HIMSELF!" said FBJ.

Bandits get wet with Schweaty Balls, come out on top

The Wet Bandits staged a three-run rally to overcome an early deficit and defeat the Schweaty Balls, 4-1, in Week 2 of WAKA Minuteman Division action.

Just hours before first pitch, there were questions if the game would even take place, thanks to thunderstorms in the greater Somerville area. But the skies cleared, leaving the field just how the Bandits like it: wet.

The Schweaty Balls got off to a 1-0 lead in the second inning and held Los Banditos scoreless through three innings, but the "Triple N" bottom of the order -- Nancy, Nathan and Nick -- got things going in the fourth with three consecutive hits. Amanda added a fourth at the top of the order, and Yuval, Colin and Captain Monkeybutt followed with three consecutive RKI to take the lead for good. Big added an insurance home run in the fifth, and Sierra Navarra made a great stab at first base in the bottom of the inning to seal the deal.

"It was a close fought game out there," said Big. "It was wet. At times it was sassy. But in the end, we licked 'em. We licked those Schweaty Balls!"

The Bandits could have scored more runs in the fourth inning but fell victim to an extremely rare triple play on a low line drive that caused confusion among the baserunners.

"I gotta say, the Schweaty pitcher scooped that ball up within a millimeter of the ground," said Zach. "It was a pretty awesome catch. But the best part was the old-timey banjo hoedown that played in my head while the runners shuffled hilariously back and forth along the basepath."

The wet grass made fielding an adventure, but the Bandits did a great job keeping the ball in front of them and preventing big plays, even when they couldn't make a catch. Nathan, Zach and Spartacus were among the defenders who made big heads-up plays in the field.

"It was great to be back after a seven-week kickball hiatus, albeit at times rough," said Spartacus. "I think I heard people singing circus music around me at one point. But we Won! And that is all that matters."

Yuval's 2-for-2 day at the plate, with an RKI and run scored, earned him game MVP honors as the Bandits improved to 2-0 on the young season. They next take on New Kicks on the Block on Monday night.

Wet Bandits Come East! Chicago Suburbs Breathe Easy

It was a muggy evening in Somerville as the Wet Bandits and Playground Legends took the field. Fresh off an undefeated regular season in the Patriot summer division as The Team Your Team Could Smell Like, the Wet Bandits were eager to climb into the panel van and start casing joints.

Their first challenge would be the upstart Playground Legends who are, by far, the loudest and greenest team they’ve played all season.

Despite the Legends’ intimidating place in recess folklore, the Bandits were able to push two quick runs across in the first with RBIs by Asian and the still-injured Brow, acting as DH, scoring Frey and Captain Monkeybutt (who still maintains that Randy Munkay should also count as a run… well, maybe half a run…)

The Bandits then opened the taps in the second, with a six run rally on the strength of RBI doubles by BK and Nancy (her first career two-bagger) and run-scoring singles by Ray, Barry and Tristan.

While the Legends got on the board in the bottom of the second, Big kicked a three run homer in the top of the third to keep them on the ropes. BK then drove in his third RBI on the night in the top of the fourth.

The Legends, however, were not done, as they muscled three runs across in the bottom of the fifth before the Bandits were able to finally shut the door on their first victim of the season.

“It was a fun game,” said Co-Captain Big, who filled in for the absent Captain Colin “Man of” Steele. “They were a great team to play with. Nick’s honesty at second base – though really only serving to confuse things by insisting, himself, that he was out when he should’ve just stood on the bag until a ref told him to leave – was a perfect example of the best kind of kickball sportsmanship.”

Both teams’ defenses benefited from the fresh balls, with accurate throws that made for close calls all over the infield. First baseman BK, returning to Somerville after a three year hiatus was happy with the conditions. “"Somerville has lights, so that's cool. And Samba has beer and flip cup, something I haven't seen in a divisional bar since, well, the last time I played at Samba in Somerville."

Kevin earned the Bandits’ game MVP award (trophy pending) for his efforts in the hot corner, with a couple of seams, an over the shoulder catch in shallow left and holding onto a bullet down the line to end the game. In lieu of a Wet Bandits trophy, Kevin took home (again) the Team Your Team Could Smell Like MVP Clam. “I will be heading to JC Penny over the weekend to take a family portrait with the clam,” he said proudly. “It will hang over my TV for many years to come.” This can only result in more material for AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com.


With a final of 12-4, the two teams repaired to Samba’s where a few of the Bandits made some attempt at proving themselves at the flip cup table. While team newcomers Helen and Barry (traded from the Ballstars in the offseason) flipped like veterans, Tristan struggled to find his form and Big was, literally, embarrassed by his visiting younger sister.

Helen, who was voted the “Hottest Kickballer” during the summer Patriot division, played the game without her trademark suspenders.

"Well, to be honest, I felt naked without my pink polka-dot suspenders,” she said. “They may have to make a comeback next week. There might be some unicorn-shaped pigtails too...perhaps. But the lack of suspenders may not be the most disappointing part of tonight, though. Our victory is no victory unless Tristan can flip a cup in less than 10 tries. Another week, I hope."

After the hurry up and stop of the coming bye week, the Bandits look forward to facing off against the Schweaty Balls when play resumes in two weeks. It's been noted that the Schweaty Balls, like The Team Your Team Could Smell Like were undefeated in their respective previous regular seasons. This should be a monster match-up!

Wet Bandits: Week One Co-Captain's Note

Good Morning Bandits!

I hope you all had a good sleep and a wholesome breakfast. I trust you all brushed your teeth (including the gold one) and looked both ways before crossing the street.

You did? Good, because 9 out of 10 kickballers agree that a good start to the day is the best way to prepare yourself for the evening's game. (The tenth guy got hit by a plumber's van on his way to take the survey so didn't get to answer).

And, my friends, I want everyone prepared: Prepared to RAWK!

Colin's Coach Boone is unavailable tonight so, as co-captain, I'm filling in as Coach Yoast. While Yoast didn't have a lot of inspiring speeches, he did have, essentially, the title lines. And I tell you tonight, like our namesakes' propensity for leaving the tap running as a calling card, we will make sure to leave our own calling card of excellence so that they remember, forever, the night they played the Wet Bandits!

... I know, I'm mixing and bastardizing movie references... Just go with it, he's rolling...

Remember: Meet on the field at 8 to collect your shirts. Also, be sure to bring something to change into afterwards as Brennan may be collecting shirts so that they may be sent to the screeners and we can get our logo put on.

Above all, come ready to get your kick on! We'll catch 'em unawares! They're going to be on vacation (perhaps in Paris) in their minds and we're going to come in and steal the glory!

Every game is the Silver Tuna, people! Let go out and TAKE it!

Big
Wet Bandits

"We will be perfect in every aspect of the game. You drop a pass, [Yuval] runs a mile. You [swing and miss], [Yuval] runs a mile. You fumble the [kick]ball, and I will break my foot off in your John Brown hind parts and then [Yuval] will run a mile. Perfection. Let's go to work"