St. Helena Recreation Dept. Fall Playoffs
Saturday Nov 14th 2009
Let me start this off slow and build up to a light crescendo and plateau out for a while and then finally drop the goods like fine china across the kitchen floor.
The day started off like most playoffs do. People rhythmically arriving at Crane Park with their coffee and breakfast treats. A slight chill hanging in the air, as the remnants of the night's biting cold begin to escape into the rays of sunshine that are gently settling onto the Valley floor. The 8 courts glistening in the morning dew, as if someone sprinkled tiny shards of glass throughout. There is somewhat of a reunion quality to the beginning of the day, as many of the teams have grown familar with each other over the years. There are the typical conversations and banter between individuals, many of whom haven't seen one another since the last Playoffs, 13 weeks ago. Most of the usual suspects are present, as are a light dusting of new teams, each hoping that this will be their year to win it all.
8:30 am comes. Teams descend onto their prospective courts and begin the process of feeling out what the personality of these 90 x 10 foot, decomposed granite playgrounds will be. The Hone Dogs take their positions on court 3 and start rolling practice balls. The breaks, bumps, ravines and crowns are all surveyed and begin to settle into our collective consciousness. In the playoffs the speed of the courts is the most important aspect to consider. The DG has been packed into a hard, concrete-like alley which starts out fast and will undoubtedly get to lightning quick proportions as the day wears on. Our internal gauges are working overtime, mirror neurons are firing at breakneck speed, and after 10 min of getting to know our new lover, we are thrown into a high stakes relationship with an outcome that is based on extremes. It is time to let go of conscious thought and be one with our experience. The last 30 weeks of Bocce has prepared us for this moment and we now need to surrender to our unconscious and "feel" not "think."
The first rolls are as much about shedding the pre-game anxiety that swells within as they are about setting the tone for the game. Leave in Front, Follow that Line, Love your Balls. These words stream through the thought process as a grounding exercise and reminder of what brought us to this present moment. All of our rituals are in full-force. We feed off each other's energy. Capo and Ahren draw first blood against the Ball Droppers, with a two point frame to start. Then one point, one point, one point for the Dogs. Up 5-0 after 4 frames, not a bad start.
Then the death-blow comes, Casino in the 5th for Capo and Ahren. There is a sense of calm that envelops us. We are in control and massively focused. We take the game 12-2 in the 9th frame, with a two point close-out by Capo and Ahren, who had 3.22 and 3.0 Lag Ratings respectively, which borders on perfection. Getting the 1st game under the belt is huge. Relief sets in and the focus shifts to our next opponents. At this point there is a comfortable feeling that begins to descend over the Dogs. We are all rolling well. This could be our day.
Next up: Court 4 against Joanie Loves Bocce (one of the all-time best Bocce names). We know them well, and they know us well. We also know we need to play at a high level, as their motivation for beating us is substantial. It will be a 12 round brawl. The Dogs prepare mentally. Get into your zone. Let go of extraneous input and distractions. Focus. 1st blood again drawn by the Dogs, one point from the Underboss. Then 3 from Joanie. The level of play is extraordinary, 1 footers are being tossed around like candy by both sides. The Dogs get one more point and then Joanie goes on a run. 1 point, 1 point, 1 point, 3 points. And then 2 more. And just like that the Dogs are down 3-10 after 10 frames. A surreal reality starts creeping up into our awareness. No time to go there, singular focus. We need points. One will suffice. Just something, anything to arrest the flow. Suddenly a window opens. It is a small window but at this point a peephole will do. Underboss and Patron have 1 ball "in" with 3 left. Our line analysis and speed observation will be put to the test.
Patron assumes his stance, finds his line and begins his backswing. It is a cross court line utilizing the considerable break off the eastern wall. There is a slight funneling action towards our target. Patron's line is true and his speed is pure. A 1 footer and a point. Same line again, same speed again, same result again. Underboss' mirror neurons are going crazy. He has just had two perfect demonstrations of what he needs to do. Shut off the brain, feel the speed and release. Result: A Casino and our Momentum Shifter. It's now 7-10. There's hope. There always was, but now we can see it clearly and feed off it, like a pack of hungry wolves. A 2 pointer next; 9-10. The Northside then gives up a hard fought point. 9-11. Yet, we still feel the universe is shifting in our favor. 14th frame. We need 3 to win and have absolutely no margin for error. Ahren is unstoppable and unleashes more 1 footers. Capo follows suit. And in the end 3 points are scored and this epic match finally comes to an conclusion, 12-11, in favor of the Dogs. Once the dust finally settles, only then do we realize what just happened, and what an instant classic this game truly was. The Dogs threw 22 one footers out of 55 balls (40%). Caffo and Natalie had the best Lag Rating (2.13) of any duo we faced during the entire tournament. Ahren threw 8 one footers and had an astronomical Lag Rating of 3.31, followed by Underboss at 2.79 and Capo at 2.43.
