We have finally made it to the post-skeeson, and just in case you don’t already take the playoff’s seriously, here’s a little video to put you in the right frame of mind.
(Skip to 1:58)
(Warning- NSFW Language)
Now that I have your attention, congratulations! You are 1 of 175 players playing on 1 of 58 teams that still has a shot at taking home a Champion’s Cup on SKEE-A-PALOOZA. Unfortunately, there can only be ONE champion!
Just a word of advice from me (SKEESON III Champion) to you. The secret to advancing in this tournament is consistency. It takes all 3 members on your team to accomplish this feat. Even if you’ve had some rough performances, you need to forget everything that has happened in the regular skeeson. Now is your time to shine and this is your second and last chance to come through for your team, one round at a time.
For this playoff preview, I will talk about each night’s matches with a key early round matchup, some rollers to keep an eye on, who the favorite is, give a wild card team and announce an upset alert. Let’s begin…
Tuesday
Key Matchup: (4) The Buttskees vs. (5) Skeebaggers 7:00pm
The Buttskees: Mallory Milluzzi (353.71 AVG), Dave Daly (305.86 AVG), Dan Crone (259.50 AVG)
Skeebaggers: Emily Brightman (321.43 AVG), Valerie Craig (299 AVG), Joan Cabaddu (298.71 AVG)
The Buttskees will win if: Mallory continues to do what she has done and gets help from Dave and Dan.
Skeebaggers will win if: If they have the scoring balance where all 3 rollers are playing well.
Rollers to Watch:
Peter Wolff (We SexSKEE and We Know It): Rolled very well down the stretch and needed to make a surprise playoff run.
Anthony Zades (You Are Tearing Skee Apart, Lisa!): Besides JD Mynhier, he was the best rookskee player on this night.
Jon Byars (Three Skeets to the Wind): Not having a good of a Skeeson V as oppose to IV, but has proven he can get it going around at this time.
Grant Craig (R2Skee2): A player who can roll well without going for hundos, but he has started going to it as the skeeson moved along. Will he go for them in the playoffs?
Dan Metivier (Skee Dog Night): Scott Alleman’s partner probably had his best skeeson ever, showing why they were a 1st place team.
Tuesday Favorites: #1 Skee Dog Night
Scott Alleman (354.14 AVG), Dan Metivier (333.29 AVG), Missy Hillyer (308.14 AVG)
They haven’t been to Saturday since Skeeson I, but I do believe this is their best shot to date.
Wild Card Team: #5 Skeebaggers
They always seem to play their best in the playoffs. They love playing on this stage.
Upset Alert: #6 Three Skeets to the Wind
Chantal Montrone (319.29 AVG), Melissa Sereda (298 AVG), Jon Byars (297.43 AVG)
If all 3 can play like they are capable of, I think they can beat #3 R2Skee2 and perhaps further.
Wednesday
Key Matchup: (3) Kamikaskees vs. (6) Tenacious SKEE: The Roll of Destiny 7:00pm
Kamikaskees: Erin Brown (366.14 AVG), Stephanie Ohrt (331.29 AVG), Amy Wickett (279.86 AVG)
Tenacious SKEE: The Roll of Destiny: Kristin McMurray (322.43 AVG), Erin Beyers (300.57 AVG), Jennifer Feucht (297.71 AVG)
Kamikaskees will win if: Erin continues knocking down the hundos, Stephanie continues her improved play, and Amy continues to be moderate.
Tenacious SKEE will win if: Kristin continues to lead her team with her play. She is now the best player on her team. Also, Jen needs to round into her old form.
Rollers to Watch:
Jennifer Stewart (Charlskee’s Angels): Behind Mike Foster, she was the next best rookskee on this night.
Natalie Breymeyer (SKEE-Ball So Hard): She has improved very nicely this skeeson from an all-around standpoint.
Joe Halleran (SKEE-Ball So Hard): Natalie’s skeemate is having another nice skeeson. He can string combos in a game.
Abby Minegar (Ay SKEE Wa Wa!): Abby has been trying to work on her game after missing most of the 1st half of the skeeson. Very dangerous roller when she has it going.
Treo Benny (EPMskee): Having been the leader of a new team, he has continue his high level of play.
Wednesday Favorites: #1 WhiSKEE Dix
Lauren Gillaspey (365.14 AVG), Elliot Freirich (348.57 AVG), MJ Luppino (340.71 AVG)
They are the slight favorites with A.Skee Slater, Kamikaskees, and Ay SKEE Wa Wa! having a good shot to knocking them off. They all have won numerous individual awards. They all know what it is like to come close to playing on Saturday. Only time will tell.
Wild Card Team: #4 A.Skee Slater
Katie Nierzwicki (362.43 AVG), Eleanor Comiskey (348 AVG), Meghan Scully (197.63 AVG)
Katie and Eleanor can carry one win on their shoulders, but to go farther, Meghan has to provide stability as the 3rd roller.
Upset Alert: #6 Tenacious SKEE: The Roll of Destiny
They did beat the defending league champions in the Skeeson III playoffs, and gave the eventual champions a run for their money in Skeeson IV. Can they pull it off again?
Thursday
Key Matchup: (10) Notorious B.I.SKEE vs. (7) O.M.Skee 6:00pm
Notorious B.I.SKEE: Jim Kelly (315 AVG), Dominic Gambino (287 AVG), Dan Springer (278 AVG)
O.M.Skee: AJ Livsey (321.71 AVG), Kira Bigwood (245.43 AVG), Lindsay Stevens (202 AVG)
Notorious B.I.SKEE will win if: They carry a balanced scoring approach like they have when they won games this skeeson.
O.M.Skee will win if: Lindsey, ignore the adjusted average, and AJ continue to play well together and Kira continues her Week 8 ending to the skeeson.
Rollers to Watch:
Katy Ponte (PEELANDER-SKEE): Has been a nice compliment to Kyle on the team, and can dominate at times.
Paul Darter (One Hundred and Eighty): Seem to have found his groove in the second half of the skeeson and is getting close to Skeeson III form.
Craig Shimala (Skee Wee’s Playhouse): He followed a great rookskee season with a solid 2nd skeeson, and is emerging as the team’s best roller.
Pete Procaccio (Kick His Ass, Skee Bass): When he has played this skeeson, he can be the best player in the match.
Mike D’Amico (S.M.N.H.): Had some early skeeson struggles, but seems to have found his game back over the past 2 weeks.
Thursday Favorites: #1 SKEENAGE MUTANT NINJA HUNDOS
Dave Faust (362.43 AVG), Josh Reed (353.57 AVG), Mike D’Amico (337.14 AVG)
They are the heavy favorites and have the easiest road to get back to SKEE-A-PALOOZA Saturday for the 2nd straight year. Any one of the guys on this team can go off at any time, and all have the ability to put up a 400+ round. That said, Kick His Ass, Skee Bass and PEELANDER-SKEE do have a puncher’s chance against them.
Wild Card Team: #3 Skee Wee’s Playhouse
Craig Shimala (327.71 AVG), Jess Hanebury (314.14 AVG), Kate Napleton (255.88 AVG)
They can get to the division finals if Craig continues to excel and Jess and Kate find their consistency. Can Jess finally get a combo bracelet???
Upset Alert: #10 Notorious B.I.SKEE
If they can get by O.M.Skee in the 1st round, they will have some momentum going before facing PEELANDER-SKEE. With their scoring and balance, they can give PEELANDER-SKEE a run for their money in the quarterfinals.
That’s it for your playoff preview. Now it’s time for you to:
SKEE BIG OR GO HOME!!!
Good luck!
Jman
