Pushy the CDL Penguin Presents the SUMMER LEAGUE PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS
Summer League has been a rousing success!! After 4 short weeks of play, the post-season is already upon us. It’s a little warm out, but we managed to pull Pushy the CDL Penguin out of hibernation for a preview of what he expects to happen this Wednesday as Summer League concludes. He’s been locked up for a few months now… so he has a lot to say
Round One Matches:
(1) Spray Tans vs. (8) Blue Steel
Preview: It’s been a great Summer League for the Spray Tans. Team Captain and all around handsome gentleman Darren Domingo has assembled what looks to be the most balanced team in the league. The Spray Tans haven’t had a bad week yet, and perhaps most impressively finished 14-7 during the last week of play without superstar Razvan Cojocaru. Nick Jensen, often in the shadows of his usual Big Ball Theory teammates, has been on fire in his quest to prove that he has likely been the star of that side all along.
Blue Steel may have taken awhile to find their stride, but there is no denying the talent and potential of Evan Sanchez’s team. Strong throwers and highly talented female players make this a team that can never be taken lightly. First overall pick and Canadian Ninja-Giant Mark Williams gives any team he plays for a chance to go all the way.
Prediction: After falling down 2 games early, Mark Williams will go on a tear after being caught back late in game 3 by fellow ninja Jason Sam. He proceeds to make 11 consecutive kills to even the series. However, this Cinderella story comes to an end when Williams line fouls in the decisive game. Team stylist Damon Hines throws a catch to regular season teammate Richelle Brunt for the decisive out.
Final Score: Spray Tans-3 Blue Steel-2
(2) Attack in Black vs. (7) Cherry Berry Blasters
Preview: Attack in Black are huge. Literally. Led by CDL Super-vet Rob Girard, this team that includes most of the always competitive Chicken Saowce team, have made the most of the Summer League neutral zone, and have pinned back opponents all season. Between the team’s natural chemistry, the fearless catching of Karla Decoran and the sheer intimidation of Brandon “The Mountain” Poole, Attack in Black are the team that nobody wants to play in these playoffs.
What Cherry Berry Blasters lack in wins, they make up for in confidence. While Captain Bill Hargitt’s pre-season rhetoric has thus far proven to be unfounded, one would be a fool to discount the game changing abilities of players such as Lisa Higashi or Kyle Davy. The Berry Blasters never go down easy in a series, and if they can find their chemistry, will be a formidable opponent for everyone.
Prediction: Attack in Black come out of the gate with a crushing victory, hammering their opponents without losing a man. While Cherry Berry Blasters admirably rally in game two with an inspirational effort by Superstar David Baxter, the Chicken Saowce duo of Arun Armutlu and Matt Vickars lead the charge to bring Attack in Black back on top. In game 4, Captain Hargitt finds himself alone against the entirety of Chicken Saowce, hitting Vickars before being blind-sided by a brilliant sneak attack from Renee Naidu.
Final Score- Attack in Black-3 Cherry Berry Blasters-1
(3) I Love You Barney vs. (6) White Walkers
Preview: This Summer Season has been defined by huge plays, particularly catches for I Love You Barney. No one will soon forget the amazing triple catch by Andrea Ivaz in what will likely go down as the play of the season. Winston Fujino continues to gain fans with his exciting style of play. This extremely well balanced team doesn’t have a bad player with their penchant for game-changing catches, can be frustrating to face off against.
The White Walkers were the largest team in the Summer League, but that won’t matter for anything in the playoffs as they lose Keryn Gill, one of the top female players in the league, to stupid other commitments. Despite losing Gill, this team still possesses 3 very solid female players who have made huge plays all year. If under-achieving team superstar Dan Lewis can reclaim some of his usual magic, this team may still have a chance.
Prediction: After great team chemistry and an impressive string of catches by the always dependable Ryan Ridd, the Purple team goes up early by a score of 2-0. In game three, the Walkers are on the brink of defeat, only to hold on thanks to a nail-biting showdown victory courtesy of handsome devil Bryce Casidy, who drops the Barney Captain, Kristian Anthony off his feet with a devastating shot to the chest. Inspired by their close victory, the White Walkers take it to game five thanks to a heroic diving catch by Dave Hollander, mimicking the incredible championship winning catch he made last season. With all the momentum on their side, the White Walkers gain a huge lead in the final game and have full ball control with only league new-comer Jason Chang left for Purple. In a huge twist of fate, Dan Lewis throws without his teammates and is caught, bringing back Rommick Batti, who with Chang, sweep through their remaining opponents.
