Welcome back! After a looooong weekend, JMS is back in action!  Put those golf clubs away, break out the big bats, and remember softball is just like golf, except you are

“hitting a ball falling out of the sky.” – Abbasali Kermalli

Here is your week seven preview!

(There will be two make up games on Friday and two on Sunday, but since those have already been previewed, we will skip right to the first regularly scheduled game.)

Game 1 – Tigers vs Wolves

After recently been passed by the Wolves in the power rankings, the Tigers are hoping to extract some revenge on the rising wolf pack. The Wolves will be on their second of a back to back having just played their makeup game. The Tigers, on the other hand, will have just played back to back makeup games less than 48 hours prior. Will the young legs of the Wolves hold up after such an early start? Will a one day turn around be enough for the elderly Tigers to recover? This preview doesn’t give the Tigers a chance.

Prediction: 18 – 4 Wolves

Game 2 – Lions vs Falcons

The second game of this week features a battle between the basement dwelling Falcons and the third place Lions. With Miqdad Jaffer eager to pitch against his old team, Altaf Champsi will be taking Sunday off. Confused and befuddled, tensions are at an all time high in the Falcons dressing room. Who will step up and take charge? Riaz Champsi for one will be leading by example as he looks to pitch his team to victory. Will the Falcons finally soar or will the Lions be eating some BBQ’d birds? This preview author will be bringing his bib to the BBQ.

Prediction: 21-4 Lions

Game 3 – Bucks vs Lions

The Lions have so far proven to be a team that play one good game each week. We hope this is the game they show up because the Bucks are coming into their own. Bucks Captains Ali Raza and Imran Nasser are out to prove the preview author wrong by playing well for the rest of the season, while Lions Captains Asad and Zane Hussain have not lived up to expectations this season. Sure, Asad is still among the league leaders in all hitting categories and probably the best shortstop in the league, but imagine the possibilities! This Lions team has barely unlocked it’s potential. Will this be the week it all comes together? This game is going to be great to watch and we wish there were extra innings!

Prediction: 14-14 Draw

Game 4 – Eagles vs Owls

In the last non-makeup game of the day, the Eagles are hoping Ali Manek has retired from public speaking. Without Manek in the lineup, the Eagles have struggled to find consistency. Their losing streak started when the Owls handed them their first loss of the season. With the Owls looking to field their best defensive lineup this season and Manek replacing a bat with a mic, yet again, the Eagles have little hope.

Prediction: 12-8 Owls

When it rains, it pours.  After being rained out yet again, there are plenty of tears and hugs going around this week.  If you haven’t yet read the Woes of a Captain be sure to do so.

Once you’re done sobbing, put the ice cream tub away, do some push ups, and get ready for some JMS softball!  Here are your previews for Week Six:

Game 1 – BUCKS vs FALCONS

Kicking us off this week is Captain Ali Raza Nasser who first needed a hug after being called out in last week’s preview.  Co-captain Imran Nasser came to his rescue on Instagram saying, “Last year at the time ARN went 5-6 leading the bucks to two wins #facts.”  While some believe this was a ghost account, look out for the Nasser brothers to feast off the Falcons pitching.  Imtiyaz Kara will look to finally make his Falcons debut trying to sneak some quick pitches passed the Bucks before they fully wake up.

Prediction: 9-7 Falcons

Game 2 – OWLS vs BUCKS

In the second game of the day Captains Kumail Meghani and Salim Chagani will look to carry the Owls to a third straight win.  This should be a game Asad Nasser is up and ready for as he always has extra motivation in playing against his cousins on the Bucks.  With Asad putting so much focus on preparing for Ali Raza and Imran, look for his little brother Aman and Uncle Munir to help the Bucks take the W.  

Prediction: 11-9 Bucks

Game 3 – Falcons vs Owls

Without the bats of Irfahn Khimji and Moe Abdalla this week, Kumail Meghani will look to Shane Nasser to protect him in the batting lineup.  The one game break this week will be good for the Falcons who are without Captain Shane Worthington and star outfielder Raheel Rawjani.   Will this be the game that Sajid Alimohamed gets his first hit? To beat the Owls, the Falcons are going to need both Alimohamed and Safder Jaffer to find their hitting stroke.  

Prediction: 18 – 10 Owls

Game 4 – TIGERS vs Lions

With Captain Vick Vij out looking for hugs this week, the Tigers will be without their best hitter as they square off against the red hot Lions.  Look for Mahmood Kara to come back with his bananas and lead the way for the Tigers against Lions pitcher Altaf Champsi. Lions Captain Zane Hussain will be looking to get as many of his players on base so Captain Asad Hussain can start hitting home runs again. Will this be the week the Lions open the floodgates?

Prediction: 10-9 Lions

Game 5 – LIONS vs Wolves

They say momentum changes from pitch to pitch, but who are “they” really?  The Wolves will look to hold onto as much momentum from two weeks ago as they can as they face off against the Lions.  Defensively, Captain Imran Virji will look to shift the Wolves defence limiting the Lions opposite field hitters Damien Ramnauth and Miqdad Jaffer.  With the Wolves defence picking up and their offence starting to turn around as well, this game is shaping up to be a fun one to watch!

