2016 Suburbs Adult – Week 2 (June 29)

Mother Nature cooperated this week and that allowed for the Co-Ed League to officially launch!  On Wednesday Night, both the Men’s and Co-Ed Adult Leagues in Highland Park battled it out in Softball.  We’re going to break down all of the action below in the Power Rankings but let’s get a couple things out of the way first.. Here’s a Link to the Weekly Highlight Video!

Quickly, for those Playing in their first All Sports Series League.. Here’s what to expect from the weekly Power Rankings.. Each week we’ll take a statistical look at the Teams and Rank both Divisions (together) 1-4 with the other 4 Teams being listed alphabetically. While, Both Leagues are playing separately obviously, we’re combining the Rankings as they would in the College AP polls (think big ten and sec conferences)! You can also count on a Link to the Weekly Highlight Video (<– Click right there!)   Also, if you have ever want to find any info on the League.. Go to Summer Leagues > Suburbs Adult League.. Everything you’d need from Rules to Schedules to Standings etc. will be found there..

One more thing, before we get to the Rankings.. We have a TON of great sponsors for this Summer. If your Teams want to go out after the Games for a bite/drink.. We’ll have gift cards for our great partners: Biaggi’s, Beelow’s, Sushi Kushi Too, Tamales and BBQ Pit. Just let us know!  We also will be including Fitness Tips from Alex and Sean Courtney of Team Wolf and Twice as Fit personal training. See the first one below!

 

Fitness Tip from Twice as Fit:

A message from Twice as Fit’s Alex and Sean Courtney (of Team Wolf): 

This week is softball, everybody’s favorite, not just because we can enjoy a beer when our team is up to bat, but so satisfying to win. As we bat, Rotation is a key element to slugging the ball.  A few important pointers to remember:

1. Keep your eye on the ball – Taking your eyes off of it is a sure fire way to swing like a chump

2. Swing through the ball – Making sure to rotate through the Thoracic Spine ( Upper Back) and not just the arms.  This ensures more control and power with your swing.

3. Turn your hips into the swing – As strong as all of you macho men are in the upper body, the legs/hips reign supreme. Have you ever tried to walk on your hands all day? not happening. Turning your hips to where you want to hit the ball will help you add immense power to your hits.

4. Feel your feet – As you turn the hips, focus on your feet, they are the points that are reacting with the ground. With this ground reaction force, we can use our entire body to hit the ball, not just our arms. 

Play Ball!

 

Power Rankings

1. Team Wolf (Twice as Fit) – Men’s Division – Currently in 2nd with 20 points.

Team Wolf continues to hold the top spot after Week 2 as they are the reigning and Defending Champs of the Men’s League.  They got their first W of the season as well on Wednesday Night as they took it to one of their old Rivals Team Hernandez.. For the historians out there, you’ll remember it was all the way back in 2012 that Team Wolf won the very Men’s Adult League and in the Championship they defeated Team Hernandez.. They put up 16 runs so many of them had great nights at the plate.. So we’ll give a nod to Paul Mongoven who made his 2016 debut and was stellar on the mound the entire night. They will have Softball again next week against Team Kahn in a Rematch from the 2015 Championship! That will be the cea Study Abroad Game of the Week!

 

2. Team Kahn (The Karyn Collection) – Men’s Division – Currently in 1st with 35 points.

2-0 to start the year.. What else is new for these guys? They were great once again on Wednesday Night. They scored 20 runs so it’s hard to single anyone but Dave Brandt and Scott Midia were particularly stellar at the dish in Week 2. They’ve made a habit of getting out of the gates strong.. For the 4th consecutive season they start 2-0 and it seems like they are just about better than ever.. Just to remind any who may not know.. These guys are the 2013 and 2014 Men’s League Champs.  They are no stranger to be Ranked at the top and next week they’ll get a chance to both claim the top spot and get a bit of retribution from last August’s Championship Game when they take on Team Wolf on the diamond!

 

3. Team Sternberg (SLA Insurance) – Co-Ed Division – Currently tied for 1st with 20 points.

For the first time in the Adult League Rankings, we have a Co-Ed Team!  Team Sternberg slots in at #3 this Week following their opening W over Team Gordon in Softball. Many in the All Sports Series universe are familiar with the “Team Sternberg” monicker as Sam Sternberg as Captained many many successful crews over the years (and has a few Championships to his name).. However, this group is actually led by his parents, Sue and Mark. This is a group that deeper than any other unit in the League and they plan on utilizing their strength in numbers to propel them to Wins all Summer Long. Next week, they will have a Double Header of Kickball against Team Whitehead and follow that up with Softball against Team Erjavac. Welcome to the League!

 

4. Team Erjavac (Dr. Jacob D.D.S.) – Co-Ed Division – Currently tied for 1st with 20 points.

The final Team to get Ranked this Week is another from the Co-Ed League.. Team Erjavac. Co-Captains Ryan and Eric have assembled a very solid crew and some of them are All Sports Series veterans from Team Hernandez’s Men’s League Team. That will be a significant advantage as the League progresses!  They got a W in Week 1 over Team Whitehead.. Next week, they’ll face Team Gordon in Kickball and finish off a Double Header with #3 Team Sternberg!

 

Rest of the Pack (Alphabetical Order)

Team Gordon (Tamales) – Co-Ed Division – Currently tied for 3rd with 0 points.

Full Disclosure — Team Gordon’s Captain — Sandi is my (Holden) Aunt.  No that we have full editorial integrity out there.. Let’s continue.  Captain Sandi and Frank Karkazis led this bunch into Softball on Wednesday Night and they fought valiantly. They were a bit shorthanded and dropped their opening Game to Team Sternberg.  Want to give major props to Sabrina who had a nasty collision at first base but managed to shake it off!  This group has a ton of potential and it’ll be great to see what they can do next week against Team Erjavac in Kickball and then Team Whitehead in Softball!

 

Team Hernandez (Sunset Foods) – Men’s Division – Currently in 4th with 0 points.

Back to the Men’s League.. One of the original Men’s League Teams is Team Hernandez.  Captain Eric has been around since the beginning and they are still searching for that first Crown.. They are off to a slower start than they’d like this Summer but they have a ton of time to turn it around.. They will take on Team Lemick in Softball on Wednesday Night. A Win may propel them right into the Rankings!

 

Team Lemick (Cy Fredrics) – Men’s Division – Currently in 3rd with 15 points.

After getting a Week 1 W in Hoops, Team Lemick fell to perennial favorites Team Kahn in Softball on Wednesday Night.  Even in the Loss, Tom Brubeck had a very nice night at the plate with a few hits and scoring a run.. They will get right back at it next Wednesday Night when they take on Team Hernandez.  A win next week will put them back in at least the Top 2 of the Standings for the Men’s Division!

 

Team Whitehead (Beelow’s) – Co-Ed Division – Currently tied for 3rd with 0 points.

Last but not least (remember, the 4 unranked Teams are listed alphabetically!) is Team Whitehead. They were without Captain John.. An All Sports Series veteran whose presence will certainly help moving forward! They ran up against a tough Team Erjavac squad in Week 1 but really showed off some talent. They are going to have an opportunity to show everyone what they can do next Wednesday Night when they take on Team Sternberg in Kickball and Softball v. Team Gordon in the second Game of their Double Header!

 

That’s it for this installment of the Power Rankings. Have a great 4th and see everyone next Wednesday!

-Holden