Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Grumpy’s crowned as Ultimate Champs

Board Bin Cinderella story ends in finals

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BY MICHAEL AMES
Idaho Mountain Express

The Ketchum Ultimate Frisbee summer league ended its season with a high paced week. Each team played 4 games in 5 days including a championship tournament to finalize this summer’s local bragging rights.

In the season ending tournament, Grumpy’s was the eventual winner, taking down a veteran Wrapcity squad in the semis and then defeating a hopeful Board Bin team in the finals.

 

Regular Season

The league’s regular season finished on Thursday with teams braving heavy rain and hail. Wrapcity faced off against a surging Board Bin; both teams battled to a 6-5 score by the time the afternoon squalls had passed east of Atkinson’s park. Board Bin, hot off a win over KB’s, outmaneuvered Wrapcity and cruised to a 13-6 lead mainly on the strong play of Wes Southward and the blinding speed of Cleatless Minnesota Joe Stromness. Even with no traction on such a slick day, Stromness’s cuts and fakes kept Wrapcity in bunches and gave his team the momentum going into the weekend tournament.

 

The Tournament

Wrapcity, the league’s most veteran squad, ambled into the tournament on a losing streak, but confident that experience would win out in the end. Unfortunately, Bill Taco Sherrerd, the eldest and wisest team member, was among the missing from the City’s depleted ranks. The City looked to the playing history of Kathy Histonian Histon, Captain Dotty Sarchett, Tom Kennedy, Paris Nicholson and Doug Wilson to make up for the missing.

Wrapcity opened with tight play, quick cuts and precise passing, catching Grumps off guard. Would the number one seed fold under the pressure exerted by the City’s opening volley? Grumps answered these questions quickly and decisively taking an 8-4 lead by halftime on the masterful play of Joel Mallet and Lonnie Dart Lindquist.

In the second half, Wrapcity mounted a comeback behind the spirited efforts of Chase Fetter, Ryan Baxley and Wilson bring them within 3 points and a 13-10 score. Grumpy’s was then boosted in particular by Barrett Molter, playing in his first Ultimate competition since he suffered a back injury in last season’s tournament. Molter snagged a late game toss in the corner over close City defense to give his team the go-ahead score and 14-11 lead. Molter’s inspired play earned him an MVP for the opening round and rallied his entire team towards their eventual championship.

In the other semi-final match, KB’s was determined to break out of the "guacamole shirt" curse; the team was winless since donning their new green T’s. The team held a pre-game ceremonial avocado sacrifice, ritualistically smearing ripe green fruit on the cursed shirts.

Board Bin would be no easy win, though, as they rode into the weekend with the momentum of two straight wins and the starry-eyed dreams of a true Cinderella story. But at the opening of the match, KB’s ecclesiastical highjinks looked to be working as they cruised to a 4-0 lead. Board Bin called a smart time out and came roaring back, hitting halftime with an 8-6 lead.

In the second half, KB’s kept it close but solid play from Eric Rogers, Steve Bishop, Trent Stumph and Mike Ausman held off the guac-smeared warriors of KB’s and gave the Bin the 13-9 win.

 

The Finals

Grumpy’s, the clear favorite, had an 8-3 lead at the half and the crowd urging the Bin on for a better game. In the second half the Bin did what they could against their formidable opponents; Ironwoman Tess O’Sullivan played strong as the Bin’s only woman, not missing a single point the entire tournament. Minnesota Joe Stromness turned on the jets to score a couple deep in the endzone and Wes Southward used his height to snag a couple of high tosses. The score was suddenly a tight 12-10.

At this crucial late-game juncture, Grumpy’s was poised to score a second unanswered goal as Lucy Chubb sent a backhand to a streaking Mallet. The Bin’s Jeremy Powell leaped in with hot defense to swat away her pass, but by an act of sheer providence, the deflection came right back into Chubb’s hands. She repeated her pass to Mallet who then set up the point. Board Bin was stunned and let another two go unanswered, giving Grumpy’s the 15-12 win.

In the consolation game, KB’s defeated Wrapcity 13-9, ending that season-long rivalry on an anti-climactic note.

The Spirit of the Game award was presented to the boys from Duluth: Ryan Baxley, Reid Smith and "Cleatless-in-the-rain" Minnesota Joe Stromness. Their play embodied everything great about the game of ultimate. The league would like to thank sponsors Wrapcity, Board Bin, Grumpy’s, KB’s and Atkinson’s market for their support.

Pick up games continue on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

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