Welcome to the season wrap-up for Cricket. We have a few honors to give out. Let's begin.
MVP and highest scorer: Delila, Atlantic Pirates. Delila led the league in both scoring average and percentage of her team's points, earning her the season honors as MVP. While she did regress significantly in the second half, her candidacy was bolstered by having the second-highest individual score of all time, and she was always a threat for big points when she came up to bat. Not bad for a player that was cast aside and redrafted by the team.
Ringer Award for comeback player of the year: Leandra, Tysini Hummingbirds. A year after teammate Princess won the award for dominating the league with the Hummingbirds, their latest reclamation also takes the honor. Leandra played with the Harrison Specters last season, but a down year for the player and the team caused them to part ways. While the Specters saw a steeper downturn and more changes in the offing, Leandra enjoyed being the Robin to Princess' Batman and takes home a bit of hardware for the effort.
Rookie of the Year: Charli, Tysini Hummingbirds. Not only did the Hummingbirds find a diamond in the rough to go with their captain, they also got a huge steal with Charli in the draft. Using their fourth round pick, 31st of 35 overall, the last rookie off the board was the only one to post an above-average scoring season, taking the award in a landslide. While many players hovered right around the mark, Charli blew it away to create a three-headed monster for the Hummingbirds, even if her performance was overshadowed by her teammates.
Most Explosive Player: Delila, Atlantic Pirates. Delila's MVP candidacy had some serious volatility at times, ranging between pure excellence and deep slumps, allowing her to be one of the most dangerous opponents based on her unpredictability. She could just as easy drop 1000 or 100 on any opposing bowler.
Most Consistent Player: Crystal, Queens Flames. This is an award that often can go to a player who had a poor season, but kept their scores pretty well clustered. This is the case, as Crystal is in the bottom 25% for scoring. The best player with a high consistency is Goatee of the Westside Rockers, but this award doesn't account for that. Crystal was the most reliable player out there to put out her usual scoring.
Now, for the regional teams of the season.
Coastal: Starlight (PAC), Watermelon (PRL), Ms. Kitty (PAC), Neopolitan (PRL).
Urban: Tigerette (COM), Goatee (WSR), Kiwi (TCK), Bear (WHW).
Southwest: Princess (TYS), Dreamy (SDP), Acorn (LTN), Leandra (TYS).
Southeast: Dusty (GDN), Gradley (BOS), Patches (BOS), Strut (GDN).
Northeast: Goldy (EVR), Fluffina (MAP), Puff III (EVR), Shadow (WCS)
Eastern Hills: Delila (ATL), Jasmine (FRE), Chelsea (ESS), Taylor (ESS)
That's it for awards. I hope to start the playoffs next week.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
UPCL Cricket: Week 32 Part 3
Here it is, the grand finale of the regular season. Of particular interest from a playoff perspective would be the home games of the Blades, Knights, Hummingbirds, Spiders, and Rockers. Beyond that, the rest is filler or jockeying stuff. We lead off for the last time with...
Microsoft Pitch at Del Sur: These two underperforming teams meet with the Arrows looking to sweep. Sally hit 368 at the start to give Archtown a decent first effort. Panda gave Southern a pretty narrow lead with his 387, making it a tight game at the outset. Sleepy B. decided not to draw a false start, and her playing on turned out poorly, as she ended with a measly 6 for the Arrows. Shannon fired back with 425 for the Monarchs, solidifying their lead a bit. Ruby turned the deficit around by pounding 767 for Archtown, giving them at least a temporary lead. Kirstin couldn't cover the deficit with only 48 for Southern, and they are now noticeably behind. Dusky saw a deflection end her turn at 178 for the Arrows, and they rest at 1319. Nicole's 276 came up short, as the Monarchs lose with 1136. Archtown is done for the year, with their road record at 10-22, while they are 27-37 overall. Southern's home slate finishes at 6-26, and they will close at 18-46 in dead last league-wide, but without much hope of change in the offseason due to the team's strengths this year in pool.
GE Stadium, Southridge: In yet another game with no impact on the playoffs, we have the Defenders looking to sweep the Tridents. Strawberry had a weak 131 at the start for Pronger, leaving the door open immediately. Boots shot back with 441 for Southridge, giving them the initial lead in good form. Hoot went with 655 for the Tridents, putting them ahead in a shockingly strong showing for the veteran. Stephanie had only 160 for the Defenders in her emergency appearance, and they've fallen behind halfway through the game. Debby's suspension is now complete, and she's cleared to play in the remainder of the pool tournament. Precious took 231 for Pronger, adding a little to the lead. J. Garcia got some back with 281 for Southridge, closing the gap slightly late in the game. Paps gathered 232 for the Tridents, giving them a total of 1249. Shaggy bounced 295 for the Defenders, giving them a loss with 1177. Pronger's road efforts see a record of 12-20, while they are 22-42 on the year. Southridge closes the home schedule at 12-20, and they close the season at 25-39 as losers of nine straight, mainly derailed by Debby's suspension.
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades could really use a win here to help with winning their division, but any result will add clarity to the low end of the playoffs. Delila hit 248 for Atlantic in a middling showing. Snowball's 327 put Swordpoint ahead by a small margin early in the game. Amber covered the deficit with 281 for the Pirates, but it wasn't pretty and it didn't cover much. Dreamy pummeled 655 for the Blades, boosting their lead halfway through the game. Americus played a solid turn with 328 for Atlantic, but they're still behind. Shawn kept things level with his 304 for Swordpoint, setting them on the high ground ahead of the finish. Dominic tapped only 87 for the Pirates, and they lost with 944. Stealth had just 60, but the Blades won with 1346. Swordpoint's home schedule ends with a 24-8 record, while they are now 42-21 on the season, riding an 11-game winning streak. Atlantic finishes the road slate at 18-14, and their overall record is 33-31. With the loss, the Pirates lose a tiebreaker and will be the #15 seed, going against the Tradewinds, ceding the #14 slot to the Waves, who will oppose the Swifts.
Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Black-and-Orange Derby has a bit of impact on the playoff positions, based on what the Knights can do. Shadow led off with 603 for Web City in a strong opening attack. Kiwi couldn't get comfortable, ending on a poor 144 for Terrace City. Rainmane tacked on another 552 for the Spiders, adding significantly to their lead. Jennifer recovered some of the damage with 720 for the Knights, but they're still noticeably behind. Sugar faltered with a weak 119 for Web City, leaving them highly vulnerable. Oreo shrunk the deficit again for Terrace City, taking 279 to set up a close finish for this game. Shiny had a meager 122 for the Spiders, giving them a final of 1396. Stripes did enough with 373 to give the Knights a winning total of 1516, good for the sweep. Terrace City's home record is at 23-9 and they are up to 41-21 with a fifteenth straight home win and sixth straight win overall. Web City is at 26-37 overall, and they will have the first crack at being a spoiler, while their road record ends at 10-22. This confirms that the Infinity Torpedoes finish 7th, and will have home field against Southwestern Derby rivals, the Lighton Prestige. Also, the Golden Pilots finish 8th and will have a Generational Derby series with the Pacific Volcanoes.
Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills have a chance to sweep the Knights, but they'll be looking to move further up the standings. Kiwi crushed 1275 for Terrace City to lead things off in this game. Easter couldn't catch up with only 141 for Todavía, as the hosts start from way behind. Jennifer replied with 535 for the Knights, adding nicely to the lead. Sierra countered with 782 for the Stills, trying to make a big impact at the halfway mark. Oreo didn't do all that well for Terrace City, posting only 147 on her turn. Leonardo didn't really capitalize for Todavía, scoring 208 in a mediocre appearance. Stripes tapped a poor 90 for the Knights, giving them 2047 total. Sparkles tried a rally with 438 for the Stills, but they fell short at 1569 in the season-ending loss. Terrace City has won seven straight now, and stand at 42-21 in a tie for fourth place. Todavía's home schedule ends at 14-18, while they finish the year 30-34, but on a losing note.
Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds have the chance to sweep in a game that should shape the remaining playoff picture. Jasmine wasted no time in establishing Freedom with 528, a good start from the veteran. Princess earned a replay after a false start, but only got 328 back for Tysini. Stinky used a backhand to settle a ball, but never got to clear it, ending on 684 for the Cascades after an errant backswing. Leandra went out early with only 80 for the Hummingbirds as their finale is not going well. Roxy didn't do a lot better with 162 for Freedom, but they still hold a strong lead. Charli got overwhelmed at 418 for Tysini, cutting into the deficit partially as the final players come to bat. Nikolai set the bar in the atmosphere with his massive 1554 for the Cascades, giving them a final of 2928. Bright didn't even offer up a challenge with 20 for the Hummingbirds, and they lost brutally with 846. Freedom's road slate ends at 18-14, and they will finish the year at 35-29, while Tysini's home record sits at 23-9, and they are 41-23 overall, good for the #6 seed.
Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The next two games will determine where the Knights and Blades finish, with the latter having earned the West Division title but without yet securing fourth place. Kiwi showed some fatigue with only 136 for Terrace City. Spice drilled 769 for Victoria to give them a sizable lead early on. Jennifer managed only 49 for the Knights, who are struggling in this game. B. Chapman surprisingly accepted 171 for the Spurs, adding a small amount to the lead. Oreo wowed even a partisan opposing crowd, using multiple bat tricks to keep her turn alive as she gathered 462 for Terrace City. Yekaterina erased that progress with 552 for Victoria, and it appears the hosts will pull off the upset. Stripes tried a rally with 776 for the Knights, but they suffered defeat at 1423. Kavan, in his just-now announced last cricket appearance, had 64 for the Spurs, giving them 1563 in the win. Victoria is at 10-22 at home and 24-40 overall for the year, while Terrace City's road slate finishes at 19-13, while they go to 42-22 for the year, and they'll need help to snag the #4 seed, which is on the line in the next game.
Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The final West Division game features the Blades looking to secure the #4 seed, and they only need a win to earn it. Snowball batted 663 for Swordpoint to give them a nice early lead. Mr. Snowman replied with 556 for Viewpoint Sound, making it close early on. Dreamy slapped 824 for the Blades, extending their lead very well. Mams had a poor 176 for the Meteors, a typically bad performance for the struggling veteran. Shawn chopped another 655 for Swordpoint, padding their lead significantly. Zach faltered with 136 for Viewpoint Sound, squandering any remaining hope of a comeback. Stealth capped the Blades effort with 500, giving them 2642 as their likely victorious final. Kelly had no answer for the Meteors, a soft 25 putting them at 893 in the brutal loss. Swordpoint finishes the year in the #4 seed, with a road record of 19-13, an overall record of 43-21, and a division record of 14-6. Viewpoint Sound has a 14-18 home record, 23-41 overall record, and abysmal 3-17 division record to end the year.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: This game is for it all, as a Lumberjacks win in their third attempt would clinch a spot on the tiebreaker. Fluffina clobbered 542 for Maplewood, establishing a nice lead for her team. Shadow fired back with 911 for Web City against their bitter rivals, as they try to play spoiler. Bryant choked at 84 for the Lumberjacks, and they are now in danger. Rainmane tacked on another 401 to the Spiders lead as they keep the pressure high. Diddley faltered on 216 for Maplewood, making a mess of a critical game for the team. Sugar plowed through with another 522 for Web City, making their lead practically untouchable. Cubby managed a paltry 160 for the Lumberjacks, giving them 1002 in the loss. Shiny iced the Spiders win at 2234 with 400 herself, successfully spoiling the Lumberjacks' destiny. Web City's home record is 17-15, but they end the year at 27-37, and 9-11 in the division, although they did snap a seven-game losing streak. Maplewood's rough week sees them down to 31-33 overall, including a road record of 15-17 and a 12-8 division record.
BMW RockDome: This is the game that determines which team will meet the Eagles in the first round. Whitewater got only 153 out of Bear at the start, far from a confident performance. Misty botched the response with only 24 for Westside, and they'll play from behind. Twinkie III got a bit too aggressive and ended at 209 for the Shores, leaving the door open. Goatee tallied 450 for the Rockers, giving them a modest lead at the halfway mark. Cheddar couldn't keep calm, hitting 168 for Whitewater, covering the deficit but not by much. Midnight flicked 147 for Westside, giving them an even smaller lead with a player each to go and the postseason on the line. Wild Thing made an impact with 305 for the Shores, putting them at 835 overall. Chicky Phil completed the Rockers win, striking 336 himself for a final of 957 in a twelfth straight home win. Westside takes the last playoff spot with a 32-32 record, including a home mark of 20-12 and a division record of 11-9, earning their shot to face the Eagles in the first round. Whitewater failed to spoil, dropping to 25-38, with a 12-8 division record and a road mark of 8-24.
Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: Watermelon picked up only 159 for Pearl, not the greatest start to the last game of the year. Bear started with 472 for Whitewater, potentially playing spoiler in this game if they can keep the lead. Neopolitan answered with 289 for the Surfers, not quite covering the deficit. Twinkie III got split with a deflection, and ended up with a measly 32 for the Shores as the game tightens at the midway point. Wings accepted 239 for Pearl, giving them a minor lead instead of gambling on an optional replay. Cheddar lifted 416 for Whitewater in a strong showing to give them a nice lead late in the game. Cowzart had a meager 80 for the Surfers, giving them a loss with 767, which will put them as the #13 seed. Wild Thing had 348 for the Shores, giving them the win with 1268. Whitewater improves to 26-38 for the year, including a home record of 18-14. Pearl drops to 35-29, and they have a 15-17 road record.
Before we move too far along, I'd like to make a few announcements. There will be a break to handle the math side of things before the playoffs start. I will be posting a special honors post, including MVP, highest scorer, most explosive player, most consistent player, highest contributor to team, and regional top 4s. This should occur either on Friday or Sunday. Also to be published: a protected players list for the top 25%, and the developmental league players from the bottom 25% that may participate in any potential Summer Cricket League-like activities.
A reminder about the playoffs: the scoring is slightly different. Any out that earns a mandatory replay (false starts and playing through technical errors) will result in the offender scored 1/x points, where x is the number of attempts required for a valid turn. More fouls results in stiffer penalties. The playoff series are as follows: 1) Everton Eagles vs. 16) Westside Rockers; 2) Commerce Tradewinds vs. 15) Atlantic Pirates; 3) Boston Swifts vs. 14) Oceanside Waves; 4) Swordpoint Blades vs. 13) Pearl Surfers; 5) Terrace City Knights vs. 12) Freedom Cascades; 6) Tysini Hummingbirds vs. 11) Central Warriors; 7) Infinity Torpedoes vs. 10) Lighton Prestige; and 8) Golden Pilots vs. 9) Pacific Volcanoes. Only seven of last year's playoff teams have made it this year: Surfers, Swifts, Prestige, Pilots, Volcanoes, Warriors, and Rockers.
Finally, I can, and thoroughly look forward to revealing new logos. Three new teams will be joining the UPCL system next year, which will be similar to this year with divisions, but based on regions. Those regions will be debuted officially in the honors post. These new teams will look like the following.
With this, in related news, the Predators will be taking over HP Field and its Events Center, with the Sharks moving into new facilities sponsored by FedEx. IBM will represent the Nighthawks, and Subway will join as the Wolves sponsor. Additionally, there are a few major redesigned logos.
These new looks are meant to represent a more complex look for the teams, and all include new standard outlining and dynamic colors. The new looks will be in use beginning with the start of the fourth season.
Finally, check in for a standings update, the last one of the season, and hold tight for the next few days as I work on my administrative tasks.
Microsoft Pitch at Del Sur: These two underperforming teams meet with the Arrows looking to sweep. Sally hit 368 at the start to give Archtown a decent first effort. Panda gave Southern a pretty narrow lead with his 387, making it a tight game at the outset. Sleepy B. decided not to draw a false start, and her playing on turned out poorly, as she ended with a measly 6 for the Arrows. Shannon fired back with 425 for the Monarchs, solidifying their lead a bit. Ruby turned the deficit around by pounding 767 for Archtown, giving them at least a temporary lead. Kirstin couldn't cover the deficit with only 48 for Southern, and they are now noticeably behind. Dusky saw a deflection end her turn at 178 for the Arrows, and they rest at 1319. Nicole's 276 came up short, as the Monarchs lose with 1136. Archtown is done for the year, with their road record at 10-22, while they are 27-37 overall. Southern's home slate finishes at 6-26, and they will close at 18-46 in dead last league-wide, but without much hope of change in the offseason due to the team's strengths this year in pool.
GE Stadium, Southridge: In yet another game with no impact on the playoffs, we have the Defenders looking to sweep the Tridents. Strawberry had a weak 131 at the start for Pronger, leaving the door open immediately. Boots shot back with 441 for Southridge, giving them the initial lead in good form. Hoot went with 655 for the Tridents, putting them ahead in a shockingly strong showing for the veteran. Stephanie had only 160 for the Defenders in her emergency appearance, and they've fallen behind halfway through the game. Debby's suspension is now complete, and she's cleared to play in the remainder of the pool tournament. Precious took 231 for Pronger, adding a little to the lead. J. Garcia got some back with 281 for Southridge, closing the gap slightly late in the game. Paps gathered 232 for the Tridents, giving them a total of 1249. Shaggy bounced 295 for the Defenders, giving them a loss with 1177. Pronger's road efforts see a record of 12-20, while they are 22-42 on the year. Southridge closes the home schedule at 12-20, and they close the season at 25-39 as losers of nine straight, mainly derailed by Debby's suspension.
Blades Fusion ProGlide Park, Swordpoint: The Blades could really use a win here to help with winning their division, but any result will add clarity to the low end of the playoffs. Delila hit 248 for Atlantic in a middling showing. Snowball's 327 put Swordpoint ahead by a small margin early in the game. Amber covered the deficit with 281 for the Pirates, but it wasn't pretty and it didn't cover much. Dreamy pummeled 655 for the Blades, boosting their lead halfway through the game. Americus played a solid turn with 328 for Atlantic, but they're still behind. Shawn kept things level with his 304 for Swordpoint, setting them on the high ground ahead of the finish. Dominic tapped only 87 for the Pirates, and they lost with 944. Stealth had just 60, but the Blades won with 1346. Swordpoint's home schedule ends with a 24-8 record, while they are now 42-21 on the season, riding an 11-game winning streak. Atlantic finishes the road slate at 18-14, and their overall record is 33-31. With the loss, the Pirates lose a tiebreaker and will be the #15 seed, going against the Tradewinds, ceding the #14 slot to the Waves, who will oppose the Swifts.