We need to be careful. There always seems to be a physical and mental hangover after a game like the one we just had. The sheer intensity and demand on the concentration and attention facilities tends to drain the Bocce chi from the soul, putting a team at risk of losing their next game. The Dogs have had the displeasure of experiencing this harsh reality (as recently as the Spring '09 playoffs after beating the Olive Oilers) and are determined to assuage any inkling of a letdown. Maintain focus. The Zingers are the next opponents. We know them from our Friday night escapades. We instantly sense a sturdy determination within them that raises our alarm signals. You cannot underestimate any team at this point in the playoffs. We need to be extremely cautious.
Again we take the 1st point. Put the pressure on and keep it on. The Zingers get 1 point in frame 4 and make a mini-run by scoring in frames 6 and 7. Withstand, holdfast, play our game. The Dogs respond and after 9 frames are up 8-3. But then the Zingers turn it on and come within striking distance at 8-6. The Southside has scored most of the points so far, and now it is the Northside's turn to pull their weight. Pallino placement has been varied all game and the Northside executes a short-ball changeup that throws off the Zingers and allows 2 points to be scored. Almost home, but can't think that way. Must keep the pressure constant... follow through, aim past the target. The Northside gets another chance and concludes the game with another Underboss/Patron 2 point effort. Exhale. We are more than half-way to our goal.
There is danger at every turn. Hurry up and wait. We are now thrown into Bocce limbo. By winning our 1st three games we are relegated to the benches. We have to wait for multiple games to come to fruition before we can even start our game against the Grapestompers, who are the only other undefeated team left. They say that speed kills, which is definitely appropriate for the courts today, but time also kills. And waiting around getting cold, fuzzy and imprecise will do nothing to improve our chances of winning.
Must stay sharp, but how? Answer: Ana's Cantina. Exposure is always a concern during playoffs and the sun certainly does her best to deplete us of our precious bodily fluids. However, a mind-clearing trip to Ana's to refocus ourselves is just what the Dr. ordered.
Once back we are assigned to the grainy inconsistencies of court 7 to take on the Grapestompers, one of the best teams in the history of St. Helena Bocce. Again we have a past with these Titans of the game, and have been lucky enough to win our last few battles with them, although some limbs were lost. So finally after two hours it is time to fire up the engines again and see where we're at. A mild shudder or a ear-rattling roar? Court 7 is as unpredictable as courts get. Patches of grit give way to smooth, lightning fast lanes. Walls are sticky in some places and release your ball in others, and there is rarely a straight line to be had. However, despite these detriments the Dogs are out of the gate fast with a Northside 3 point frame complimented by a Southside 2 pointer. Focus is slowly returning. But as we were seemingly settling into a nice flow, the Stompers - as they so often do - throw down a 2 and 3 of their own. And after 4 frames it's tied 5-5. Got too comfortable too quickly. Let that be a lesson. Refocus. Bear down. The Dogs then Hone it in and produce a steady, coordinated attack from both sides that results in 6 consecutive points. 11-5. Finish, finish. 3 more points are given up. 11-8. Shut the Door. If the Stompers have even the slightest opportunity for victory they will indubitably take advantage, it is only a matter of time. SLAM!!! Underboss gets the final point in the 11th frame. 12-8: Final score. We escape the treachery of court 7 with a win and are now in the Finals, where we need just 1 win and our opponent will need 2. The Hone Dogs are now 80% of the way towards defending their Fall Title.
Finishing is huge in sports. There are numerous mental, emotional and physical processes that come up when you're close to winning a competition. And a good number of these are extremely detrimental to your level of focus and concentration, and thus interfere with the very skills that got you to this point in the first place. Ultimately, you have to tune out the reality of the situation and convince yourself there is nothing special about where you're at. And the difficulty with this is that you have to be in these situations enough to be able to engender this mindset into your mental repertoire. Some teams are able to play with a relaxed, carefree, yet focused attitude no matter what, but this is not usually a natural occurence and it certainly doesn't happen easily for an extended amount of time. Finishing is about maintaining the perfect balance between excitement and fear. Getting fixated on the vast importance of scoring the final point only lends itself to becoming mentally ineffective, emotionally unstable and physically rigid. The trick is continuing to roll as though this is an ongoing and continuous process, where there is no endpoint.
