News: Racquetball Silver League Finals!

Date Published	Author
12/19/2025 12:00:00 AM

Racquetball Silver League Finals!

Doyle v. Mel
When all of this craziness started, Doyle was at a disadvantage. Doyle is a busy man with a busy schedule. So busy that he actually had to forfeit his first game. This was an immediate win for Mel. With the pressure on, Doyle had to win the next game, or it was all over for him. Both players were frantic. Doyle because the next game could take him straight out of the running for first. Mel because she had been warming up for 30 minutes longer than she had meant to. With both players at a disadvantage of their own, the battle began. Mel and Doyle were throwing it down. After a couple minutes of game play, it was impossible to guess who had the upperhand. Slowly Doyle began to reach deep within himself. Much like Ang’s connection with all the Avatars that came before him, Doyle began consulting internally with the spirits of the past racquetball champions of Seward. What felt like decades to Doyle, went by in a matter of seconds for the rest of the population. “You must be able to harness all four elements in order to beat your opponent”... is what I assume these spirits told him. Anywho, Doyle did manage to secure the (technically) second game meaning another game was in the books. While Mel played hard, its hard to go up against someone who has mastered all four elements. As this game would only be played to 11 points, Doyle managed to keep Mel down to three points in game three. Well done Doyle, the odds were against you but you pulled through. 


Chad v. Francisco
With half of the final game secured, game two was all about who would go toe to toe with Doyle. Both Francisco and Chad felt certain it would be them. Their confidence was such that a small piece of my  brain thought maybe somehow it would be both. Alas, this is impossible, and would not be the case. Game one began, and it felt like watching the start of a dog race. As the kids say, the energy in the room went from zero to one hundred in the blink of an eye.  Both men were immediately in the zone as if they were remotely put into sport mode by some unseen being. After some back and forth, Chad’s eyes began to start glowing a golden hue. The air began to vibrate at a noticeable pace. Something was taking place. Chad was evolving. Francisco’s defenses were keeping Chad at bay, and his offense was even breaking through, but with Chad in this new mysterious state, the game began to lean in his favor. Then, as quickly as it had started, the game was over. Chad secured the first win with a score of 15-6. 
Game two began and Francisco was looking to change the stars. Right out of the gate, Francisco was an animal. Stories of the power and speed we witnessed last Wednesday will be passed down from generation to generation until the very last member of our species finally etches it into stone for future species to discover. Chad, still in his… advanced state, was undeterred. While the rest of the world cowered in fear and admiration, Chad and Francisco, unaware of the calamities caused by their gameplay, could not break focus for even a moment. As the game entered its final minutes, Chad’s points began to climb until he (after what felt like hours) managed to secure his spot amongst the top two. 



Mel v. Francisco
This game was a true testament to these two athletes' stamina and ability. After a tough game against the reigning champ, Mel was back at it as if it was her first game. Francisco had about five minutes between his game against Chad and this one but he jumped right in like he was being paid. Both of these athletes were exhausted heading into this game, but what they lacked in energy, they made up for in commitment. The beginning of the game was eerie. Similar to the short period of time before a tsunami hits, all the creatures began to flee Seward. Our little mountain town turned quiet. No dogs barking in the distance, no birds chirping. I think the construction folks working on the docks might have even fled town because even that was quiet. They say animals have a sixth sense. One that tells them when a natural phenomenon is about to happen. Well, we here at Sports and Rec clearly don’t have this sense because no one was prepared for what occurred in that little racquetball court. The game began, and Mel was off to an early lead. Francisco was looking strong, but was still dealing with some fatigue from the game before. Mel started to take the lead. The temperature in the racquetball court was heating up. I wanted to tell these two players that their energy output was far too high. I reached for the door handle but it was glowing red hot. There was nothing that could be done but let the game play out. Finally there was silence. Mel had won the game. The door opened and an ocean of sweat poured out of the court flooding the lobby. The score was 15-6 but they weren’t done quite yet. Francisco had one more chance to give it all he had, and he did. Back into the court they went. 
Heading back into the court, both Mel and Francisco knew that this was their last chance to show the world what they could do. Before the serve, the two smiled at each other. A kind gesture, if it weren’t for the bloodlust hiding behind each pair of eyes. The game began and I immediately started having flashbacks to the French Revolution. This game was so intense, that I was getting flashes of a war I was never involved in. The back and forth in this game went on for at least a hundred years. Maybe historians will some day dub this the “100 years war”. Anywho, Francisco was holding his own this time. In fact, by the time the game had ended, both players had broken the 10 point barrier. Mel, only a few points in the lead, was ready to end the game. The score was a nail biting 11-15. Mel was our 3rd place finisher, and Francisco secured the respectable 4th place. Well done you two. We look forward to seeing you in the spring league!






Chad v. Doyle
As many of you already know, this was a very important game. Not just any game. No. This one was important because this game would elevate the winner to heights most of us can only dream of. There was time before the match for each player to execute their pre-battle ritual. For Chad, this took the form of a beautiful dance. One both intimidating, and elegant. For Doyle, the ritual was more one of silent contemplation. Doyle’s eyes went white, he froze, and didn’t speak for minutes. I am pretty sure he was just focusing before the game… No need for concern… Anywho, with both players in the zone, and ready to put a nail in the Fall 2025 Silver Racquetball League season, the game began. Doyle was off to a relatively quick start. Doyle has won this league before, and Chad was determined to keep that from happening again. The stakes were high for Chad. Sitting right outside the glass was Spencer, Chad’s harshest critic. While losing this game for Doyle meant he got second in a very competitive league, losing this game for Chad meant hours of rigorous training under Spencer’s heavy boot. If you ask anyone except Spencer, game one was a strong game for both competitors. Doyle had the upperhand throughout the game but never by much. Each time Doyle would put up a point, Chad would be there to take the serve and even it up. Ultimately, Doyle ended up winning the first game with a score of 8 to 15. 
Game two was where the real drama was. When I think of the perfect final game of a great racquetball season, this is the kind of game I think of. There was a crowd watching this game, and for each person in attendance, there were two eyeballs glued to the glass. Usually, when a racquetball game starts, it becomes apparent who is going to win in the first few minutes. This game however, was up in the air until about the last minute. Both players focus was beyond my ADHD brain’s comprehension. What I saw in that court was something my doctor could never prescribe. Mountains shook every time the ball bounced off a racquet. You can thank Chad and Doyle for all of those glide avalanches in the pass. With only seconds left in the game, everyone was convinced we would see a third game, but just when it mattered the most, Doyle turned on the heat and took the win. The final score was 12-15. Another season, another Doyle! Well done competitors! We’ll see you tonight at the sports league party!