Summer Softcore Kickball at Col Summers Tue/Thur

In a season dominated by outstanding performances, we witnessed another such performance on Tuesday night. Breathtaking, jaw dropping, mesmerizing, and inspiring are just a few words that describe the skill and precision put on display. Jordana Brown not only made her family, her friends, and her teammates proud, she also managed to gain the praise of her opponents in the midst of the game. Comments such as “I can’t do this” and “Can someone please get out so I don’t have to listen to that smack talk anymore” were common throughout the night and even then, players were never able to find their groove. The talent on display shook everyone to their core and made it impossible for any opponent to have a good outing. It was simply an honor to be in the presence of such a phenom.

Matthew’s team played two extremely competitive games where tensions were sometimes high. However through all the highs and lows of tonight, Matthew could always be seen encouraging not only his own teammates but also his opponents. He was always doing his best to help others understand the rules or even ways to improve their game. He was always on the field whether it be kicking, fielding, or being a base coach. No matter what was happening during the game you could rest assured knowing Matthew was keeping positive with a big smile on his face at all times!

Always backing up friends, James was supportive in multiple ways this week. Lending hands like Hamburger Helper, he was in the right spot at the right time to help a teammate on a tough fly ball to center. He’s also been known to help a team out when they’re down a player; only in the regular season of course.

Victor is relatively new to kickball and his teammates are fascinated by the effort he puts in to understand the game. They also never forgot to mention he is from Spain! Victor played outfield and hustled for every ball kicked his way. He had dropped one but when another ball was kicked back out there he bounced right back and caught it. His team was down and he helped take the lead back with a big boot to the outfield. Victor is a great example of someone who truly gives all the effort to do his best even if he is newer to kickball. Just goes to show when you hustle you can change the outcome of the game. Congrats Victor!

Leading the charge in an exciting game that none are soon to forget, Gabrielle might not have had the best performance in Rock Paper Scissors, but the rest of her game was solid as a rock, as multi use as paper, and dangerous like scissors. Nice job, the whole team can absolutely kick it!

Playoff time allows us to truly see the character of Underdog’s players. It shows us who steps into the spotlight and shines when they’re needed most, it shows us who gets caught up in the biggest moments, and it really shows us who is ready to make the moment their own and nothing less. This past Tuesday at Colonel Summers, Hayden Bruck decided to show us how to steal the moment and make it your own. In displaying nothing but elite leadership in organizing and supporting his team when adversity hit, Hayden refused to let the moment become bigger than it was. He kept his team focused on controlling what they could control even when things weren’t going their way and provided the energy to make them believe that they always had a chance. When it became clear that their season was coming to the end, Hayden did not disappoint and left his signature touch in the form of a war cry as he booted what would be the last kick of their season. He, nor his teammates, will ever forget that resonating “AARGHHH.”

All teams have their best players who are expected to perform at high levels and their coaches who are expected to lead them, but the best teams also have a player who is the heart and energy behind all they do and for Both Teams Played Hard, Melisa Otrugman is that player. Her solid play at second base doesn’t even come close to representing how important she is. It’s the close and intense games where teams start to tense up and hyper focus on doing everything right. That mindset can lead to some mistakes and that is precisely why a player like Melisa is so valuable. Her inherently lively energy and easygoing personality are the exact things that are needed to balance the atmosphere of a championship game and keep her teammates from getting to stressed out. In the end, it’s players like Melisa that make it all possible.