Audi Knights Pitch, Terrace City: The Black-and-Orange Derby has a bit of impact on the playoff positions, based on what the Knights can do. Shadow led off with 603 for Web City in a strong opening attack. Kiwi couldn't get comfortable, ending on a poor 144 for Terrace City. Rainmane tacked on another 552 for the Spiders, adding significantly to their lead. Jennifer recovered some of the damage with 720 for the Knights, but they're still noticeably behind. Sugar faltered with a weak 119 for Web City, leaving them highly vulnerable. Oreo shrunk the deficit again for Terrace City, taking 279 to set up a close finish for this game. Shiny had a meager 122 for the Spiders, giving them a final of 1396. Stripes did enough with 373 to give the Knights a winning total of 1516, good for the sweep. Terrace City's home record is at 23-9 and they are up to 41-21 with a fifteenth straight home win and sixth straight win overall. Web City is at 26-37 overall, and they will have the first crack at being a spoiler, while their road record ends at 10-22. This confirms that the Infinity Torpedoes finish 7th, and will have home field against Southwestern Derby rivals, the Lighton Prestige. Also, the Golden Pilots finish 8th and will have a Generational Derby series with the Pacific Volcanoes.
Apple Park, Todavía: The Stills have a chance to sweep the Knights, but they'll be looking to move further up the standings. Kiwi crushed 1275 for Terrace City to lead things off in this game. Easter couldn't catch up with only 141 for Todavía, as the hosts start from way behind. Jennifer replied with 535 for the Knights, adding nicely to the lead. Sierra countered with 782 for the Stills, trying to make a big impact at the halfway mark. Oreo didn't do all that well for Terrace City, posting only 147 on her turn. Leonardo didn't really capitalize for Todavía, scoring 208 in a mediocre appearance. Stripes tapped a poor 90 for the Knights, giving them 2047 total. Sparkles tried a rally with 438 for the Stills, but they fell short at 1569 in the season-ending loss. Terrace City has won seven straight now, and stand at 42-21 in a tie for fourth place. Todavía's home schedule ends at 14-18, while they finish the year 30-34, but on a losing note.
Cisco Tysini Field, Tysini: The Hummingbirds have the chance to sweep in a game that should shape the remaining playoff picture. Jasmine wasted no time in establishing Freedom with 528, a good start from the veteran. Princess earned a replay after a false start, but only got 328 back for Tysini. Stinky used a backhand to settle a ball, but never got to clear it, ending on 684 for the Cascades after an errant backswing. Leandra went out early with only 80 for the Hummingbirds as their finale is not going well. Roxy didn't do a lot better with 162 for Freedom, but they still hold a strong lead. Charli got overwhelmed at 418 for Tysini, cutting into the deficit partially as the final players come to bat. Nikolai set the bar in the atmosphere with his massive 1554 for the Cascades, giving them a final of 2928. Bright didn't even offer up a challenge with 20 for the Hummingbirds, and they lost brutally with 846. Freedom's road slate ends at 18-14, and they will finish the year at 35-29, while Tysini's home record sits at 23-9, and they are 41-23 overall, good for the #6 seed.
Sprint Pitch, Victoria: The next two games will determine where the Knights and Blades finish, with the latter having earned the West Division title but without yet securing fourth place. Kiwi showed some fatigue with only 136 for Terrace City. Spice drilled 769 for Victoria to give them a sizable lead early on. Jennifer managed only 49 for the Knights, who are struggling in this game. B. Chapman surprisingly accepted 171 for the Spurs, adding a small amount to the lead. Oreo wowed even a partisan opposing crowd, using multiple bat tricks to keep her turn alive as she gathered 462 for Terrace City. Yekaterina erased that progress with 552 for Victoria, and it appears the hosts will pull off the upset. Stripes tried a rally with 776 for the Knights, but they suffered defeat at 1423. Kavan, in his just-now announced last cricket appearance, had 64 for the Spurs, giving them 1563 in the win. Victoria is at 10-22 at home and 24-40 overall for the year, while Terrace City's road slate finishes at 19-13, while they go to 42-22 for the year, and they'll need help to snag the #4 seed, which is on the line in the next game.
Volkswagen Stadium, Viewpoint Sound: The final West Division game features the Blades looking to secure the #4 seed, and they only need a win to earn it. Snowball batted 663 for Swordpoint to give them a nice early lead. Mr. Snowman replied with 556 for Viewpoint Sound, making it close early on. Dreamy slapped 824 for the Blades, extending their lead very well. Mams had a poor 176 for the Meteors, a typically bad performance for the struggling veteran. Shawn chopped another 655 for Swordpoint, padding their lead significantly. Zach faltered with 136 for Viewpoint Sound, squandering any remaining hope of a comeback. Stealth capped the Blades effort with 500, giving them 2642 as their likely victorious final. Kelly had no answer for the Meteors, a soft 25 putting them at 893 in the brutal loss. Swordpoint finishes the year in the #4 seed, with a road record of 19-13, an overall record of 43-21, and a division record of 14-6. Viewpoint Sound has a 14-18 home record, 23-41 overall record, and abysmal 3-17 division record to end the year.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: This game is for it all, as a Lumberjacks win in their third attempt would clinch a spot on the tiebreaker. Fluffina clobbered 542 for Maplewood, establishing a nice lead for her team. Shadow fired back with 911 for Web City against their bitter rivals, as they try to play spoiler. Bryant choked at 84 for the Lumberjacks, and they are now in danger. Rainmane tacked on another 401 to the Spiders lead as they keep the pressure high. Diddley faltered on 216 for Maplewood, making a mess of a critical game for the team. Sugar plowed through with another 522 for Web City, making their lead practically untouchable. Cubby managed a paltry 160 for the Lumberjacks, giving them 1002 in the loss. Shiny iced the Spiders win at 2234 with 400 herself, successfully spoiling the Lumberjacks' destiny. Web City's home record is 17-15, but they end the year at 27-37, and 9-11 in the division, although they did snap a seven-game losing streak. Maplewood's rough week sees them down to 31-33 overall, including a road record of 15-17 and a 12-8 division record.
