2009 RFA Cup

This past weekend I played in my third Roofball event, the 2009 RFA Cup. Going into this tourney I wanted to accomplish a few things.
1. Have a score of 60 or higher.
2. Get back to the semi finals.
3. Never score less than 30 points.
4. Increase my average scoring per game to over 44 points, which would give me the record.

I drew the fourth spot, which means I would be throwing first in the second game of the day. Things could not have gotten off to a better start. My first two throws were arounds netting me 22 points with two throws to go. With one throw left I had 55 points I need a ping or better to get to 60 points, I hit the poll collected the ball and walked off the court with a 61 easily winning my game and what would turn out to be the high score of the tournament and the 10 highest score of all time. Goal #1 done.

I breezed through the second round as well netting a 42, not great but I beat my two opponents and got an automatic bid to the semi's. I was set up against a 2 and a 4 time champion and it was nice to beat them. Both are roofball legends and it was nice to win. And yes goal #2 done.

Before the semi's the announcers and I were talking when one of them told me that he was picking me to win the whole thing, right then I knew I was in for a battle. This happened to me last time and as soon as I heard it I lost, in the semi's.

The semi's started out well and I was leading going into the fourth throw. But then it happened, something that has never happened to me in a game before, something that I was very happy/proud that had never happened to me in a game before. I threw the ball it hit the roof once and bounced over...after announcing to the crowd my displeasure I retrieved the ball, but with 5 points taken off my score. I went to the throw the ball again and once again it hit the roof and bounced over. I couldn't believe it, rarely does the ball bounce over, normally an over is when the person sails the ball completely over. I came back for my next throw and only managed one point on a catch. With 4 throws left my time was running out I threw the ball and once again bounce and over. At this time I knew I would have to get arounds and get lucky. I was only able to manage one more ping to my score leaving me with a terrible 17 and of course losing the game.

So once again I lost in the semi's. The semi's seem to be my worst round even when I got past them in the US Open it was my worst round and frankly I was lucky to get out of it when I did. Goal #3 fail.

I totaled 120 points for the day which brought my average score down to 42 per game for my career, which means I did not reach my fourth goal. I was at 44.5 after my first two but that 17 killed me. If I had not thrown the overs I would have had a 32 minimum.

Having had a couple days to think about it, I’m not too disappointed in losing, just disappointed to bet myself. I’m trying to look at it this way I made it to the semi’s with six players left. Including a 6 time champ, 4 time champ, 2 time champ and a 2 time third place finisher.

Oh well. Next time I'm making past the semi finals and into the medal round.