It’s your ol’ pal Pushy the Party Penguin here, ready to spit some straight truth, mixed with a healthy amount of blind guessing. Every season these picks get harder and harder to make, because recently it seems like parity is the name of the game. I’m not complaining though, because you can’t spell PARITY without PARTY! And speaking of party…
“L is for Party” Tier
Finals: The Blue Ballers (1) def. RAWR! (3)
What can I say about The Blue Ballers that hasn’t already been said a million times before over the last 10 years? It seems like no matter what roster they have, this team just knows how to turn it on in the playoffs. They might have some fresh faces on their team this season, but they’re all skilled additions, and it certainly doesn’t hurt when one of them is big burly strong man Sandy Mo-Nguyen.
They’ll run into a RAWR! squad that, while strong on paper, has struggled to find their chemistry all season. There’s no better time to figure it out than the playoffs though, and this team will come out roaring. Unfortunately for RAWR!, The Blue Ballers’ power and the experience of their core players will just be too much to overcome.
Pushy the CDL Party Penguin’s Party Pick: It’s already an unwritten rule that if there’s a Port Moody team on the board, I have to pick them for something, but factor in their new duds featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and this is a no-brainer. I smell what the Port Moody Jabronis are cookin’.
Dark Horse: Jacks and Jills. These fine folks came this close to winning L-Tier last season, so you know they’ve got the skill. Did coming so tantalizingly close to the gold(en dodgeball) give them the drive?
“D is for Party” Tier
Finals: The Sitting Ducks (3) def. Scott’s Tots (1)
The Sitting Ducks certainly made a name for themselves in their inaugural season, going on a deep playoff run in L-tier. That was just the tip of the iceberg though, as they seem to just keep getting better!
Only problem is, Tots and longtime CDLers Jonathan Arnuco and Nicole Rafael are still searching for their first golden dodgeball, and that intensity will catch the Ducks off guard, knocking them into the losers’ bracket in the third round. I’m expecting The Sitting Ducks to claw their way back to the finals though, where their youthful energy will outlast the Tots’ old, decrepit souls over two thrilling sets.
Pushy’s Pick: I like Sailor Moon, I like cool t-shirts, and I like to party, which means I really like Moon Tiara Magic. There, I said it.
Dark Horse: The Blue Ballers – they’ll be coming in hot from their L-tier win, and they definitely have enough skill to make a run in D-tier on top of that.
“C is for Party” Tier
Finals: The Fruit Baskets (5) def. Mariner Brewing (2)
Are you ready to see some bombs get chucked? Because with Rob Girard, Winston Fujino, and both Dalton brothers on the same court, the bombs will be chucked. And with bombs flying and players like Amanda Furney and Alex Jebsen on the court, you can expect to see some hype catches too.
This series could honestly go either way, but I’m gonna lean towards experience. Plus Rob needs this win, he’s got a baby to put through college now.
Pushy’s Pick: The Commies were at Woody’s every single week this season and were practically a lock to win the Party, Party, Party! Award… until they didn’t come to the Dodgies. Maybe they were just saving that party spirit for the playoffs? A penguin can hope, a penguin can dream.
Dark Horse: The Tragically Hit won D-tier last season in a straight shot through the winners’ bracket, and went all the way to the losers’ bracket final in C-tier. When this team is on, they are on. Don’t be surprised if we see them make another deep run!
B Tier
Finals: Mount Olympus (3) def. Double Dash!! (2)
I picked Double Dash!! to win last season and those jerks actually listened to my advice. They’ll come ever so close to the repeat, but the reformed and mostly-original Mount Olympus will be the heroes of the day, ascending to the championship.
I’m predicting Alex Maider to make 5 catches in a row (including a double catch on Kristian) to banish Double Dash!! back to obscurity. Am I being serious or am I kidding? In this mad universe where a penguin can use a keyboard, anything is possible.
Pushy’s Pick: The Awkward Turtles went from the top of C-tier last season to the top of B-tier this time around – talk about a jump! I like that hustle, and I don’t think anyone would question their ability to party. Sounds like a Pushy Pick to me!
Dark Horse: Mr. Men & The Little Misses had one hell of a run last season, going to the B-tier finals. I would’ve normally had them pegged for the finals again, but B-tier is just that much deeper this season. I’m actually wrong a lot though, so I’m hoping this covers my bases.
A Tier
Finals: PANDAMONIUM (2) def. Carry Kari Us to Shih Tier (3)
In a repeat of Season 21’s A-tier finals, PANDAMONIUM will once again meet those gosh darned A-tier juggernauts in the finals, and once again through the losers bracket.
They came painfully close to the championship last time around, but the difference this time is that they’re going ALL. THE. WAY. It’s time. I’m not gonna bring up the fact that I saw Dan get “Buffaloed” at the bar last week but he refused and said that he was out of the game and HOW DO YOU EVEN GET OUT OF THE GAME, and I’m not gonna suggest that you all shame him for that. Nope. Just gonna predict that they win A-tier.
Pushy’s Pick: The Sunnydale Razorbacks have got that Darren guy on their team, and I feel a connection there for some reason. Like we used to know eachother really well, like he’d finish my sentences for me or something. Weird.
Dark Horse: Mount Olympus. They’ll probably be gassed from playing through a very tough B-tier (as tough as we’ve ever had), but by the power of the gods they might be able to make a bit of a splash in A-tier!