The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Go Nads
While some skiers felt short on face-shots this winter, the athletes in the Crested Butte winter Dodgeball League had their fair share. After a season full of surprises, upsets and epic plays, it all came down to the playoffs on Wednesday night, March 21 in Jerry’s Gym.
The year’s most enthusiastic team, The Crabs, started the night off with a severe blow to The Eldo only to get completely demolished by the season’s champions: The Nads.
Meanwhile, the Marcelina Maniacs found themselves short-handed and were sent home by the Riders of Brohan and the Dodgefathers. Third-placed Rat Pack brought their game Wednesday ousting the Dodgefathers early. They tried their hand at knocking the Nads, but the Nads stuck together dealing a 4-2 win and the Rat Pack was sent back to the sewers to climb their way back up.
While the Nads hung out and rested, the Rat Pack faced their season rivals The Riders of Brohan. The Riders’ cannon-like arms had the Rat Pack against the back line but team strategies and a series of phenomenal catches by captain Brad Bodell sent the Riders trotting, put the Rat Pack right back on the court against the Nads.
The Nads, led by captain Andy Sovick, opened the finals with a frenzy of face-shots and cross-court sneak attacks. It looked all but over for the Rat Pack. Double elimination rules meant the Rat Pack would have to smack down the Nads not once but twice. A 0-2 score with six minutes sobered the Rat Pack. With a new “hang back and wait” strategy, the Rat Pack put the Nads on their heels and tied the score 2-2 with 20 seconds left. A long and heated match followed with the Rat Pack winning and drawing yet another game with the Nads for the Championship. It was a true battle to the end.
Each win was answered by the other team to keep things tied into the last seconds. In shock and awe, the Nads found themselves clawing to keep their supremacy. But after three seasons of being second on the podium, the Rat Pack would not give up. Down two men to four, the Rat Pack came up with two catches for the ultimate switch-a-roo, and methodically destroyed the Nads last two men for the victory.
If you regret missing this season, there is talk of a summer league. And as the Nads always say: “There’s always next year.”
