RED M&M’s vs. JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
by Chad Woodard

Looking over at the other field at Balboa, I think Pink had more players than White, Red, and Black combined last night. In the Red versus Black game, Red had 1 sub and Black had 2 subs. Fortunately the subs were the right genders so that each team could still go 4-3 and 3-4. Red jumped out to a 6-2 lead mostly on big hucks from Chad to Bacon. But Black would take a timeout to regroup and answer with a 5 point rally and be one point shy of half before forcing Red to take a timeout of their own. Red finally broke their slump and tied it up at 7s. Finally allowed to set up a defense, Red showed their zone for the point to take half and Jake Kuiper caught a callahan to take half 8-7 for Red (about the time the other game was over on the other field).
Starting the second half, Black countered with a zone of their own. Both teams with hardly any subs and they were running zone! Unheard of! Both of these teams really wanted this game! After trading a few points, it looked like Black was succumbing to the fatigue both teams felt and Red went on a run to hold a commanding 13-8 lead. But Black dug deep, found their ninth wind, and with a couple timely big hucks by Ivan Seto against the zone and Black found themselves down 14-13! Red was now the ones staggering and dazed and they seemed to be playing for the lights to go out at this point. Red slowly worked it up the field inches at a time and were feet from the endzone when Chad turfed it trying to reverse the field on a big swing back to Ellen Lin. Black had an opportunity to tie with the light-clock ticking, but Chad got it back with hand block. Ellen Lin, Chuck Aramaki, and Chad inched it back up the field to the same spot. But this time the handlers found Bacon popping at the goal line and she was able to toss it across for the win.
Just as the two exhausted teams finished congratulating themselves on such an exciting game, the field went dark. Truly one of the most epic summer league games I’ve ever been a part of: mystery, intrigue, and outstanding play from all 17 players involved for all 28 gut-wrenching points. Sure there we silly turnovers caused by fatigue sprinkled throughout the game, but every single person was needed and contributed in a big way. If there was a LAOUT Classic Channel, this one would’ve made and instant classic because it had a little of everything. Well, except subs.

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