NICK AT NIGHT SHOW THEIR MIGHT

Boasters League Final ~~

It probably wasn’t the most exciting evening ever for a league final. Ideally, every player on both teams would turn up, cheer their mates on in every match, and celebrate (or commiserate) the victory (or defeat!) all together as one big happy squash family, holding hands singing “We are the Champions!” or “Kumbaya” depending on which side of the result you happen to land on.

But of course we live in the real world and as it so happens, the converging kismets of the universe would throw that utopian scenario out the window, onto the street, and have it run over by a 24-wheeler. What was left of finals night was (comparatively speaking) a low turn-out considering the stakes.

Seven matches were played early, one wasn’t going to be played at all (since both regular players couldn’t make it happen and I wasn’t going to have 2 subs play each other) and 2 matches would need to be played later. That left just 7 matches for the actual scheduled night… less than half.

On top of that, 4 subs total were needed which is a high number for the final. Three of those belonged to Nick at Night and adding on all the rearranging that went on, bonus points may end up biting them on the backside in a big way. It was a problem for them during the season, and we would have to see if would be a problem for them here, too.

So, based on all that, my prediction last week of a Nick at Night victory didn’t change but now I was a less confident in my prognostication abilities… not that I was overly confident in them to start off with… To be perfectly clear – every point would be precious. Or so I thought.

The early results coming in was setting up the likelihood that this was going to be a tight race all the way. Dino Ricci (Mongoose) started off the campaign for his team with a 2-1 win over Sam Fogleman (Nick at Night), his 4^th straight win over Sam. Evening it out, Brian Bartes (Nick at Night), then claimed his own 2-1 over Mike Petix (Mongoose) which is actually one step better for Mike when comparing that to the 0-3 loss he endured against Brian when they played back in round 1.

Brien Baker (Nick at Night) picked up the next 2-1 win for his team over Jeff Gembis (Mongoose), but again, it was another small improvement for Mongoose from the round 1 results where Brien took all three games. Then Mr. Fashion himself – JB Peabody (Nick at Night) - decided that the potency of the lobster pants was his ticket to success and riding the wave from last week, he donned his secret ingredient to claim his second straight lobster-powered win, this time over Mike Cooney (Mongoose) 2-1. I guess if JB keeps on winning, we’ll keep on seeing these pants. Oh boy…

Nick Ioannou and Renee Fershee

Mongoose’s ‘sure thing’ in Stefan Houbtchev kept to the script and to no-one’s surprise, he took down Jed Elley (Nick at Night) 3-0. Jed did all he could to snag a game and ran his South African tuchus into the ground– I actually watched some of this one - but Stefan was simply too good. But yet again, Nick at Night came back with a 3-0 win if their own when Riley English managed (just) to keep Jay Bonahoom at bay. It was then Renee Fershee’s (Nick at Night) turn to add on to her team’s total taking down Nick Ioannou (pronounced “Eye-Waaarh-Noo”… damn you English language!). When I happened to be wandering by their court mid-match and watched 5-6 rallies, Nick couldn’t put a foot wrong. Renee on the other hand couldn’t put a ball above the tin. However, when I walked away, that arrangement reversed itself and it was Renee taking all 3 games. It leaves me wondering… am I Renee’s Kryptonite? In any case, at this stage, Nick at Night had a 13-8 lead.

As the official league night kicked off, Mongoose was not having much better success – or luck. Mongoose Captain Paul Huth had his hands full battling the quick feet of Brendan Fossee but still did fairly well to pick up one game. No such fortune for Jim Palmer (Mongoose) who did get close a couple of the games but could not close out either of them and he went down 3-0 to Matt Turnbull.

Matt Paradiso (Nick at Night) wasn’t taking any chances or prisoners as he avenged his 1-2 round one loss to Todd Baker with a quick-fire 3-0 win here. And probably the match of the final, Mongoose still couldn’t catch a break. Kevin Kennedy was subbing in for the absent Sandy Selinger (Mongoose) and split the first 2 games against Scott Langenburg (Nick at Night). The third game was a neck-and-neck wrestling match, both players pushing themselves that tad bit extra, probably wondering how they managed to run down some of the balls that they did and then coming out the other side without a torn hamstring! Kevin held 2 match balls at 14-13 in that third game, but somehow Scott managed to hold him off for the 15-14 win, delivering another stabbing blow to Mongoose’s chances.

