Robbies Score More reRuns Than Kick-At-Night

Congrats Nancy, you're welcome Ladies.

The Rampaging Trilobites braved the hottest day of the Spring to kick into the sun against the high-spirited Kick-At-Night.

Even after steeling themselves for the heat with refreshments at NuBar (The Official Pre-Game Bar for YOUR Rampaging Trilobites!), the Robbies were forced to resort to more exotic methods to beat the heat.

“My secret is that I have little battery-powered fans attached to my upper legs, which help keep the boys cool,” said Co-Captain Colin. “Unfortunately they add a little bit of extra weight, which is why I was thrown out at home in the third inning.”

Despite the conditions, however, the Trilobites offense brazenly flaunted its potency, plating eight runs over only three innings, including Phil’s first dinger of the season, a two run homer in the first.

Game MVP Nancy, who shares the honor of maintaining a perfect average with only one game to go in the regular season, added to her own Slugging percentage, scoring a two-RBI double in the bottom of the second inning with some smart baserunning.

Because if I have a picture of Tristan without his
shirt, then I clearly need to include one of him
without his pants.

“I'm glad I didn't psych myself with the bases loaded and was able to get a few runs in (in addition to keeping my perfect kicking record).”

The other big RBI score of the day came in from Bala who, despite having a tender hamstring, managed to bring in a pair of his own, despite taking a ball to the knee before reaching first base.

“My secret is being a lazy son of a bitch (Hi Mom!)” said Bala.

The game was called after only three and a half innings due to time (though observers suspect the heat and the fact that the orange team clearly preferred to hustle over to Tommy Doyle’s before the AC broke).

The Trilobites will look to complete their perfect season next week on Field A against the infamous Grass Kickers.

Trilobites Sink Das Boot

Thursday’s game between the streaking Rampaging Trilobites and the undefeated Das Boot was touted as a clash between titans. The veteran Trilobite squad, while on a five game win streak, had yet to be truly tested. The relatively green Das Boot team, meanwhile, had been able to rely on pure athleticism to carry them through the season so far. Experts were split on how the teams would match up.

While the pundits debated, however, the two teams stepped onto the field with a clear focus and were ready to go to work when the time came.

The Trilobites came out swinging, plating three runs in the top of the first to take an early lead. It might have been more, if not for a baserunning gaff by Captain Big, which saw him tagged out between third and home. The Booters responded in the bottom of the frame with four runs of their own as the meat of their lineup found traction with the long ball.

Walk! Don't Run!

For a time, fans wondered how the middle of the Trilobites’ order would respond to the challenge put forth. The answer: With patience and determination. The Rampaging Trilobites have made a living out of playing smart kickball, knowing when to kick and when to bunt, knowing when to swing and when to let a bouncy ball go. It was with a veteran and methodic air that the Robbies quickly loaded the bases and brought runs in, including by way of an earned walk to score Shelby from third. By the time the Das Boot defense was able to adapt, the Trilobites had regained the lead for good with three additional runs.

The abbreviated Das Boot offense, meanwhile, while full of vigor and enthusiasm, seemed unable to respond in kind. While the Booters continued to rely on their power, the seasoned Robbies defense seemed to have an answer. Of particular note on the day, was left fielder Charles, who made a number of acrobatic catches to save sure runs and extra bases.

“I must have angered the kickball gods last week when I mentioned I hadn't gotten any flyballs kicked to my position in the outfield,” Charles exclaimed. “They really kicked my butt for it. I guess my offering of incense and Patron Silver did the trick.”

Second baseman Asian also made significant defensive contributions, with a trio of catches that seemed to deflate the Das Boot lineup. It was in the fourth inning, with runners on and the Booters’ cleanup kicker at the plate, when Asian got in the way of a frozen rope through the infield to end the inning.

Game MVP Tom

“He tattooed that ball,” said Big, who observed the play from the Robbies’ dugout. “It had eyes for the outfield, and I think he kicked it to the right side thinking he could take advantage of Asian’s size. But that kid is full of piss and vinegar and isn’t going to let no one but nobody walk over her.”

“I knew we had to have our A game out there to take down Das Boot,” said Asian. “So when I had my opportunity to get some outs, I just went for it.”

Das Boot's kicker (who had previously been heard to exclaim “That’s how men do it!” after his three run homer in the first – a result of a double error at the plate by Big) returned to his team’s bench with his head hung low.

Despite the gritty defensive performance by the Trilobites, the game always felt close, so the Robbies needed a hero in the fifth to break the game open. After a lucky homerun that found its way between the legs of the right center fielder by Big, things looked better, but still tight. Then Game MVP Tom stepped to the plate and belted a kick out to center for a three run homer to finally break the game open.

