Week 5 Wrap – Math Enthusiasts/Bad Ass MCs Gets Back on Track with 16-8 Win Over Bears, Beets, and Battlestar Galactica

It was a night to remember for Math Enthusiasts (3-2) as the team resumed its winning ways to beat Bears and Beets (2-3) by the final tally of 16-8. After being on travel for two weeks, Captain Ivey Wohlfed returned to action to lead her team into battle on the uneven green astroturf. Wohlfed cranked up the energy in Tom Tom by giving a rousing pre-game speech and cheer. Meanwhile, although he forgot to bring his early 90’s style BoomBox to the bocce courts, Nick Cavallaro generated some buzz of his own by encouraging his teammates to put their candy necklaces around their heads in what he referred to as “Pocahontas Style.”

The team came out fired up with a 10-0 scoring campaign in the first six frames of play. The early rally was a complete team effort. After each spent time on the IR, Chris Stephenson and Chrissy Megariotis both returned to play and contributed to the team’s scoring surge in a huge way. Veteran roller Francesca Blanco also scored several key points, continuing her personal drive for the team’s “golden ball” award for the most points scored in a season.

Despite finding their team down early, the ladies of Bears and Beets refused to go quietly in the

night. They valiantly fought back their way back into the game and narrowed the score to 11-8 with only 15 minutes remaining in the match. However, the “signature” Nantucket Red trousers that Chris Mullins wore to the game proved to be the deciding factor in the match. Mullins stood at the end of the court and Bears and Beets had a very difficult time differentiating between Mullins’ pants and the red bocce balls of Math Enthusiasts. Math Enthusiasts capitalized on the distraction. Wohlfed used needle-like precision and Cavallaro used brute strength to finish the game on a 5-0 scoring run for Math Enthusiasts to end the game by the final score of 16-8.

After the game, Chris Stephenson took questions from the media. Some media critics questioned whether the Math Enthusiasts may have run up the score on Bears and Beets when they could have simply nursed the clock. Stephenson responded, “You play to win the game. Hello? You play. To WIN. The GAME. You don't play to just play it... When you start telling me it doesn't matter, then retire, get out, because it matters... One thing I know, I don't quit. That will not happen.”

With the regular season complete, it appears that Math Enthusiasts have secured the coveted 13th seed for the DC Bocce League playoffs. Although there are no games next week because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the team is planning on gathering to watch the film Mean Girls, the movie led to the creation of the team’s name.

And that’s a wrap…

Candy necklaces, Week 5 and charitable giving!

Helping others is 'sweet'; that's why DC Bocce League wants to reward your generosity with a childhood favorite candy! Bring a donation item or monetary contribution for Miriam's Kitchen to your Week 5 Indoor Bocce game this Tuesday, 11/16 in Adams Morgan (Tom Tom) or Wednesday, 11/17 in Capitol Hill (American Legion/Pour House), and you'll receive a candy necklace (and that warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing you helped someone in need!) The top three teams that bring in the most items will win a gift certificate to their sponsor bar.

Miriam's Kitchen is a local organization that has been providing healthy, homemade meals and comprehensive support services to homeless men and women since 1983. Nutritious meals are served every weekday to more than 4,000 homeless individuals each year, and the majority of the guests are chronically homeless.

Let's give thanks this time of year for the existence of organizations like Miriam's Kitchen that assist those in need in our community, and contribute the following items from their wish list:

• Toothbrushes
• Men's socks/underware
• Hot chocolate
• Marshmallows
• Men's razors
• Ground coffee

More information about Miriam's Kitchen cab be found at www.miriamskitchen.org.

Don't be the only one caught without edible bling during the Week 5 games... go out and pick up items today!

Veteran's Day Celebration

Come one come all to your local American Legion's Veteran's Day Celebration! DC Bocce's very own American Legion Post 8 is hosting their Veteran's Day festival today at Folger Park starting at 11am! Following the outdoor portion everyone will move into the auditorium space at the Legion (where we usually play bocce) for lunch for all in attendance. Every is encourage to attend, especially those with a "vacation" day today. And it's the biggest Legion event of the year. The timing of the event is significant because fighting during WWI ceased when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. We hope you all can make it and show support for our nation's troops and veteran's.

And remember, in honor of Veteran’s Day this week and to recognize our service men and women, DC Bocce is donating $3 for every new “Like” we receive on our Facebook page. Proceeds go to the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a local organization providing assistance to injured service members and their families. Tell your friends on Facebook and help us support our nation’s veterans.

Week 4 Wrap - Ball Bustas Down Math Enthusiasts/Bad Ass MC’s 16-13

Down to only two rollers, Math Enthusiasts (2-2) lost a slugfest to Ball Bustas (2-2) 13-16. With Nick Cavallaro, Dionna Fry, and Ivey Wohlfeld all out on travel and Chris Stephenson and Chrissy Megariotis still on the IR due to nagging illness, the pressure was on the backs of rookie Chris Mullins and acting captain Francesca Blanco to carry the team.

As has been the case all season, Math Enthusiasts got off to a slow start and failed to score in the first three frames, allowing Ball Bustas to build a 5-0 lead. However, the Math Enthusiasts fought back to even the score. During the match, the lead changed five times until Math Enthusiasts found themselves up 13-12 going into the last three frames.

One Tom Tom busboy compared the match to the great 1923 heavy weight fight between Jack Dempsey and Luis Firpo – a furious assault of punches from the competitors as they fought their hearts out on the mat. The energy, the passion, and the drive of the competitors left the sellout crowd screaming and cheering from beginning to end.

However, without any reserves on the bench, Math Enthusiasts were unable to land the crucial knock out punch. Ball Bustas twice snatched scoring opportunities from Math Enthusiasts with clutch frame-ending rolls, taking the final three frames, 1-0, 1-0, 2-0. Exhausted, bruised, and bloody from the marathon match, the teams shook hands on congratulated each other for epic performances.

Chris Mullins was nowhere to be found following the game, heading for the showers and avoiding reporters. However, Francesca Blanco addressed the media from the podium. Part of the transcript from the post-game press conference was available for immediate release:

Reporter: Are you concerned with your team’s loss this evening?

Francesca: Playoffs are the only thing that counts in this league…until we reach the playoffs we’re just talking about practice.

Reporter: Have you had a conversation with your team about the importance of practice?

Francesca: It's easy to sum it up if you're just talking about practice. We're sitting here, and I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're talking about practice. I mean listen, we're sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we're talking about practice. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game last it's my last but we're talking about practice man. How silly is that?

Math Enthusiasts slid all the way down to the #18 spot in the DC Bocce Power Rankings this week. The team is back in action next Tuesday at 8:00 pm on the red court against Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica (2-2) and looking to end its two game slide. Candy necklaces will be available for purchase with donations going to charity. And that a wrap…

Veteran's Day Fundraiser on Facebook

In honor of Veteran’s Day, DC Bocce wants to recognize our service men and women with a charity drive to support the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a local organization providing assistance to injured service members and their families. We will donate $3 to Yellow Ribbon for every new “Like” we receive on our Facebook page this week as we approach 1,000 fans. Tell your friends on Facebook and help us support our nation’s veterans.