ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN – Typically when five men encounter a wet runway leading to a moist hole, it’s going to be a hell of a night. But not on this night in Royal Oak.
The humid air combined with on and off rain made scoring conditions challenging for the players. Cornhole rates dipped significantly with every player averaging less than 0.32 per round (league average is 0.46 per round), primarily due wet boards.
Nonetheless, the competition was fierce, highlighted by the JV-Paul rivalry. In Game 2 the rivalry was on full display with these guys going head-to-head, and their partners (Erik as Paul’s partner, Coach Mike as JV’s) grabbed their popcorn to enjoy the show.
JV raced out of the gates, outscoring Paul 21-16 through the first seven rounds, leading his squad to a 12-5 advantage. But Paul dropped two cornholes and another on the board in the eighth round to top JV 7-3, closing the game to 13-9. As Erik and Coach collected bags at the other end, Paul tauntingly stared at JV and took a pull from his cigar. JV refused to acknowledge Paul, and let his bags do the talking.
Over the next four rounds JV dominated Paul 14-7, including a 6-1 advantage in the 12th round to close the game, 21-10. Paul had played JV relatively evenly through eight rounds, but the taunting pushed JV to another level. He finished the match outscoring Paul, 38-30.
GAME OF THE NIGHT
The initial match of the evening had unexpected tension and fireworks – JV and Erik squared off against Coach Mike and Galz.
It was a 15 round heavyweight bout – literally, this match went 15 rounds thanks to the conditions tempering cornhole rates (only 10 total cornholes in the match).
Maybe the lack of cornholes created an ornery JV because from the moment bags were tossed he was bickering with Coach Mike, and seemed restless. It did fuel him to a 19-12 head-to-head advantage through six rounds, while Erik surprisingly bested Galz during the same period, 14-13. The result was a big 12-4 lead for JV and Erik.
Coach and Galz did their best to battle back, cutting the deficit to 15-10 later in the match. But they’d get no closer thanks to Erik stalemating Galz and JV digging deep to bury Coach. The score was 18-12 in the 15th round and JV landed his first three bags on the board, while Coach Mike scored two of his three tosses.
JV had a 3-2 advantage (and the game was now 19-12) with one bag remaining. Coach Mike had the honor and fired his final bag wide of the board. JV reached back and delivered a dart toward the hole – would it be long enough? The wet conditions caused the players to practically have to airmail to score three points.
JV’s final bag slammed the back of the hole and dropped down! An airmail to win the game! A testy JV hollered and then air-jacked off in Coach Mike’s face. Really ballsy move considering Coach Mike has put people in the bottom of a river for much less than that.
The 21-12 final score didn’t do justice to the intensity of the match, easily the best of the night. JV’s airmail to clinch the game also earns him this week’s Mushroom Stamp Moment. Congratulations to JV for claiming another MSM.
NEWS AND NOTES
Erik was 1-3 and couldn’t find the hole, yet he was 51% accurate and was excellent in his head-to-head match with Galz in Game 1, only losing 38-35. Battling Galz closely head-to-head helped his team pull off a 21-12 victory.
Coach Mike struggled with a 1-3 record and 6.8 KPM, despite solid accuracy at 53%. He was also the recipient of an air ejaculation from JV. Yet, nothing could ruin his mood because it’s Thursday and we’re playing cornhole – when he wasn’t playing, he was on the sidelines joining KP in a night dance party.
Galz went 2-2 and couldn’t beat a JV-led team on this night. He did have a solid night though, shooting 65%, averaging 3.2 gross points per round and posted a 9.2 KPM despite only 0.29 cornholes per round.
Paul had a solid night at 2-2, but the feather in his cap is outscoring Galz head-to-head in two games, 44-34.
Although cornhole rates were down, accuracy increased for all players. Everyone’s accuracy exceeded 50%, except Paul and he was awfully close at 48%. JV led the way with 73%, following by Galz (65%), Coach Mike (53%), Erik (51%), and then Paul.
Thanks primarily to the conditions causing lack of cornholes, nobody topped the 10.0 KPM mark this week. JV and Galz were close at 9.7 and 9.2, respectively.