“You munt, and you munt, and you munt, and the day when you get the green light comes, and you just hope not to screw it up,” said the soft-spoken third baseman. “Getting lucky never felt so good.”

Some pundits will wonder how much luck was involved, as Tom has been consistent in his offensive output all season long (7 AB, 6 H, AVG: .857, 2 Doubles, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 6 R). Others will wonder about the his previous experiences of “getting lucky” and whether or not someone needs to get the kid laid. But, at the end of the day, Das Boot’s spirit was broken and the Trilobites where able to trade a few runs for outs to end the game and keep their win streak alive.

“It certainly wasn’t my best game,” said Big afterwards. “But let me tell you something, this Trilobite squad has something. It has something that’s been growing for years. A seed that was planted by the Middlesex Panthers years ago and that’s been growing steadily ever since. There’s a vintage to our kickball, I think, that other teams can’t account for, can’t plan for, can’t answer. It’s games like this that remind me that, while an individual may stumble, the team will always push through. When you look back and see only one set of tracks and ask the Trilobites where they were in those times of need, they answer: ‘You idiot, Trilobites didn’t spend a lot of time on the beach, they lived primarily in the water. This is a ridiculous metaphor!’”

The Robbies hope to keep the streak alive next week when they face another league powerhouse, Kickelodeon on Field C.

Robbies To Kick James: ‘Hit the bricks!’

Field C on Cambridge Common was the setting for one of the more contentious games of the season, as the red-hot Rampaging Trilobites faced off against a streaking Kick James! squad.

An inexperienced officiating crew made it quickly apparent that the game would not be without its controversy.

“Volume and knowledge of the game,” said Captain Big. “Those are the two factors you look for in a good ref. If you know the rules, great. But if you’re not loud, you can’t control the game and the teams will take over, which can get ugly fast. There were definitely a few moments in today’s game where you worried it was going to get out of hand. In the end, though, everybody remembered that it’s kickball, and we could all share a beer after the game. I can’t say it’s not frustrating, however, being five weeks into the season and having teams not know some of the basic rules of the game. The kicking box, what constitutes a strike and encroachment rules should not be surprises at this point.”

Due to Field C’s proximity to the brick walkways that crisscross Cambridge Common, the captains agreed before the game to allow for automatic home runs and ground rule doubles so as to prevent fielders from risking injury by running onto or across the slicker surface. This field rule immediately paid dividends for both teams, as each side was awarded doubles and home-runs throughout the game.

Kick James! got off to a quick start in the top of the first with a two-run homerun onto the bricks. The Trilobites, however, responded quickly in the bottom of the frame, though things got off to a clumsy start as Seamus dove into first to beat a throw that wasn’t coming.

When asked if the impressive slide was a ploy to win over the fan vote for Player of the Match, Seamus laughed: “We have fans?!?! Sure, for them, yes, that was a slide. For the record books that was certainly not an ‘I-drank-a-significant-amount-of-“Diet-Coke-™”-before-stepping-to-the-plate-and-tripped-on-myself-and-managed-to-do-it-six-feet-from-the-base-and-am-six-feet-tall,-so-fell-in-the-right-spot.’”

Phil then took advantage of a lackadaisical catcher and put himself aboard. Big was then able to homer to right center, driving in three.

One of the first controversies of the day came next, as Nick came close to going back-to-back with Captain Big with a deep boot to left that came down inches from the bricks before bouncing across the path.

Because of the lack of volume coming from the third base ref, however, many on the Robbies’ bench thought the ball might have come down on the stones and Nick jogged around the bases confident of his home run. Because none of the referees were willing to take control of the game, however, Big was forced to walk out on the field and loudly call his own player back to second base.

“I hated having to do it,” said Big. “But if we were going to have any chance of having a clean game, a gesture had to be made to keep both teams from falling on each other’s throats.”

The Trilobites’ defense was able to hold strong through the second, blanking the James’ offense. In the bottom of the inning, however, the Robbies put the pressure on, with Game MVP JP driving in two, and Colin and Jamie combining for another brace.

Game MVP JP

JP would take home the Lucky Award, not only for his offensive contribution, but also for his team play on the field. It was in the quiet top of the second inning when a blooping line drive came his way in left center. Rather than catch the ball cleanly, JP “elected” to tip the ball back towards the infield, allowing Nancy to make a shoe-string catch and prevent a sure run.

“Good job! Great effort!” JP was heard to exclaim.