BMW RockDome: This is the game that determines which team will meet the Eagles in the first round. Whitewater got only 153 out of Bear at the start, far from a confident performance. Misty botched the response with only 24 for Westside, and they'll play from behind. Twinkie III got a bit too aggressive and ended at 209 for the Shores, leaving the door open. Goatee tallied 450 for the Rockers, giving them a modest lead at the halfway mark. Cheddar couldn't keep calm, hitting 168 for Whitewater, covering the deficit but not by much. Midnight flicked 147 for Westside, giving them an even smaller lead with a player each to go and the postseason on the line. Wild Thing made an impact with 305 for the Shores, putting them at 835 overall. Chicky Phil completed the Rockers win, striking 336 himself for a final of 957 in a twelfth straight home win. Westside takes the last playoff spot with a 32-32 record, including a home mark of 20-12 and a division record of 11-9, earning their shot to face the Eagles in the first round. Whitewater failed to spoil, dropping to 25-38, with a 12-8 division record and a road mark of 8-24.
Samsung Whitewater Stadium, Whitewater: Watermelon picked up only 159 for Pearl, not the greatest start to the last game of the year. Bear started with 472 for Whitewater, potentially playing spoiler in this game if they can keep the lead. Neopolitan answered with 289 for the Surfers, not quite covering the deficit. Twinkie III got split with a deflection, and ended up with a measly 32 for the Shores as the game tightens at the midway point. Wings accepted 239 for Pearl, giving them a minor lead instead of gambling on an optional replay. Cheddar lifted 416 for Whitewater in a strong showing to give them a nice lead late in the game. Cowzart had a meager 80 for the Surfers, giving them a loss with 767, which will put them as the #13 seed. Wild Thing had 348 for the Shores, giving them the win with 1268. Whitewater improves to 26-38 for the year, including a home record of 18-14. Pearl drops to 35-29, and they have a 15-17 road record.
Before we move too far along, I'd like to make a few announcements. There will be a break to handle the math side of things before the playoffs start. I will be posting a special honors post, including MVP, highest scorer, most explosive player, most consistent player, highest contributor to team, and regional top 4s. This should occur either on Friday or Sunday. Also to be published: a protected players list for the top 25%, and the developmental league players from the bottom 25% that may participate in any potential Summer Cricket League-like activities.
A reminder about the playoffs: the scoring is slightly different. Any out that earns a mandatory replay (false starts and playing through technical errors) will result in the offender scored 1/x points, where x is the number of attempts required for a valid turn. More fouls results in stiffer penalties. The playoff series are as follows: 1) Everton Eagles vs. 16) Westside Rockers; 2) Commerce Tradewinds vs. 15) Atlantic Pirates; 3) Boston Swifts vs. 14) Oceanside Waves; 4) Swordpoint Blades vs. 13) Pearl Surfers; 5) Terrace City Knights vs. 12) Freedom Cascades; 6) Tysini Hummingbirds vs. 11) Central Warriors; 7) Infinity Torpedoes vs. 10) Lighton Prestige; and 8) Golden Pilots vs. 9) Pacific Volcanoes. Only seven of last year's playoff teams have made it this year: Surfers, Swifts, Prestige, Pilots, Volcanoes, Warriors, and Rockers.
Finally, I can, and thoroughly look forward to revealing new logos. Three new teams will be joining the UPCL system next year, which will be similar to this year with divisions, but based on regions. Those regions will be debuted officially in the honors post. These new teams will look like the following.
With this, in related news, the Predators will be taking over HP Field and its Events Center, with the Sharks moving into new facilities sponsored by FedEx. IBM will represent the Nighthawks, and Subway will join as the Wolves sponsor. Additionally, there are a few major redesigned logos.
These new looks are meant to represent a more complex look for the teams, and all include new standard outlining and dynamic colors. The new looks will be in use beginning with the start of the fourth season.
Finally, check in for a standings update, the last one of the season, and hold tight for the next few days as I work on my administrative tasks.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
UPCL Cricket: Week 32 Part 2
Here's the middle segment of the final week. We begin with...
Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: This meeting is ultimately inconsequential for either team, but the Tradewinds do have a lengthy road winning streak on the line. Tigerette batted 552 for Commerce in a strong performance to lead things off. Slinks countered with 277 for Harrison, getting about half of it back. Ice Cream carved up 1139 for the Tradewinds, extending their lead quite nicely. Twinkie II pulled in 304 for the Specters, but they're not getting anywhere yet. Lionel showed up with 432 for Commerce, keeping their lead strong. Sydney had one roll off the end of her bat, giving her only 208 for Harrison. Lorde had a modest 80 for the Tradewinds, putting them at 2203 in what should be an eleventh straight road win to close the season. Brownie managed just 152, and the Specters took the loss with 941. Commerce's road record finishes at 25-7, giving them a final record of 47-17, while Harrison's home slate is at 9-23, and they are 23-40 on the season.
Nissan Infinity Stadium, Infinity: This game is huge for the second tier standings. The Volcanoes will be robbed of another possible spot in this game, and whoever wins has the inside lane to stealing fourth or fifth place. Kiwi started with a big 543 for Terrace City, setting the tone from the start. Smudge answered with 432 for Infinity, keeping them in range early on. Jennifer started in a groove but lost it a bit early with only 235 for the Knights. Shelley covered the deficit with 424 for the Torpedoes, but the game remains close halfway through. Oreo got caught in a bad situation and ended at 119 for Terrace City after an errant backhand. Gabe failed to gain much separation with 144 for Infinity, setting up a tight finish between the strong teams. Stripes put up 384 for the Knights, giving them 1281 overall, which will force a response from the hosts. Whiskers got cut down with a meager 71, giving the Torpedoes only 1071, ending their 19-game winning streak, as well as an 11-game winning streak at home. Terrace City is up to 40-21, while Infinity is 39-24 after the loss, and their home record ends at 18-14.
Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: The Prestige look to have an easy match to help clarify some stuff in the third tier of the playoff teams. Strawberry managed a modest 227 for Pronger at the start. Acorn slipped with 128 for Lighton, an uncharacteristically poor effort from the captain. Hoot shot back with 384 for the Tridents, adding quite a bit to the lead. Spirit made a mess of her turn with only 115 for the Prestige, and it just doesn't seem to be the day for the hosts. Precious picked up 368 for Pronger on her turn, making the challenge a little stronger. Twinkie I had a measly 63 for Lighton, and it looks like they'll be falling back a bit. Paps tapped 180 to bring the Tridents to 1159, which might be enough to win. Lydia pounded out 989 for the Prestige, stealing the win with a huge rally to put the hosts on 1295. Lighton's home record is capped at 19-13, and they go to 36-27 with the impressive comeback. Pronger is down to 21-41 with the disappointing loss.