Final Score: In the most exciting series of the first round, I Love You Barney-3 White Walkers-2
(4) We Put the G in Roy G Biv vs. (5) Flaminghoes
Preview: Despite having the most unnecessarily long and stupid name in the league, captain Kari Decoran has assembled a formidable crew of catchers to challenge for the title. Perhaps her smartest move was drafting Shayn Solberg, the disgraced former captain, and last season’s league MVP whom she replaced as a team leader prior to the start of the season. Young Ent Andrew Cole has been devastating all season long and has helped this team establish themselves as serious contenders.
- <—- I don’t know why this one is here and I can’t delete it…The Flaminghoes edged out the White Walkers in a dramatic Showdown Playoff to secure their number 5 spot in this year’s playoffs. Teamwork and catching has been the basis of this team’s success, as Captain Luca Bavaro has assembled a team that has looked very solid as a unit. The one-two punch of Alyssa Jorger and Danielle St.Louis might be the best female unit in the league, and Ronnie Haywood has looked as dominant as ever over the course of the season
Prediction: With two teams best known for their catching prowess, expect this series to drag out into a true war of attrition. Flaminghoes will refuse to go away, prolonging game after game with huge catches by their last player. Inevitably, Decoran’s team will prove to be too much, as Josh Amisamo pulls together a string of remarkable catches over the final 2 games to put the nail in the coffin of the Flaminghoes.
Final Score- Roy G Biv-3 Flaminghoes-1
Loser’s Bracket Final
(1) Spray Tans vs. (7) Cherry Berry Blasters
How they got Here: After a dominant first few rounds, the Spray Tans are finally bested as they are edged out by I Love you Barney in the Semi-finals of the Winner’s Bracket thanks to some questionable refereeing and possible bribery by Kristian Anthony.
Following their unceremonious first round defeat, the Cherry Berry Blasters finally find the rally they’ve been waiting for all season. Huge play by Kyle Davy and Kevan Thompson help inspire a run through the entirety of the Loser’s Bracket
How it Ends: Spray Tan, determined after their previous round defeat, come out hungry for blood with Trevor Jorger leading the pack en route to a crushing game one victory. Unfortunately, this new found aggression comes at the price of smart play, and the team falls apart due to untimely catches and even more untimely line fouls. David Baxter, sensing a change in momentum, seizes upon the mental lapses of the regular season champions, and with numbers, picks apart Spray Tans for the next two games. In game four, with the teams at 3 players aside, Samantha Allen replicates the huge catch she made off of Spray Tan at the end of the regular season, giving her team the numbers and balls needed to finish the job. Jaus Laird gets the series winning kill with a flying 360 behind-the-back move that lives on for the ages.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
(3) I Love You Barney vs. (7) Cherry Berry Blasters
In the final series of the season, Cherry Berry Blasters, high off of their Cinderella story run to the finals run into the uber-confident I Love You Barney squad. Tensions are high, as game one ends with a controversial “no-catch” call that would have seen Andrea Ivaz win yet another game for her team. The Cherry Berry Blasters pull ahead again in game two, but this time Chimene Mills makes a late game catch, sending back Rommick Batti who’s tremendous run evens the score. In game three, it’s captain vs. captain as Hargitt and Anthony find themselves squaring off in a Showdown for all the ages. Despite missing both of his throws, Anthony makes the point-blank catch, sending his team into a raucous frenzy. The Cherry Berry Blasters throw everything that they’ve got at Barney in game 4, but it’s not enough, as catches by Chang and Fujino force the numbers drastically in their team’s favour. With a massive player advantage and all of the balls, I Love You Barney works together for the final out, hitting Kyle Davy with all 6 of their balls. Summer League is over, and the CDL is forced to spend the next year listening to Kristian Anthony brag about it
Final Score: I Love You Barney-3 Cherry Berry Blasters-1
Predicted Summer League Champions- I Love You Barney