On Thursday, Nov. 20, Enloe students competed in the 7th annual Charity Ball Kickball Tournament, facing off in a single elimination tournament to crown a new kickball champion. 

Many teams spent time preparing for the tournament, planning practices with friends, coordinating costumes, and encouraging themselves to win the big prize. “Yeah, we’ve really just been preparing this offseason, grinding. We had a big disappointment two years ago. Kind of lost everything … We had a hard time getting stuff back together. But we started working a lot, lifting team lifts, 6 A.M. runs,” said Peter of Team One. The Eagles’ Eye followed a similar routine, practicing for two weeks in preparation for the big game.

On the day of the tournament, teams queued after school, paying a 5 dollar entry fee to play, with a range of 7-12 players per team. While they waited to play, confidence was high.

“We had a hard time getting stuff back together … ever since two years ago, [when] we lost everything, and we see some competition here. Quite frankly, we’re not scared,” commented Peter.

“Until death, all defeat is psychological,” said Joanna of the Veggie Tales.

“My name is Pranav, and we’re going to win the kickball tournament,” said a member of the Frat Boys, who all claimed to be named Pranav. “…we’re gonna dominate everybody.”

“We’re going to win,” remarked George of the Jubilant Jerseys.

“Jubilant jerseys, they’re winning the natty,” claimed Leo.

Costumes served as unofficial uniforms separating the dozen teams from one another, with many teams dressed in colorful and homemade costumes. The Frat Boys all wore tank tops and backwards baseball caps. The Quarterzips were decked out in, you guessed it, quarter zips. The Eagle’s Eye wore their custom merch (stay tuned if you want next year’s apparel). The VeggieTales were dressed in their vegetable costumes, including some greens you’d recognize. 

Then the announcer blared over the speaker, reading out the rules. Each match was capped to 15 minutes, and losing just one match would eliminate you from the tournament.

Team VeggieTales poses for a photo. Credit: Graham Guzynski.

Matches were hard fought as teams excelled at kicking, catching, or running, but rarely all three. The first round was particularly brutal for the Enloe Eagle’s Eye, getting eliminated by the pink-shirt Star Bursts in a long-fought battle.

As time wore on, more teams were eliminated and the field thinned, but emotions peaked. “The energy here is really, really electric,” said Winston Stallworth of the Quarterzips after kicking a home run. 

By the semifinals, only four teams remained. Team One, the Quarterzips, Ball Too Hard, and Finch & Fellas. Team One and the Quarterzips faced off in a hard-fought match that was filled with controversy.

“We got scammed, brother,” said Matias Espinoza of the Quarterzips.

“Apparently, the rules that apply to us in the last two games we played don’t apply to them and the one that mattered,” complained Winston. 

“Excuse my language, but poopy crap,” remarked Matias. 

Team One had their own opinion.

“All they want to do is complain,” said Peter. “Hey, we got some unsportsmanlike conduct over there.” 

A stolen-base play triggered the debate over the rules, causing the teams to rush the referees before splitting off to regroup. It was unclear if a runner had been tagged out before reaching home base, and the rule on the field was that the runner was safe. After a minute of deliberation, referee Gavin overturned the decision on the field. The match eventually ended in a 10-0 victory for Team One. In a moment of sportsmanship, the earlier conflict was forgotten as they shook hands.

The other semifinal match, Ball Too Hard vs. Finch & Fellas, was much closer. In a defense-heavy match with catches galore, the game began with two scoreless innings. But by the end, Ball Too Hard reigned triumphant.

Ball Too Hard and Team One then faced off in a final that pitted upperclassmen against each other, led by team captains Kanav and Peter.

By the end of the day, a familiar name was announced as the winner of the tournament. Despite all the original members having long since graduated, this year’s ensemble of Ball Too Hard won the final game, led by team captain and junior class president Kanav Patel.

Ball Too Hard member Jonathan Ramsey recounted the match. When asked how it felt to win, Jonathan said, “It felt great, because, honestly, we had like 4 soccer players, but we didn’t think, we didn’t know if we’d be able to play because of the season.” His favorite moment from the event was when he got three runs after kicking the ball straight over the pitcher’s head. But while Ball Too Hard is enjoying the taste of victory, they aren’t content with just one.

“Ball Too Hard, we’re running it back,” said Jonathan.

Ball Too Hard poses for a photo after their victory. Credit: Graham Guzynski.