UPS Ground, Maplewood: Two teams with an entangled history meet again in a critical game for the Lumberjacks. Smudge led off with 312 for Infinity in a less-than-stellar start to the game. Fluffina answered with 566 for Maplewood, establishing them in the lead early on. Shelley covered the deficit with 378 for the Torpedoes, keeping the game interesting. Bryant faltered with 184 for the Lumberjacks, making it a smaller lead for them at the halfway mark. Gabe rallied with 586 for Infinity, putting significant pressure on the hosts as their former player strikes a big blow. Diddley couldn't reply against his former team, with only 28 to give Maplewood as they've been shaken down badly. Whiskers had another bad game with only 66 for the Torpedoes, but they are at 1342 overall. Cubby couldn't cover the deficit with 264, and the Lumberjacks lost on a final of 1042. Infinity's road slate is done with a record of 22-10 as they are at 40-24 overall, while Maplewood's home efforts close at 16-16 and they drop to 31-32, allowing the Rockers to pull even with them. The Volcanoes will be the #9 seed in the playoffs. The Torpedoes are also guaranteed to finish ahead of the Pilots, but the results for the Knights will determine the seedings. The Lumberjacks own the tiebreaker over the Rockers, so a win gives them a playoff spot. The Stills are out by tiebreakers already, so only the Lumberjacks and Rockers are in the fight.
Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The Union wear their greens for the last time in cricket, facing a Center Division rival in a meaningless game. Frosty crushed 1255 for Royal to give them a huge opening attack. Juno botched her turn with only 25 for Modernistic. Jake carved up another 898 for the Crowns as they're finding this to be a very easy game. Ms. Puppy crisply hit 510 for the Union to mitigate some of the damage. Marsell impressively kept his turn alive with a reaching backhand, but it didn't last long, with a cluster of balls bouncing everywhere to cut him down at 471 for Royal. Chimpy batted 407 for Modernistic, but they're still losing ground in this game. Nightfur had just 152 for the Crowns, but they'll close at 2776 in a near-certain victory. Puff I did offer some challenge with 368 for the Union, but they lost with 1310. Royal's road slate finishes at 10-22, and they are up to 21-42, while Modernistic's home schedule ends at 11-21, and they are 23-41 for the year, with an 8-12 division record as well.
AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: These West Division rivals close their seasons against each other, which should help determine more positioning. Acorn picked up 590 for Lighton at the start, giving them a very good opener. Snuggle fired back with 534 for Oceanside, keeping things close early on. Spirit clobbered 829 for the Prestige, putting them much farther ahead this time. Bells didn't do poorly with 584, but the Waves have fallen noticeably behind at the halfway point. Twinkie I had 231 for Lighton, destabilizing the lead a bit. Alyssa made up a nice chunk of ground with 409 for Oceanside, but they'll need a bit more as the final players come to bat. Lydia used an optional replay to score 226 for the Prestige, and this gave them 1876 overall. Pounce flicked 328 for the Waves, but he came up short against his former team, and the hosts lose with 1855. Lighton's road record ends at 18-14, giving them a record of 37-27 and a 9-11 division record, all good for taking the #10 seed. Oceanside drops to 33-31, including a home record of 15-17 and a 10-10 division record.
Verizon Field, Pacific: Another pair of teams wrap up their seasons, with the Volcanoes going for a sweep in this game. Slinks saw a ball go straight over her bat in an embarrassing end, scoring only 217 for Harrison. Starlight slapped 722 for Pacific, giving them a comfortable lead from the start. Twinkie II covered the deficit with 656 for the Specters, making a game of things. Ms. Kitty couldn't settle a ball on her backhand, ending at 101 as the Volcanoes fall behind. Sydney was called out just before she would have been forced into a replay, ending with 224 for Harrison in an odd scoring situation. Jack chipped 330 to restore a small lead for Pacific with a player each to go. Brownie had a mediocre 156 for the Specters, giving them 1253 overall. Leonette's 144 was enough to take the victory on 1297 for the Volcanoes. Pacific ends their home schedule at 22-10, and they'll finish 39-25 on the year. Harrison's road record rests at 14-18, and they'll close the season at 23-41.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: This is a theoretically advantageous match for the Surfers to move up a bit in the standings in a West Division battle. Panda provided Southern with a solid 353 on his opening turn. Watermelon slugged 1151 in response for Pearl, giving them a significant initial lead. Shannon fumbled with 57 for the Monarchs, ruining their chances for an easy comeback. Neopolitan tacked on 441 for the Surfers, boosting their lead pretty well. Kirstin tapped 225 for Southern on her turn, again squandering a chance to make progress. Wings kept things steady with 117 for Pearl, and they look set to take the win in a landslide. Nicole went out with 99 for the Monarchs, putting them at 734 in the loss. Cowzart had a measly 64 for the Surfers, but they won with 1773. Pearl will end their home schedule at 20-12, going to 35-28 overall and ending division play at 11-9. Southern's road record freezes at 12-20, and they are 18-45 on the year, ending their division slate at 6-14.
Tridents Park sponsored by Ford, Pronger: The Cascades could bring more clarity to the third tier situation in this Eastern Hills regional rivalry that sees the Tridents don their throwback grays for the last time this season. Jasmine struck a quick 592 for Freedom to lead the game off. Strawberry fired back with 487 for Pronger in a solid performance. Stinky added 240 for the Cascades in a middling effort. Hoot faltered with a measly 36 for the Tridents, squandering a chance to get even. Roxy suffered a bad deflection to end on 28 for Freedom, leaving them vulnerable. Precious swung 480 for Pronger, covering the deficit late in the game. Nikolai cobbled together 435 for the Cascades, putting them at a final of 1295. Paps botched the comeback with only 176 for the Tridents, and they lost with 1179. Freedom improves to 34-29, also finishing with a 14-6 division record, while Pronger's home schedule ends with them at 10-22, and they are 21-42, with a 5-15 division mark.
