week seven

The Rockaway Beach Volleyball League passed its halfway point Wednesday night and pennant races are heating up in each of the nine divisions. After jumping up from the second division, Bryan’s Auto is struggling a bit in the league’s premier division but the other seven teams are all very much alive for the top spot. This week the scores were: Dig This 1 vs. Gatemate.net 4, Freedhand’s 4 vs. Bryan Auto 1, West End Tents 2 vs. Storage Place 3 and Sullivan and Galleshaw 1 vs. Flip Cup All Stars 4. The Flip Cup All Stars took four behind solid play from much improved John Bodey, some great hits by Brian Sica, and awesome play from Jackie, Trish and Liz. In a losing effort Tommy Dags was a stone wall blocking machine in a possible tryout for the All Stars for next season. General Manager John Sica was observed observing in the background as he tried to complete that trade before this season to no avail. Dwight Howard also is still not a Brooklyn Net. The Ocean Division played without referees due to a shortage and everyone played nice and the games were just as much fun as ever. Good on you!

The Ocean Breeze Division is one of the tightest groups in the RBVL. On Wednesday, the Mighty Boosh edged Casino Towing 3-2 in a Civil War match that pitted winter teammates Brian and Allison against Joe and John. Each team had the full scouting report on the other and the youngsters outsmarted veteran Rocky at every turn. In this Civil War battle the South won. The Kenosha Kickers nosed out the Federation 3-2, who learned a valuable lesson. Moving after balls helps to win points. From the oldest Fed, Pat, to the youngest, Allie, it worked like a charm. Sand Spikers beat JG Electric 3-2 and Jameson’s whitewashed the Wharf Rats. That leaves six teams within 3 points of each other from 2^nd to 7^th and that is as close as you can get. Plus, the two new teams in the group, Kenosha Kickers and the Mighty Boosh, will battle as the top two seeds during position week. It is almost impossible to believe but the Sun Ray Division has seven teams (Atlantic Service Sandsharks, Attack Pack, Irish Circle Jerks, Bungalow Baranhas, Sleaze Fries, Comeback Cats and Le Greann) within four points of each other from 3^rd through 9^th place. And one of those teams will not make the playoffs, a fate that looms large for the trailing IFMA’s.

Sand’s Point beat Edison Place 3-2 in five closely contested games. Reilly, Josh Jake did a lot of hard work to pull out the victory. In Game 5 the Edison Place men sat out and held onto the family toddlers while the wives played. That leaves Sands Point tied with the Breakaways for fourth place. In the head-to-head tiebreaker the score was 2-2 and a rainout. In the next tiebreaker, Sands Point wins by a nose having won their two games by a total of 16 points while the Breakaways won their two by only 4 points. Wow! Sands Point was waiting all night for the famous fish head soup but it never came. The Land Sharks beat Team Margarita 4-1 with a flurry of great volleys and it is the 1^st time in 22 seasons the Sharks have a winning record. Healy’s Rat Pack beat the Cabana Long Beach 3-2 and wants to maintain their competence and flatulence next week for position week. Kudos to George Johnson and the Cabana for great play and even greater sportsmanship throughout the night. “NewMeat” Matt and “Old Meat” Jimmy carried the Rat Pack to the big win. Betty “Long Arms” dominated at the net and insists her arms are average length, at best. This sets up a rematch on 7/18 with Off the Net in a battle for first place.

Bungalow Baranha’s swept the Irish Circle Jerks who were undermanned because several key members missed the action to attend a teammates wedding rehearsal. We all love volleyball and they obviously love each other but the question arises as to who loves what and whom more. That left the Comeback Cats, Irish Circle and LeGreann tied for fifth place in the Sun Ray with the Circle having 6 wins head-to-head, LeGreann 5 and the Cats 4. Congratulations to the Thai Rock Island for their victory over Tax City Suns of Beaches and thanks to the RBVL for making Wednesdays in the summer so much fun. Keep up the good work. Connolly’s won 2 out of 5 against the Big Mahooshkas but where was Mr. Happy? Was he out on his new free bike or saving his legs for the Cookie Race tomorrow? When will the team stop whining, moping and start having fun? And, by that, we mean visiting the sponsors. Wii Not Fit grabbed 2 points from NW ServPro. George just loves his pretzels! In four short weeks Wii has gotten Fit and has moved from almost last place to a fight for second. The Black Water Boarders took 3 from Miley’s Home Improvement. The games were incredible but some of the volleys were even more incredible. On three volleys throughout the match the ball was in play for over two minutes. Both teams were digging out hits, chasing down balls, and making unbelievable saves. With the Boarders up 3-1 Miley’s sent a message for the playoffs by dominating game five, 21-12.

Wednesday night completed a daily double of parties for many members of the RBVL who ventured into Bay Ridge on Tuesday night to enjoy the performing shenanigans of local band, Gearth, Wind and Fireman. Mr. and Mrs. Happy led the charge for the 2-for-1 burgers but the Rockaway Breakers lead the charge for the singing, dancing and drinking as they always do. And right on Vinny’s home turf, no less! The party gauntlet has once again been thrown down, this time on the shores of Brooklyn. August 7^th will be the next fiesta in Brooklyn at the Kettle Black and the Breakers will be back and better than ever. And then the RBVL season ends on August 11^th. Is that possible, volleyball is almost over? Say it ain’t so, Joe. How often does an owner/sponsor come around to see how their team is doing? Not too often. But Wednesday Benita from William J. Lachner Painters (formerly the Breakers) came by to see how her crew was doing and she even stopped in for a couple of cold beverages. Now that’s an owner you’ve got to like. She is very happy with her team but just has a few questions. Who is this Erstwhile Husband? Who is this Player Not to Be Named? Has the team grown complacent after winning the party scarves three years in a row and the league championship last year? She’ll be back to find out.

Years ago, when there was an end of the year party, John Sica would produce a video to be shown, of any footage he taped on the day of the finals. Recently he has rediscovered those videos and will be putting them up on YouTube each week. This week's video is from Championship Saturday, 2006. The quality is not the greatest, but when the original tapes are found the quality will improve. The memories are priceless. Next week is position week which almost always guarantees close matches across the sands of Riis Park and the post-game party is at long-time sponsor Irish Circle.

All six people on your RBVL Committee are willing to help you with any problems that come up; just take care of matters in a respectful manner. The RBVL Committee is made up of President Patty Moule (The Stanii), Steve Gifford (Connolly’s), Denise Brunner (Thai Rock Island), John Sica (Blackwater Water Boarders) and Rocky and Joe Abbracciamento (Casino Towing). You can find them every week, playing ball on the beach. They are always available to help out on any matters and answer your questions. As always, if you have any questions before then please call Patty at 917-613-0908. (Be sure to call between 10 AM and 9 PM. Remember, Patty has a life outside of VB, too.) Or just check our website at www.rbvl.com. You'll find the answers to most of your questions there, not to mention pretty pictures and funny stories.

See you on the beach!