The second defensive star of the game was Reggie, making a great catch in right center field in the third inning, which fans of the team hope will boost the rookie’s confidence as the season moves forward. When asked where he has been looking for inspiration, Reggie crowed, “When we took the field, my man Nick looked at me and said ‘We're not dropping anything out here.’ When I saw that ball sailing at me, I knew that was my moment. I firmly set my jaw and thought ‘I got this.’”

Kick James would tack two more runs on the board in the top of the fourth, but the Trilobites responded with a two run homer by Big across the brick path in left center, scoring Phil, who retained his 1.000 batting average on the season.

Due to the on-field tension, it was almost a relief to see the game come to a close without further incident and the Robbies were able to cruise through the top of the fifth to close out the game for a victory.

Despite a lighter-than-average showing at the bar, the Trilobites, again, came up big. Tom earned kudos for outlasting no less than four other teams in survivor flip cup. Barrett, meanwhile, bested them all by placing six pieces of rigatoni on a single piece of angel hair pasta without using her hands. It’s these efforts, both on and off the field, that show that the Robbies are running at full steam this season.

The Trilobites will not be able to take their foot off the gas, however, as they’ll face off against upstart Das Boot on Field B next week.

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Robbies Take Over Callihan Auto Parts

A beautiful day on the Common showed the Rampaging Trilobites take the field against the hard-nosed Callihan Auto Parts. The Robbies were sitting pretty going into the fourth game of the season, riding high on a 3-0 start to the season.

Game MVP Jamie

The final score of this one doesn’t truly reflect the close nature of the evening’s game through the first four innings. Both teams flexed their defensive muscle in the early going, keeping runners to a minimum and making life difficult for the kickers.

The defensive play of the game went to MVP Jamie, who reeled in a sharply-kicked line drive through the infield, then put out the runner on first who’d left the base without tagging.

“All the practicing with the [Angry Penguins] made the catch-to-throw transition easy,” she gushed. “I am thrilled that it connected so well! It felt really awesome to make a play like that. Pete made a fantastic catch to get him out.”

Callihan, for their part, put together a strong defensive effort as well. Catcher Erik made numerous plays that caught the eyes of the Trilobite scouts.

“Put a pair of cleats on that kid and he could go far,” said Big.

Despite their defensive strength, however, the Robbies managed to push a run across in both the second and third innings.

Asian, who found herself on base all night, was able to score on a sacrifice to deep right by Aaron in top of the second inning.

“After last week’s drunken debacle, I knew I had to come up big this week,” said Asian. “While up at bat, I just wanted to get a good bunt down and then book it to first base. I’m glad that my fellow Trilobites were able to bring me home.”

Captain Big attributed Asian’s success on the base paths and in the field to her grit and determination.

“That, and I knew I had tequila shots waiting for me at the bar,” added Asian.

In the third inning, Lara would kick her first career double and then score on perfectly placed single by JP, who has been a consistent contributor all season long.

Midway through the fourth inning, the captains were asked if they wished to continue through the fifth despite the fading light. Both teams were enthusiastic about seeing the game through to the end.

Perhaps spurred by the question of an early end to the game, Callihan’s offense pushed hard in the bottom of the fourth inning. They put runners on base and nearly scored on a double down the left field line. A great heads-up play by Lara, however, got the ball in quickly enough to allow Aaron to tag the runner out between home and third.

Seeing that their two run lead might not be enough to hold off the Callihan offense, the Trilobites, as one, seemed to step to the plate with renewed resolve. Erin put down a perfect bunt to get aboard to start the inning. Phil, who is coming off a mild hamstring injury, stepped up and placed a perfect single through the right side.

Lucky getting cozy with Rio and co.

Tristan and Colin, then, had trouble picking up the ball out of the pitcher’s hand and the Trilobites suddenly had two outs on them.

Jamie, however, kept the rally alive with an important single into shallow left, over the head of Callihan’s agile shortstop. The previous week’s Game MVP, Chris, then knocked a two run double, followed by another two-bagger by Bala, who sough redemption for striking out earlier in the game.

Asian and Charles kept things going with singles. Then Big and Aaron blasted back-to-back triples, driving in three more runs.

“It was fun to watch,” said Big. “You could see everyone buckle down and focus. The fact that we scored eight runs with two outs in the inning shows the kind of determination this team can muster when pushed.”

With the score sheet broken wide open, Callihan was unable to put together the same offensive bite they did the previous inning and the bottom of the fifth went quickly.

Both teams were appreciative of the refs who stuck around despite reservations about the light and early flights in the morning. Hopefully, a pitcher soothed their hurts.

Next week, the Trilobites will face the infamous Kick James! Show up early to get the best seats!