Ebay Center, Queens: This game doesn't mean much beyond the Spiders trying to complete a sweep. Shadow posted 361 for Web City in a decent appearance to establish a standard lead. Crystal answered with a big 480 for Queens, swinging firmly to give the hosts the lead. Rainmane collapsed with 33 for the Spiders, and they'll fall far behind. Kayla did enough with 248 for the Flames to keep them in the lead at the halfway point. Sugar didn't get much back with 162 for Web City, who are collapsing yet again. Max countered with 304 for Queens, extending their lead again. Shiny's poor 167 gave the Spiders their losing total of 723 in a disappointing game for the team. Paige didn't do well with 117, but the Flames sealed the win on 1149. Queens sees their home schedule end at 13-19, and they'll close the season at 25-39, snapping a four-game losing streak to end on the high note. Web City is down to 26-36, losers of five straight games.
Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The segment ends with a Center Division match, with the Defenders looking to sweep. Boots produced a meager 51 for Southridge in her opening appearance. Frosty carved out 568 in response for Royal, giving them a strong lead to begin the game with. Rosalina didn't do well in her emergency appearance, scoring a pathetic 21 as the Defenders fall farther behind. Jake scooped up 280 for the Crowns, adding a bit to their lead. J. Garcia posted 652 for Southridge, pulling them back into the game. Marsell wiped it out with 802 for Royal, adding to their lead with the strong effort. Shaggy went with 550 for the Defenders, giving them 1274 in the loss. Nightfur had a mild 87, but the Crowns took the win with 1737. Royal's home slate is complete at 12-20, and they end at 22-42 overall, with a 6-14 division record. Southridge's road games finish up at 13-19, and they move to 25-38 on an eighth straight loss, while also closing their division play at 7-13.
The Regular Season should end on April 27 if all goes well. After that, we will take some time to do administrative and statistical work, and publish a few honors and awards pieces as well as a protected players list. There's just one segment left for this regular season, and all will be decided by the end of it.
Mercedes-Benz Field, Harrison: This meeting is ultimately inconsequential for either team, but the Tradewinds do have a lengthy road winning streak on the line. Tigerette batted 552 for Commerce in a strong performance to lead things off. Slinks countered with 277 for Harrison, getting about half of it back. Ice Cream carved up 1139 for the Tradewinds, extending their lead quite nicely. Twinkie II pulled in 304 for the Specters, but they're not getting anywhere yet. Lionel showed up with 432 for Commerce, keeping their lead strong. Sydney had one roll off the end of her bat, giving her only 208 for Harrison. Lorde had a modest 80 for the Tradewinds, putting them at 2203 in what should be an eleventh straight road win to close the season. Brownie managed just 152, and the Specters took the loss with 941. Commerce's road record finishes at 25-7, giving them a final record of 47-17, while Harrison's home slate is at 9-23, and they are 23-40 on the season.
Nissan Infinity Stadium, Infinity: This game is huge for the second tier standings. The Volcanoes will be robbed of another possible spot in this game, and whoever wins has the inside lane to stealing fourth or fifth place. Kiwi started with a big 543 for Terrace City, setting the tone from the start. Smudge answered with 432 for Infinity, keeping them in range early on. Jennifer started in a groove but lost it a bit early with only 235 for the Knights. Shelley covered the deficit with 424 for the Torpedoes, but the game remains close halfway through. Oreo got caught in a bad situation and ended at 119 for Terrace City after an errant backhand. Gabe failed to gain much separation with 144 for Infinity, setting up a tight finish between the strong teams. Stripes put up 384 for the Knights, giving them 1281 overall, which will force a response from the hosts. Whiskers got cut down with a meager 71, giving the Torpedoes only 1071, ending their 19-game winning streak, as well as an 11-game winning streak at home. Terrace City is up to 40-21, while Infinity is 39-24 after the loss, and their home record ends at 18-14.
Pepsi Prestige Park, Lighton: The Prestige look to have an easy match to help clarify some stuff in the third tier of the playoff teams. Strawberry managed a modest 227 for Pronger at the start. Acorn slipped with 128 for Lighton, an uncharacteristically poor effort from the captain. Hoot shot back with 384 for the Tridents, adding quite a bit to the lead. Spirit made a mess of her turn with only 115 for the Prestige, and it just doesn't seem to be the day for the hosts. Precious picked up 368 for Pronger on her turn, making the challenge a little stronger. Twinkie I had a measly 63 for Lighton, and it looks like they'll be falling back a bit. Paps tapped 180 to bring the Tridents to 1159, which might be enough to win. Lydia pounded out 989 for the Prestige, stealing the win with a huge rally to put the hosts on 1295. Lighton's home record is capped at 19-13, and they go to 36-27 with the impressive comeback. Pronger is down to 21-41 with the disappointing loss.
UPS Ground, Maplewood: Two teams with an entangled history meet again in a critical game for the Lumberjacks. Smudge led off with 312 for Infinity in a less-than-stellar start to the game. Fluffina answered with 566 for Maplewood, establishing them in the lead early on. Shelley covered the deficit with 378 for the Torpedoes, keeping the game interesting. Bryant faltered with 184 for the Lumberjacks, making it a smaller lead for them at the halfway mark. Gabe rallied with 586 for Infinity, putting significant pressure on the hosts as their former player strikes a big blow. Diddley couldn't reply against his former team, with only 28 to give Maplewood as they've been shaken down badly. Whiskers had another bad game with only 66 for the Torpedoes, but they are at 1342 overall. Cubby couldn't cover the deficit with 264, and the Lumberjacks lost on a final of 1042. Infinity's road slate is done with a record of 22-10 as they are at 40-24 overall, while Maplewood's home efforts close at 16-16 and they drop to 31-32, allowing the Rockers to pull even with them. The Volcanoes will be the #9 seed in the playoffs. The Torpedoes are also guaranteed to finish ahead of the Pilots, but the results for the Knights will determine the seedings. The Lumberjacks own the tiebreaker over the Rockers, so a win gives them a playoff spot. The Stills are out by tiebreakers already, so only the Lumberjacks and Rockers are in the fight.
