week4

The Rockaway Beach Volleyball League was greeted by nice weather in week four and seems to be on a roll with the weather gods. And that only leads to exciting and competitive volleyball. Casino Auto Body thumped a very determined but undersized Pico team 5-0 and Alana McCarthy (aka: Serve Pro-Like it never happened) maintained her perfect serving accuracy at one thousand per cent. (Sarah who?) But, unfortunately, once again, Johnny spiked a ball just outside the baseline breaking her service streak. Welcome back, Stan. No one knows whose knees are worse, Stan’s or Rocky’s, but everyone knows both make loud, creaking sounds when they move. Rich McDonough did his best via dives, digs and circus moves to keep his team close while Brianna and Lauren did their usual imitation of Misty May and Kerri Walsh. Joe and Rocky, understudies of the Sunshine Boys (see Neil Simon) provided great court presence and little else. Murph said their opponents looked even older than It’s All Good. Cement Shoes responded by saying, “If players are older than us they shouldn’t be playing anymore.” (A not so veiled slight at Joe and Rocky.) On the senior circuit, Its All Good and the Stanni battled all night long and that was just during the timeouts. It’s All Good took four games and four Corona’s from the Stanni. Cement Shoes Flanagan moved about the court like a mouse on a glue trap. Patty the Pinky said It’s All Good won 4-1 over the Stanni because Patty the Pinky’s pinky was injured. You could say It’s All Good won by default of De Pinky. Patty would like to thank Mother Nature, Mother Teresa and Denise for the weather on Wednesday night. Who needs the weatherman when you have that triumvirate?

Buckley’s Sandstorm won its first game against You Got Served. You Got Served can certainly empathize with the Mets, who got no hit last week. Thank you, Mason and Norrin for finally showing up. Jenny Dunn is quite a surprise; who knew that a woman 5’3” would have such skills? How good would she be if she was 5’4”? Buckley’s Sandstorms boldly stated that this will not be their last win. Look out people. They are gearing up for another victory in late July. Local sports cognoscenti feel they may have set the bar a little high with that July aspiration. Burt of the Rockaway Breakers worked the net like Eric Lundquist, although he was carrying a bit more baggage, perhaps a steamer trunk. Laura and Sheila of the Breakers made it to Kerry Hills which was a first time out for both of them this season. Although they did call a time out during the third game. I guess they finally got a hall pass or rather a Kerry Hall pass. Colleen Gallagher turns sixteen tomorrow and Dad, Kevin, is setting a new personal high in his stress level. The Rockaway Breakers turned out in force, as a tour de force, at the Kerry Hills. The Bungalow Baranha’s have much catching up to do. Apparently they were as busy as Santa’s helpers on Christmas Eve making their costumes for the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island. Tara and Katelyn were representing for the Baranha’s and have a question for their absent teammates, why not prepare on Thursday or Friday since Wednesday is reserved for volleyball? They make a good point.

EZ Company managed to pull out 3 well played wins against Rathbones. The Silver Fox led all players with 7 grunts. The Teejinator never stopped moving, despite desperate efforts to get him to stop moving. Young Danger bailed on the games, still angry at the lack of ink last week. Or maybe he's also trying out for Naked and Afraid. Team bacon was saved with a delivery from the UES. Gerritsen Girl showed that folks in her family actually can set the ball and do it with dignity. Reviewing old 2006 game footage proves that Hipster hasn't lost a step. Fortune Cookie said beach chairs don't help much sitting in your garage. Hoping to see Sheila-EZ calling lines next week. The Maine Man scored big with a mint condition jock strap at the Tom Brady underwear auction. Last Call has been struggling in the early weeks of the season possibly due to some key players being on the DL. Greg is looking for some industrial-strength Monistat for his jungle rot. Big Brown suffered a microscopic injury and now he's walking around like a frightened turtle. Our team captain feels that she is entitled to special dispensation due to playing five games in one night. She’s not getting off the hook that easy. As long as Dee continues to power the team with her protein packed filet mignon wraps she can play as many games as she wants. That’s how Last Call rolls. But the Beach Orphans finally won their first game. Yippee!

