Masters Division Coverage - Day Three

By Bil Elsinger

Fat Boys – Old and In the Way

Old and In the Way goes up in the first half of their semifinal game against the Fat Boys. They have a two point lead at times, and take half 8-7. Both teams are playing mostly man D, and long scores are coming for both. Mark Houska is both catching and throwing scores for the Fat Boys, and Randy Ricks is throwing goals while Renzo Verbeck gets some big grabs for Old and In the Way. At 8s, there are several calls in a row, but it's Ricks again, this time to Jeff Bryant in front of a horizontal Fat Boy for 9-8. OIW scores again after a Fat Boy throwaway, and they add one more as David Ellsworth connects with Bo Esrey and the Fat Boys are in trouble, 11-8. Fat Boy Bradley Strahan lays out on an endzone bid, but the wind carries the disc away, but OIW throws into the ground and the Fat Boys convert to stop the OIW run 11-9.Geir Kvaran throws a disc while prone on the ground and OIW is back up three. Esrey scores again off a Buzz Ellsworth huck, and the game is getting away from the St. Louis crew. A bunch of turns later, OIW goes up 14-9 as Jeff Bryant barely keeps it in bounds with a man on. Mark Kelly lays out to the lefty hammer (0345) and it's 14-10. OIW goes on to win.

Kavu and the Refugees

The Refugees go up early in their game against Kavu. They take a 2-0 lead, and hold on until just before half to go up 8-5. Lots of turns by both teams in the first half, as they both play man D with maybe one point of zone. Kavu drops in the endzone but there's a quick drop the other way out of the half. Another Kavu turn is followed by a Kavu D, and Kavu finally gets the score. 8-6.

A few turns later, Kavu calls time just short of the goal. Kavu scores and it's 8-7. The Refugees work the disc up after the pull, have no cuts, then suddenly have two, and a desperation throw at a high stall results in a throwaway. Kavu works it up to the goal line, but turns on a swing pass, and the Refugees score to stay up 2. 9-7.

Kavu turns, the Refugees try to go long but get Ded, Kavu gets stuck on their own endzone line, the Refugees fail to punch it in again, Kavu's huck is too short, the Refugees turn on a break, and Kavu brings it back to Pat Benson to get back within one, 9-8. A Refugee player is issued a yellow card after ignoring warnings about grabbing opposing players' jerseys. The game goes on.

Michael Lauber gets up to get the D on some swill for Kavu, but he promptly throws the disc away into the endzone. Miami's next throw gets caught in a wind gust, but Kavu turns again. Neither team can score, as Kavu is having difficulty getting it anywhere upfield. The Refugees finally score on a risky throw just in front of a laying out Kavu player, and it's 10-8.

Kavu is having major trouble getting it off of their own endzone line, as Miami is playing very tough D. Miami's D team isn't taking care of the disc, however, so the turns are flowing both ways.

Kavu's next huck gets Ded. Kavu gets two tips on D, but Miami's Steve Fisher almost grabs the floating disc in the endzone. If his hand weren't wrapped up to the wrist, it's possible that he would've had it. He comes out for an injury sub after his layout. Kavu works the disc down the field, but throws it into a lying out Refugee defender. Miami hucks out of bounds, Kavu continues to have troubles getting it past the fronting Miami D. Typical is a couple swing passes, then no open cuts coming underneath, and few mid cuts at all. Miami finally puts it in from 20 yards out as Rob Cotleur throws the score. 11-8.

After a turn, Miami has the disc just a meter out and stuck in the corner. Bill Sherrerd of Kavu lays out into the sideline to stop a force side look, then gets up and gets the D on a forced Miami throw (0365). Kavu throws a hospital pass up, and three converge. An injury results as well as a turn. Kavu puts on a zone, which Miami's Erik Peterson hucks over to David Dewitt. 12-8. Kavu throws into the ground, and Miami scores another to take a non-surmounted lead.

This year's Master's finals gives us one of the older teams around, Old and In the Way, and one of the newer (to Masters, that is), the Miami Refugees.

Coming off a strong second half in their previous game, Old and In the Way is charging hard while the Refugees struggled to finish their game against Kavu. The Refugees get the first score of the finals, as Erik Peterson connects to Garrett Crosbie. Old and In the Way comes back to tie with Randy Ricks delivering the disc to Dave Banks. Another score by Dave Kelly of the Refugees is matched by tall Dave Smith's goal. Old and In the Way then goes on a run, with Jeff Van Spriell catching a goal, and Bo Esrey catching two. Heath Mackay throws the first two for OIW. The Refugees don't let things get too far out of hand as Monte Adler throws their next score, and the Miami team puts on a two point run of their own. OIW Rob Bleiberg hits Jeff Bryant for point 6 to make it 6-5, and OIW is off to the races as they take four points in a row to go up 9-5. with a Randy Rick to Dave Banks huck, a great throw from Heath Mackay to Bryant, and Buzz Ellsworth hitting Brian Oliver. The Refugees stem the flow with a Butch Brown shot to Steve Fisher, and the Open Semi game between Furious and Ring finally ends. The Refugees start playing zone around this point, as both teams have been playing mostly man. This works, as OIW drops on an upfield throw through the cup. OIW is still playing man, and Ricks gets nice layout for a D. Lanky Dave Banks drops another long throw that trails off suddenly, and the Refugees (REF) work it down as Dave Kelly hits Parker Gillum.