Google Pitch at Union Ground, Modernistic: The Union wear their greens for the last time in cricket, facing a Center Division rival in a meaningless game. Frosty crushed 1255 for Royal to give them a huge opening attack. Juno botched her turn with only 25 for Modernistic. Jake carved up another 898 for the Crowns as they're finding this to be a very easy game. Ms. Puppy crisply hit 510 for the Union to mitigate some of the damage. Marsell impressively kept his turn alive with a reaching backhand, but it didn't last long, with a cluster of balls bouncing everywhere to cut him down at 471 for Royal. Chimpy batted 407 for Modernistic, but they're still losing ground in this game. Nightfur had just 152 for the Crowns, but they'll close at 2776 in a near-certain victory. Puff I did offer some challenge with 368 for the Union, but they lost with 1310. Royal's road slate finishes at 10-22, and they are up to 21-42, while Modernistic's home schedule ends at 11-21, and they are 23-41 for the year, with an 8-12 division record as well.
AT&T Oceanside Stadium, Oceanside: These West Division rivals close their seasons against each other, which should help determine more positioning. Acorn picked up 590 for Lighton at the start, giving them a very good opener. Snuggle fired back with 534 for Oceanside, keeping things close early on. Spirit clobbered 829 for the Prestige, putting them much farther ahead this time. Bells didn't do poorly with 584, but the Waves have fallen noticeably behind at the halfway point. Twinkie I had 231 for Lighton, destabilizing the lead a bit. Alyssa made up a nice chunk of ground with 409 for Oceanside, but they'll need a bit more as the final players come to bat. Lydia used an optional replay to score 226 for the Prestige, and this gave them 1876 overall. Pounce flicked 328 for the Waves, but he came up short against his former team, and the hosts lose with 1855. Lighton's road record ends at 18-14, giving them a record of 37-27 and a 9-11 division record, all good for taking the #10 seed. Oceanside drops to 33-31, including a home record of 15-17 and a 10-10 division record.
Verizon Field, Pacific: Another pair of teams wrap up their seasons, with the Volcanoes going for a sweep in this game. Slinks saw a ball go straight over her bat in an embarrassing end, scoring only 217 for Harrison. Starlight slapped 722 for Pacific, giving them a comfortable lead from the start. Twinkie II covered the deficit with 656 for the Specters, making a game of things. Ms. Kitty couldn't settle a ball on her backhand, ending at 101 as the Volcanoes fall behind. Sydney was called out just before she would have been forced into a replay, ending with 224 for Harrison in an odd scoring situation. Jack chipped 330 to restore a small lead for Pacific with a player each to go. Brownie had a mediocre 156 for the Specters, giving them 1253 overall. Leonette's 144 was enough to take the victory on 1297 for the Volcanoes. Pacific ends their home schedule at 22-10, and they'll finish 39-25 on the year. Harrison's road record rests at 14-18, and they'll close the season at 23-41.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: This is a theoretically advantageous match for the Surfers to move up a bit in the standings in a West Division battle. Panda provided Southern with a solid 353 on his opening turn. Watermelon slugged 1151 in response for Pearl, giving them a significant initial lead. Shannon fumbled with 57 for the Monarchs, ruining their chances for an easy comeback. Neopolitan tacked on 441 for the Surfers, boosting their lead pretty well. Kirstin tapped 225 for Southern on her turn, again squandering a chance to make progress. Wings kept things steady with 117 for Pearl, and they look set to take the win in a landslide. Nicole went out with 99 for the Monarchs, putting them at 734 in the loss. Cowzart had a measly 64 for the Surfers, but they won with 1773. Pearl will end their home schedule at 20-12, going to 35-28 overall and ending division play at 11-9. Southern's road record freezes at 12-20, and they are 18-45 on the year, ending their division slate at 6-14.
Tridents Park sponsored by Ford, Pronger: The Cascades could bring more clarity to the third tier situation in this Eastern Hills regional rivalry that sees the Tridents don their throwback grays for the last time this season. Jasmine struck a quick 592 for Freedom to lead the game off. Strawberry fired back with 487 for Pronger in a solid performance. Stinky added 240 for the Cascades in a middling effort. Hoot faltered with a measly 36 for the Tridents, squandering a chance to get even. Roxy suffered a bad deflection to end on 28 for Freedom, leaving them vulnerable. Precious swung 480 for Pronger, covering the deficit late in the game. Nikolai cobbled together 435 for the Cascades, putting them at a final of 1295. Paps botched the comeback with only 176 for the Tridents, and they lost with 1179. Freedom improves to 34-29, also finishing with a 14-6 division record, while Pronger's home schedule ends with them at 10-22, and they are 21-42, with a 5-15 division mark.
Ebay Center, Queens: This game doesn't mean much beyond the Spiders trying to complete a sweep. Shadow posted 361 for Web City in a decent appearance to establish a standard lead. Crystal answered with a big 480 for Queens, swinging firmly to give the hosts the lead. Rainmane collapsed with 33 for the Spiders, and they'll fall far behind. Kayla did enough with 248 for the Flames to keep them in the lead at the halfway point. Sugar didn't get much back with 162 for Web City, who are collapsing yet again. Max countered with 304 for Queens, extending their lead again. Shiny's poor 167 gave the Spiders their losing total of 723 in a disappointing game for the team. Paige didn't do well with 117, but the Flames sealed the win on 1149. Queens sees their home schedule end at 13-19, and they'll close the season at 25-39, snapping a four-game losing streak to end on the high note. Web City is down to 26-36, losers of five straight games.
Kraft Crowns Park, Royal: The segment ends with a Center Division match, with the Defenders looking to sweep. Boots produced a meager 51 for Southridge in her opening appearance. Frosty carved out 568 in response for Royal, giving them a strong lead to begin the game with. Rosalina didn't do well in her emergency appearance, scoring a pathetic 21 as the Defenders fall farther behind. Jake scooped up 280 for the Crowns, adding a bit to their lead. J. Garcia posted 652 for Southridge, pulling them back into the game. Marsell wiped it out with 802 for Royal, adding to their lead with the strong effort. Shaggy went with 550 for the Defenders, giving them 1274 in the loss. Nightfur had a mild 87, but the Crowns took the win with 1737. Royal's home slate is complete at 12-20, and they end at 22-42 overall, with a 6-14 division record. Southridge's road games finish up at 13-19, and they move to 25-38 on an eighth straight loss, while also closing their division play at 7-13.
The Regular Season should end on April 27 if all goes well. After that, we will take some time to do administrative and statistical work, and publish a few honors and awards pieces as well as a protected players list. There's just one segment left for this regular season, and all will be decided by the end of it.
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