Andrew Peleman (Mongoose) saved some face for his team, taking down his opponent 2-1, but it was too little too late by this stage. Andrew’s win was only the third victory overall for Mongoose. Mack Gembis (Mongoose) picked up his team’s fourth win with a 3-0 win, but there were only 2 matches left to be played at this point and Nick at Night were way too far ahead. One of those matches was played anyway and Damien Rocchi (Mongoose) scored a 2-1 victory over Tripp Kennedy (Nick at Night).

Final score: Nick at Night 37 to Mongoose 28.

What about bonus points you ask? Obviously it didn’t play a factor in the result, but Nick at Night struggled – as expected – and only picked up 9 of them. I haven’t looked through all the finals over the years, but I would venture to guess, this must be one of –if not the – lowest totals ever. Mongoose on the other hand didn’t really take advantage. They only scored 11 of their own. Just a 2 point advantage. 

In the end, bonus points aside, and subs aside, the stronger team won. When you win 10 of 15 matches, it’s difficult to argue otherwise. Nick at Night – who, if you remember were last on the ladder after round 8 – make the miraculous comeback and end up winning the entire season! Just… wow!

KEEPING IT CLOSE

Boasters League Semi Finals ~~

Dragging out the excitement… by Thursday morning, neither of the 2 semifinal match ups were decided, both of them had 4 matches still to be played and it was way too close to call. I am all in favor of close results, coming down to the last possible match, game, point, the final seconds… except of course when it’s my daughter playing a tennis match where unless she wins 6-0; 6-0, I’m a nervous wreck that can’t sit still for 5 seconds straight as my hair either falls out or turns greyer and greyer, and my fit-bit thinks I’m having an intense workout as the heart-rate skyrockets to dangerous heart-attack zone levels.

But, as an outsider with no dog in the fight, when winners are decided at the buzzer there aren’t many things more thrilling. Just like the Hail Mary pass that the Packers successfully executed against the Lions in December of 2015 to win the game… remember that? Or the bungled punt the Wolverines managed pull off against the Spartans in October 2015 to lose the game… wow! Amazing, no? How exhilarating was that! Or should I say infuriating? Depends on what sideline you’re standing on, I suppose. I guess I shouldn’t rip open old wounds here, let’s talk about the squash instead.

Mongoose v Butter Nutz

Let’s cover the bonus points first. Being a semifinal, neither team were outstanding in this category. That’s a little surprising considering the history of Mongoose and Captain Paul Huth’s ability to get his players to turn up. They picked up only 11. Butter Nutz did just one better with 12, which also isn’t dazzling but it does give them the tie-break in case the scores ended up even.

As I mentioned earlier, neither team established any dominance over the other, they swapped victories as the evening progressed. I caught the most of the final game between Mike Petix (Mongoose) and Brandon Tasco (Butter Nutz) after they had split the first 2. It appeared to be a microcosm of the overall battle between the teams. Both were running themselves into the floorboards, both were hitting some great winners, great pick-ups, long rallies. It was difficult to tell who exactly was winning, Brandon would steal a couple points, Mike would grab the next two… It was Brandon who ended up with the spoils on this occasion, but both players were probably happy it wasn’t a best of 5 match. They were happy, however, to reach the keg downstairs.

Jeff Gembis (Mongoose) nullified that result with his own 2-1 win over (new Dad for the third time congratulations!!) Ryan MacVoy (Butter Nutz). It’s actually not a bad result for Ryan (not that he may agree with me) considering his new family addition and no doubt the lack of sleep he has been enduring lately. Surprisingly, it’s only the 5^th time they have played a match – Jeff has now won 4 of them.

Sam Quilter (Butter Nutz) will be pleased with her revenge win over Nick Ioannou (Mongoose) after her round four 2-1 loss. She reversed the result this time with her own 2-1, unperturbed by Nick’s blinding fluorescent yellow shirt that glows in the dark and is used by NASA in space exploration.