Wine with Sue Island took some time to warm up but when they did they took the last two games from the Channimals. Cheerleader Don Sautner is on the DL and was sorely missed. And Dennis Barnes was almost added to the DL with a broken rib, not that it would've been his first. Susan Morley had a nice couple of games in her first appearance of the year. Keep up the good work.

This week the after-party was at the Kerry Hills Pub and Carmel cooked up her usual menu of terrific grub, one dish better than the next. But her Shepherd’s Pie still takes the cake. Some players noted that they have eaten Shepherd’s Pie 26 times in their lives, the 26 times that Kerry Hills hosted the RBVL party. The Kerry Hills have made home cooked food an annual staple with bartenders Mike (1) and Mike (2), (unusual in that they both have numerical last names) distant cousins of Mike and Ike, providing the hospitality behind the stick. Connolly’s is playing 11^th division volleyball in a ten division league, do the math. Caroline Gifford has been doing such a terrific job in the property office that Steve was able to play five games tonight. Steve’s team has requested that he go back in the office and send Caroline out to play. It took 3 weeks but Freedhand’s finally lost a game but they still whacked West End Tents 4-1. When the boardwalk discussion turned to the virtues of medicinal marijuana, Fast Eddie slid across three bays with his feet barely touching the ground. He seemed overly interested in the latest marijuana updates. The Gray Rider Band will perform down at Riis Park on stage right on the boardwalk on Wednesday 6/24 and you can be sure to have a blast hanging out on the boardwalk. That is an open week on the party calendar for the RBVL so plan on staying at the beach and having some extra fun. Now that the concessions are open, food and drink are available for purchase. And there will be drink specials for the RBVL, too. Enjoy. Why not plan on staying after volleyball for some food, music and fun right at the Riis Park bazaar at Bay nine?

We are trying our hardest with refs, but we keep running short. That’s what happens when the league grows as big as the RBVL has. The captains have been informed of this tough spot on many occasions and the general feedback is that everyone wants the big league in spite the referee shortage. Right now each division is schedule to have a night of play without a referee. Also, captains, if you do not have a referee at your court by 6:30 PM come up to the boardwalk and see Colleen immediately. We may have a standby ref available but you must see Colleen. If there is a clipboard at your court, bring it up with you. Thanks for your assistance. Your league has become the place to be during the summer in Rockaway. Remember that has happened primarily because of great camaraderie and sportsmanship more than great athletic play, although there is quite a bit of that, too. Five teams still have not picked up their uniform shirts so next week they will be displayed outside of the equipment room and then they will be left there after the matches are completed for anyone else to pick up. Referees, stand by. You may be able to pick up some free tank tops. Just a reminder, since week one was cancelled due to weather all of those scheduled games will be played on the night we originally planned a position night. Position nights get bumped when the RBVL needs to make up a regular week. So you’ll eventually see that week one opponent down the road. Rosters are also waivers and must be signed by players. For this reason and reasons of fair play, teams are not permitted to pick up players from the sidelines on nights they are shorthanded, not even if the opposing captain approves it. If you did not hand in signed rosters, you will forfeit your games on 6/24. You are lucky that Patty has been busy with work and at home or it would have been this week. Captains are reminded that they can have team items entered in the weekly Wave article by showing up at the sponsor bar or by e-mailing Joe at jmcgivney2@nyc.rr.com by 11 PM on Wednesday night. The RBVL has a Facebook page and, if you like it, you will receive timely updates, whoever you are, captain or not. Your RBVL Committee members will be around each and every week to help out on any matters and answer your questions. If you have any questions please call Patty Moule at 917-613-0908. (Call between 10 AM and 9 PM.)

See you on the beach!