Kickball: The Apple Leaf 6, Wa Wa 3

The second-annual Student Publications Kickball Game ended with The Apple Leaf successfully defending its title. The newspaper staff defeated the Wa Wa yearbook staff 6-3 in roughly 75 minutes of play.

The newspaper students went to an early lead, scoring in the second inning and again an inning later. The Wa Wa staff tied it up soon after, and each team scored an additional point a few minutes later. The score remained tied 3-3 for several rapid innings. The Apple Leaf kids sparked a late rally to win it all at the end. Wa Wa, up last, could not come back to make up the defecit.

Several staff members complained throughout the game about the officiating -- by this writer. After the game, though, several yearbook staff members admitted that the bad calls were applied equally.

Highlights:
Perma-pitchers Jeff (AL) and Eli (WW) each had their highlight moments. Eli pitched two innings where he retired all kickers in rapid succession, including one where he caught two line drives in a row. Jeff snagged one of his own, despite a knee injury that did not allow him to run at all. He said he just trotted, inviting me to see him run Friday night at the football game.

At one change of innings, Jeff -- who is well over 6 feet and on the plus side of 200 pounds -- engaged Eli in a wrestling match. Eli is about 5'2" and weighs less than a buck. His tight grip shook Jeff, but the big guy pulled a throw that flung Eli to the ground flailing. I might add that Jeff is also the defending district champ at the shot put.

The umpire (that's me) even caught a foul ball, just for fun, which bounced off of open palms, hit the top of his head and then bounced back into his hands. It was later replicated by laughing students. It was indeed counted as an out. Sorry.

Most of the players had great kicks or catches, and some even tried to pull out their baseball knowledge and strategy. It did not work, as the game is all about having fun and being funny. I laughed hard at the slips on the moist grass and the cannon arms that resulted in a stinging blow to the rump from the blue playground ball.

Phil (AL) kept running to the base even after his kick had been caught because he just wanted to slide. That proved handy for Adam (AL) as he made a sweet play at first. Micah (WW) developed a nice set-catch method for his work in left field, ending the hopes of many a long kicker.

For some, though, the game was about bragging rights. The Apple Leaf staff was cheered on by its non-pllaying staff members, who had prepared signs, including "You'll need a PACEMAKER after we get through with you!" in reference to the newspaper staff's national award, called a Pacemaker. taunts and mild threats had permeated the newsroom for days.

The newspaper has ruled the field for two years, but the results may be different after the winter social game. It's a no-holds-barred game of Dodgeball. Look out, newspaper kids, because the yearbook staff has you in its sights.

-- Wenatchee, Wash.