Ah yes. Back to the comfortable confines of court 5. The Stompers are back after dismantling the Olive Oilers in particularly efficient fashion. We won both of our St. Helena Bocce Club Championships on court 5, so it holds a special place in Hone Dog hearts. But the Stompers seemed to have found their mojo against the Oilers and are looking as poised as ever. It's been 8 hrs of Bocce (with breaks) and having to concentrate for that long takes it's toll, which is why the playoffs are more of an endurance contest than anything else. All feeling at this point. You need to be able to stay sharp for an extended amount of time while managing everything from food and water consumption, to sun protection, Etoh intake, to your own anxiety and exhaustion levels. Not to mention the elements. The day probably started off in the high-50's, got into the 80's and then by the Finals match was back down into the mid to low 50's. But regardless of these obstacles, focus must reign supreme.
It is now time.
After handshakes and various signs of respect and reverence we begin. The chill in the air reminds us how long we've been at the courts, but it also helps to give us a sense of alertness and purpose. This is it, what we've been playing for all season, right here in front of us. It's happening. The Grapestompers are red and have the Pallino. The game commences on the Northside. Immediately there is an opening. The Stompers throw all their balls and the Dogs still have the point. Patron lines up his shot like an expert marksman... bullseye. And again. One ball left to go and Underboss delivers. Casino to start the game. Unbelieveable. We have scored first in every game. Huge, like first pitch strikes. Southside goes long and sets themselves up for a Casino of their own. The Dogs have 3 in and Capo has the last ball. Then... Disaster.
A Stomper ball is pushed in and there is a 4 point swing. Instead of 7-0 it is 4-1. Emotions erupt. Fear, Anger, Sadness, Shame. But we must let them go as quickly as they arrived. We must not let this sideswipe our determination. What's the logic in this situation? Find it. We are still up 4-1 and there is still a lot of Bocce left. Let it go. Let it go. We find a way to score and do. 2 more points. 6-1. Then disaster strikes again. Northside leaves an opening and Denny takes full advantage. Casino. It feels like being punched in the solar plexus. The oxygen has just been ripped out of our lungs. It's now 6-5. Then 6-6. How did this happen so fast? Shrug it off, back to the task at hand. Pick a defense. How 'bout a little humor to lighten things up. "First one to six wins." Determination begins to return. Every point is hotly contested. Every frame is won by a matter of centimeters. The level of play is absurd. Only 1 point is being scored per frame. The Dogs inch ahead and painstakingly work at keeping their distance.
Capo and Ahren score 2 points which makes it 10-8. The Northside then pushes it to 11-8. We are so close. No. We are not! Remember to Finish. No early celebrations, no thinking ahead. Be here now and Finish it. Southside goes short and has the "in" ball. Chops has lagged long and the Stompers are down to their last ball. The tension is as dense as the granite that produced the fill for these courts. Delio takes his time and lags his ball through traffic. It comes to rest 2 inches closer than our ball. Clutch. Stompers take the point. It's 11-9. They haven't won 5 SHBC Summer Championships because they're lucky. The next frame begins with the Pallino being thrown two-thirds of the way down the court, slightly to the right of center. It's a back and forth affair. The Dogs are "in," then the Stompers, then the Dogs and finally with their last ball the Stompers have the point.
One Hone Dog ball left. The Stomper ball is about two feet away, to the right and behind the Pallino. Our next closest is about a foot away from their ball. All the balls are behind the Pallino, which leaves an unobstructed line towards the Pallino... or their ball. Underboss is up and remembers the line from his first ball, which ended up almost exactly where the Stomper ball now rests. There is a slight break from right to left but with the correct speed the line should be found by aiming 4 inches to the right of the Denny's ball. No more contemplation, we're way past that point now. See it. Feel it. Do it. There is no try. The last thought: Don't be short. The release is smooth, speed is a bit firm, but the line is true. The green ball hits the red ball flush and knocks it back two feet leaving itself in for the point. It's over. Hone Dogs win 12-9.
As a testament to the level of play in the Final, the Lag Ratings for all the Dogs were off the charts: Capo 2.77, Underboss 2.67, Patron 2.47 and Ahren 2.46. We did it... Emotions explode. Joy. Disbelief. Awe, all at once. We have persevered through the playoff gauntlet. We have endured the pressure, the emotions, the waiting, the elements and the exhaustion. We have weathered veteran comebacks, extreme deficits and extraordinary skill levels. We have achieved our goal. We are the St. Helena Recreation Dept. Fall '09 Champions. Let the wild rumpus start.
Leave In Front Follow That Line Love Your Balls