Jimmy Glynn lays out just in front of his defense, as Karl Heuerman's huck results in an OIW score for 10-7. Miami work it down again, and it's Gillum on the receiving end of another Kelly assist. That takes us to 10-8, and a long point (time-wise, but not throw-wise). Five or six Miami calls in a row, with a few travels and a couple fouls have everyone grumbling. There are some complaints by the crowd, as Miami seems to be calling a lot of ticky-tack violations. Tension from the number of calls can be seen on everyone's face, and a lot of time is spent here talking things through. OIW's handlers may not be keeping their toes firmly planted on their throws, but Miami is not being forgiving at all as they interrupt OIW's flow repeatedly. Little advantage is being gained by OIW, but at least some of the calls are technically valid. After a few calls, the disc goes off the chest of an OIW player. Miami throws out of bound (OOB), but OIW's swing hits a big gust of wind, and while OIW gives a great effort with a layout bid and some finger contact, the disc is just too far away. Milan Hoopler throws a short pass to Rob Cotleur as the Refugees finally convert on the close to the endzone turnover.

REF comes with a zone again and their four man cup. OIW works it up and gets a score, but the score comes back on an earlier travel call that had occurred in the middle of the break. There is a LOT of discussion, and for a long time, the REF cup stands around the OIW traveler as they don't respond to requests to move back to where they were at the point of the call. Eventually this occurs (after a long long time), and the sidelines are now actively booing calls. Ricks throws some nice hammers once play restarts, and Ellsworth has a nice backhand blade to move the disc up the field, but a later short throw is low (but hanging) and several folks go for it. There's a call, but whatever it is it's a turn. REF throws to no one and the cup is back. A drop from OIW and a footblock seems to save face, but a call is made and upheld. REF Kelly throws to Gillum for the big time tie score. That's a three point swing already, and OIW is looking a bit stunned.

OIW throws away, but an earlier travel call actually helps them as the disc comes back to that spot. OIW uses the opportunity to huck into the endzone, but it's a turn. REF Pablo Saade throws to Hooper and the Refugees are up and not showing signs of letting up.

This time REF shows Man, and a misread by an OIW player near the endzone after OIW works it down the field doesn't help the hanging throw. Neither does the defender separating the disc and OIW. REF drops, however, and OIW has another chance. Gillum intercepts a pass intended for the endzone and Butch Brown throws a goal to Todd Demetriades to give the Refugees a 12-10 lead.

OIW is making mistakes throughout this run, and in turn are not playing tough enough D. Miami does get some breaks, and up to this point hasn't really been valuing the disc too much. A few come from nowhere Ds help them out.

Their run does not stop as turns by both teams and a handblock by Luis Casteleiro turns into a score as he picks the disc up and takes the short pass to Hooper for the score. Miama 13-10. That's 6 points in a row if you aren't keeping track.

OIW has another mistake, as they throw too high on a comeback cut near their own endzone, and Adler throws the score. On the next point, OIW hucks too far and later throws too low after a nice handblock by Glynn. REF works it up and Pablo Saade hits Fisher for 8 in a row. Cap goes on and the game is to 17. OIW is looking either tired, or a bit old, as they can't seem to keep up on D. There may be some purposeful poaching, but if so it's not working as the Refugees are moving the disc and are now taking better care of it. The Miami defense is also stepping up and is taking away the underneath cuts, and when OIW takes the huck, they aren't converting. OIW is having trouble getting open, and some of the turns are because of the pressure, as around this time OIW is punting at high stall counts.

On the next point, Hooper gets the D on a floaty huck, and a few throws later Saade hits Fisher for their 16th score. Saade is tackled by a woman who rushes him from the sideline as she celebrates REF's 9th point in a row.

OIW finally comes back with Glynn huck to Bo Esrey for the game's penultimate point, as the Refugees work it up the field on the next point and finish the game with Hooper to David Dewitt.

Several of the Master's games have seen big runs in the second half, but this one was hard to believe. I had actually written the game off as not that interesting with the 10-7 OIW lead. The calls pretty much stopped once the Refugees were up and it was clear that they were going to take it, but a lot of folks left complaining about the ugliness of the game.

After the game, the winner of the Masters Spirit Award was announced. The former World Champion Kegworkers of America reminded everyone of the spirit that once reigned on the field.

All ideas expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the UPA