Last night was a double header for Ultimate. We needed to win both games to play in the finals. For me this season has been great. The team I am part of is a great group of people who really got the game. We had a number of people who could teach the newer players, and I actually offered a few tips here and there too.

The first game was against a team we had only beaten by one point. They have one player that is awesome on defence. Actually, he is just awesome since he just got back from playing in the worlds, but he is especially awesome on D. Any time I was handling for this game I checked where he was and avoided throwing to that location. The rest of the team, for the most part, did the same.

I ran hard, played hard, and threw well. I also wasn’t afraid to layout. Near the beginning of the game my check broke away from me for the end zone and the thrower hucked it hard. We both chased after the disc with him one step ahead of me. I could see he was going to catch it, so I gave it my all and at the last possible moment dove for it. With a big swat I knocked the disc out of the air as he was reaching for it. Thankfully the grass was soft and I didn’t hurt anything with my dive and roll.

During the first game I also had a few good diving catches. I was catching well this game and I was proud of that.

One zoned offense when I was handling we were swinging the disc well, but not making much progress up field. I got the disc and I could see one of our players in the end zone, open from everyone. The only way to get it to him was a hammer. I threw it up, and it was perfect. It arced perfectly and landed in his hands with little movement from him.

Nearing the end of the game we were tied 12-12. Universe point, just like the last time we played this team. I headed off the field and sent another team mate on. Moments later he called me back. The captain called a set line and I was one of the players she wanted on. We worked the disc up field when we got possession, but that one player was always lurking, waiting for his chance to D block the disc.

I passed to one of the women handlers, she took one look, and one of our long strikers broke for a sideline. The tough D player didn’t follow. The handler put up the disc, the striker caught it, and we won!

Game two was going to be a much more difficult game. We played the team earlier in the season, and somehow managed to beat them. Once we started we were shocked at how relentless they were. Quickly we were down 3-0 and our egos were shattered. Time to rebuild and get moving.

On one of our pulls, it was a high hanging pull that dropped in the far right corner. I booted down the field and saw where the first pass was going. I pushed as hard as I could to intercept and came oh so very close. The recipient was visibly shaken that I had got there so quickly and was so close to intercepting. After a couple more throws there was a turnover and we capitalized for out first point.

Unfortunately no matter how hard I tried we kept getting beat. Our teams morale dipped, then someone went on a beer run and that was the end of our game. We had a good time, but we were not running nearly hard enough. We ended up losing 13-4.

At the end of the night I was drained, sweaty, dirty and sore. It was a great season full of hard played ultimate. Definitely one of my favourite summer league seasons. Next week the finals are being played, and I think our team is going to play another for a fun game for third/fourth spot. Time to figure out another source of exercise.

Wednesday night’s Ulti game was frustrating and a little demoralizing. We lost. We lost big. At one point the game was 12-1. It ended 15-4. I’m still trying to figure out what went wrong.

I think it boiled down to the whole team making a lot of rookie mistakes. We weren’t playing well, we weren’t running well, we weren’t trying hard, we weren’t holding our force, and we weren’t checking well.

I gave it my all on the field, but my throwing was off for this game. I threw too many blades and high passes that were intercepted. After a while I stopped volunteering to be a handler. This worked out much better since I was catching very well.

One of the things I practice when warming up is catching with my left hand. I actually had to make a left handed catch in the game.

I dove a few times as well. I made a couple good diving catches that helped us keep possession, and I made one defensive dive that I was sure missed the disc. We were in the end zone and as I got up I was sure that my check was going to be standing there with the disc. Instead he was walking away and my team was setting up our play. I never learned what happened, but I guess I got in the way enough to cause him to miss.

I called one foul. In the end zone on offense I was jumping up to catch the disc. I was stopped when I jumped and went straight up. I owned that space and yet my check jumped into me and when he came down his elbow made contact with my head. We got possession right on the end zone line. I don’t think we converted that point either.

The whole game I ran as hard as I could, threw as well as I could, yet the other team had us utterly dominated.

Next week are playoffs and I really hope that everyone gets there early so we can work on some things. Like holding the force. Very important to hold the force.

Thankfully that loss didn’t affect our standings. We finished the season in 2nd place. This has been an awesome team to play with. Most other summer league teams I have played on have not been anywhere close to making the playoffs, usually since we had a lot of newer players. This team has a lot of veteran players, and newer players who have some experience. I just hope that next week we win the first game. If we do, then we play a second game.

Tonight was a tough Ulti game for me. I played through the cold I currently have, but I was pretty beat on some points. I tried to handle as much as I could for the night and that I did well. My hands were catching everything that came my way, and my throws were going (mostly) where I wanted them too. I felt like I was making smart plays too. I would bide my time, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. I was directing people, showing them where I was going to throw.

I managed to catch a few points, and throw for a few points too. The women on the team are very good about getting open in the end zone. One bad throw I made was to one of the women on the team. She was open in the end zone, and her check had no clue where the disc was, nor where her check was. I pointed to where I wanted her to go and sent the disc there. Unfortunately the check was also moving in that direction and the disc hit her right in the butt. Bad throw.

The other team battled hard. We were up 8-3 at one point, and near the end of the night it was 11-11. We scored the next point maing the score 12-11. We were pumped to score the last point. We marched the disc up the field with myself and V as handlers. Near the end zone we called a stack and everyone went there quickly. I broke out to the corner of the end zone as V sent the disc there. The cut was perfect and the throw was awesome. The disc was knee height, and I did the proper two handed catch. And yet somehow the disc popped out of my hands. I hadn’t dropped anything all night, and the one I drop was the game winner. Aaargh.

Of course the other team making the score 12-12. The universe point was called. We did our best, but failed. The other team capitalized on a small mistake and won the game. Bummer for us. I am still beating myself up over that one drop.