MARYSVILLE Galdes Gang made local sports history Aug. 14 when six runs gave them the first-ever city kickball championship.
The four teams of the city parks and recreation leagues inaugural season qualified for a single-elimination playoff, but sickness forced the Dark Side to forfeit their chance at the championship trophy and bragging rights.
The mood was lighthearted throughout as the Entertainers met the Gang in the championship game, though Galdes Gang led the game from the first inning when offensive powerhouse Roy Waldo scored the first of his three runs.
Chris Galde, who kicked in the three-hole, had a hand in all six of his teams runs. Galde kicked a double in the first inning to enable Waldos first run and made it across home plate himself two kickers later. Galde also batted in Waldos second-inning run and both of his teams third-inning scores before getting number six in the fifth inning.
Strategically, Galdes Gang tended to kick to left field, hoping to get runners on base. And with much of the offensive action flying toward third base, the Entertainers baseman Jeff Ballew led his team defensively, killing a couple Galdes Gang offensive drives with fly outs. In six innings of defense, he caught six fly outs.
As the Entertainers lead-off kicker, also Ballew, ended the Galde Gangs chances for a shutout in the third inning, running in after teammate Ben Ballews fly kick was caught at second base.
Down five runs in the top of the seventh inning and the game on the line, the Entertainers lived up to their name as they teased their kickers about the stakes of an out.
If you get out, youve got to buy dinner, was the encouragement from the dugout. No pressure.
But joking aside, the Entertainers mustered some offense as Jeff Ballew scored again and pitcher Vee Herzog added a run of her own.
Still, it was not enough to overcome Galdes Gang, and the victors ended the season with one loss in their eight-game schedule.
Marysville Parks and Recreation athletic coordinator Dave Hall explained that when they dreamed up a trophy for the quirky leagues champion, they wanted it to reflect the spirit of the sport. So they cut open a kickball and used it to cover the top of an old softball trophy.
We just wanted to do something fun and kind of funky. We didnt want it to be too formal, Hall said, adding that he hoped enthusiasm for the league would lead to its expansion next year.
I think it went really well. I think everybody that played in the league would say they had good time and enjoyed themselves, he said.