November 4th, 2008
Finish: tie for 3rd, semis loss to Boston’s Ironside
This past weekend, for the 2nd time in Chain Lightning’s three-decade history, the team reached the semifinals of the sport’s biggest championship. Just as in 2006, we lost in the semis, though on the strength of its run, this year’s team can likely lay claim to being the best Chain team ever.
In Saturday morning’s quarterfinals, we romped 15-8 over Toronto’s Goat, gaining a measure of revenge for last year’s excruciating loss to them in the same game. Along the way, however, star big man Dylan Tunnell went down for the remainder of the competition with an extremely sprained ankle.
The semifinals loss (10-15) to Boston was a well-played and highly intense game, in which the Ironside players made just a couple less errors, versus extreme pressure from the Chain defense.
More details and memories of the individual games to come.
October 31st, 2008
Nationals 08, halfway through
picture via f1215833808.blogspot.com
Following Friday’s power pool games, Chain Lightning has rallied from a first game loss to overall second seed Johnny Bravo to, by today’s end, take over the #2 seed position for itself. After Thursday’s first round whipping, we came back to take out SubZero by 2 before rolling over PoNY 15-5. Rookie Russell Snow’s layout block on a the first throw off of a pull was the catalyst to pulling out the SubZero game.
Today, with our full roster for the 1st time all season, and on a field we haven’t lost on in the last 2 years, the team came out ready in the strong wind. With a strong start, we crushed a good Revolver team 15-8, then kept our focus in putting Ring of Fire away 15-10. These wins, combined with a Bravo upset at the hands of Revolver, led to our winning the tightly-contested pool.
Saturday morning, we get to seek revenge for last year’s single point loss to Goat in the quarters.
October 28th, 2008
From a beginning in the swirling snow at Terminus early last spring, through 100+ degree practices, jubilation at success at summer’s end, and frustration in the early fall, the reason for all the work is upon us. Starting Thursday morning in Sarasota, FL, Chain Lightning and the 15 other top club teams enter championship week, a season unto itself.
the UPA Championships site
tournament schedule and results
After a runner-up regionals finish, we ended up as the 10 seed, in pool B. Friday has upper and lower division pools, and Saturday, placement games begin. If we meet success, quarters would be Saturday morning and semis in the afternoon, finals to follow on Sunday.
Our Thursday slate, starting 930 EST:
Colorado’s Johnny Bravo
the Twin Cities’ Sub-Zero
and NY’s PoNY
Bravo is the top pool seed, and the #2 overall seed, following last year’s strong performance and finals appearance. Chain won a barn-burner between the teams in 2006, but has not faced Bravo this season. Sub-Zero is the central region champion and a perennial (3rd year in a row) Chain opening pool opponent, good games won both times by the Atlantans. PoNY (Pride of New York) has emerged as a tough team this season with an infusion of new talent; Chain won the teams’ meeting earlier this season.
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