When Thursday came around and 4 matches were still to come in, Mongoose held a 4 point lead even though they had won 1 less match than Butter Nutz up to that point. The difference being that they scored four 3-0 wins and opposed to losing just one. My prediction last week of Mongoose winning by 6-7 points overall was looking fairly good at this stage. It was still looking acceptable after the first 2 results came back. Each team recorded a 2-1 win, essentially cancelling each other out, maintaining the 4 point spread but with now only 2 matches to complete.

The next score sealed it for Mongoose. My fellow Australian and Hawk supporter (… talking Aussie Rules football there …!) Damien Rocchi avenged his round four 1-2 loss to Mark Montgomery with a solid take-no-prisoners 3-0 triumph, and with that propelling his team into the final! Throwing a little extra sand into the face, Andrew Peleman (Mongoose) held his ascendency over his brother Matthew in the final match with his third recorded victory in a row (3-0) and now holds a 3-2 overall lead in that little family rivalry…

Final score Mongoose 42 to Butter Nutz 32. My prediction was close.

Winky-Dinks v Nick at Night

Brian Bartes and Jeff Jorge with photo proof of bonus points!

Battle of the bonus points? Another down to the wire result here so every point would be precious. The captains were doing their utmost to get as many of those bonus points as possible and I have to hand it to them – they did a mighty fine job of threatening, demanding, intimidating, pleading, begging, and selling their souls to get their players to turn up. Even after I was back home, I was getting phone calls and photos of proof that a couple of the late comers were in the club claiming their point. Yanked out of their houses in support of their team… it worked. Both teams picked up 15 bonus points, cancelling each other out (!) and making sure the victor would be decided with the squash racquet.

In one of the most engaging matches of the evening, was between Justin Winkelman (Winky-Dinks) and JB Peabody (Nick at Night). I have to question, though, JB’s choice of fashion. Firstly, why would you even be in a shop that sells it, then secondly why would it occur to you to buy it, and then thirdly, proudly wear them as squash shorts? Salmon colored shorts with blue lobster prints all over them. A sight for sore eyes, and if your eyes weren’t sore before, they are now. I mean, who thinks of these things, and then who thinks it would a great idea to actually make them? Anyway, I digress. After splitting the first two games, I thought JB and his lobsters were spent. He was in a little distress fitness-wise. Justin took control of the third game at the start, but faltered close to the finish line. JB found his second (or third?) wind just in the nick of time and rolled off the last half a dozen points or so with some solid power kills shots leaving Justin stranded with no answers. At least his shorts were normal.

Brien Baker (Nick at Night) also got away with a 2-1 win over the ever improving Greg Allare (Winky-Dinks). Brien is a tough customer with his wing-span and tendency to punish you with short angles. Greg can run all day, but he was a little too inconsistent with his line and length giving Brien a few too many opportunities to volley. The fourth time these two have played, and now they have 2 wins apiece, every result has been 2-1.

Once again, by Thursday morning, it too close to decide a winner. With 4 matches to play, Nick at Night held a very slim margin – 2 point lead. Up to this stage, both teams has scored three 3-0 wins, but Nick at Night had the two extra 2-1 victories. If I had to guess right now, I would lean ever so quietly to Nick at Night, contradicting my forecast from last week. But it’s a subtle lean… hardly noticeable… more a posture issue than lean really…

As the results crept in, not much headway was being made either way. Colin Casey’s (Winky-Dinks) won 2-1 but that was matched by Brian Bartes’ (Nick at Night) 2-1 victory just an hour later. The Tom Fabbri (Winky-Dinks) took care of business with a 3-0 win, only to be quashed moments later by Renee Fershee (Nick at Night) and her 3-0. The 2 point spread wasn’t budging.

It was coming down to the final match… or so we hoped. Unfortunately, an injury and then illness prevented the match from even getting started, and Winky-Dinks had to concede that result, giving Nick at Night the 40-38 win and a chance at Boasters League immortality next week!

We are all set for the Mongoose v Nick at Night final. These two teams met all the way back in round 1 at the start of January, and believe it or not, they tied 29-29. Mongoose did pick up more bonus points that day, but by the way Nick at Night have been turning up for the finals, I doubt that will be a problem. Thirteen of the 17 matches were played that day, Nick at Night won 7 of them. There seems to be no advantage either way. But, what the hey, I’ll make a prediction anyway and send out the kiss of death… It will be close, but my spidey-senses are tingling fractionally more towards Nick at Night..!