Prediction: 12-7 Wolves

Game 6 – Eagles vs Tigers

If there was a power ranking for best group hugs, the Eagles would be on top.  While they are currently atop the actual JMS rankings, the Tigers will be looking to bring them down a notch.  The Eagles will have a gaping hole at shortstop this week, with head cheerleader Ali Manek absent for this week’s games.  Look for Farhan Ratansi and Abbas Chagani to exploit that hole and lead the Tigers to a big W.

Prediction: 8-6 Tigers

Game 7 – Eagles vs WOLVES

Capping us off this week Captain Ali Merali and the Wolves will be continuing their steep climb up the JMS rankings.  With Mikael Ratansi hitting his stride after his extensive review of Hussein Allidina’s stats, this game is poised to be a battle of the pitchers. With the additional week off, Captain Hussein Allidina should be well rested to continue a strong pitching performance into the heat of the afternoon.  The big question of this game is, which offence will break out? This preview thinks neither.

Prediction: 4-2 Wolves

Week 5 is upon us! This is the week where the going gets tough and the tough get going! The real champions are coming into form while beginners luck is running out! Here are your previews and predictions!

Game 1 – OWLS vs Tigers

Kicking us off this week are the red hot Owls and the ice cold Tigers. Last time these two teams met, Tigers captain Vick Vij hit a walk off grand slam (that counted for only one run, since it was a walk off). The Owls are the only short handed team this week with captain Kumail Meghani taking the week off to bask in the glory of his player of the week honours along with Asad Nasser being given permission to sleep in after his pitcher of the week honours. The Owls are counting on the big bat of Shane Nasser to show up to give them a fighting chance. Look for Maysum Jaffer and Farhan Ratansi to lead the way on offence for the Tigers as the Owls play without a rover yet again.

Prediction: 9-7 Tigers

 

Game 2 – Tigers vs Falcons

In the second game of the day, Imtiyaz Kara is back to prove that this trade wasn’t as one sided as the Kawhi for Demar trade.  While the Tigers Mahmood Kara was hoping to feast off of the terrible Falcons pitching, he will have to wait another day as all-star pitcher Riaz Champsi is poised to make the start this week.  With the way the Falcons are playing, they are going to need Champsi to do more than just pitch a gem in order to get out of the JMS basement. Will Captains Shane Worthington and Abbas Nasser break out of their hitting slumps?  This preview does not think so.

Prediction: 8-3 Tigers

Game 3 – Wolves vs Owls

In a rematch of week four, the Wolves are hungry to get their revenge. After getting their first win of the season, Captains Ali Merali and Imran Virji are looking to get on a winning streak as they enter the wolf days of summer. Rumour has it that Irfahn Khimji is looking forward to batting with runners on base for once without Meghani hitting home runs in front of him. Khimji has hit most of his career home runs against Wolves pitcher, Mikael Ratansi, including one last week. With Asad Nasser sure to show up for this game, this preview does not think the Wolves stand a chance, even against a short handed Owls squad.

Prediction: 11 – 6 Owls

Game 4 – Falcons vs Lions

These two teams first face off since the trade deadline. Lot of emotions running high in this one as the Falcons look to prove they are the better team. However, we’re still looking for our first mercy game of the season, this game could just be it. Lions Captain Asad Hussain is one of those players who usually gets stronger as the season wears on. In case he hasn’t noticed, he still has yet to hit a home run this season! If anyone is planning on parking on the street beyond right field, this is not the week to do so. The Falcons are going to have to limit base runners to minimize the damage. With all but three players on the lions with an OBP over .400, this could get ugly fast.

Prediction: 17-3 Lions after 5 innings

Game 5 – Bucks vs Wolves

There are some high stakes in this game, with some calling it the “Avocado Bowl”. Most of the teams have no idea what that means to them, but maybe the additional motivation will prove to be just what Kaunain Taki and Samir Damani (if healthy) need to get their bats going. The Bucks will be without breakout star lefty Sameer Karim but are hungry to get back on a winning streak. Last year, this was about the time that Captain Ali Raza Nasser ran out of steam, spiralling his team into the basement. Could this be the beginning of the end? Not if Nadim Rahemtulla has anything to do with it. Look for Rahemtulla to carry the Bucks back to their winning ways.

Prediction: 12-6 Bucks

Game 6 – Lions vs Eagles

In what could be a preview of the JMS finals this year, perennial 1A and 1B picks will be squaring off as Miqdad Jaffer might be pitching to Ali Manek each at bat. After Manek and Abbasali Kermalli combined to fly out at the warning track seven times last week, Jaffer isn’t worried about the fading power in this Eagles lineup.

“I don’t need to pitch to Manek, Altaf has him under control.” – Miqdad Jaffer

Leading his team in AVG, OBP, and SLG, the Lions will need Hussein Jiwan to lead the charge against Hussein Allidina. Rumour has it that Abbas Allidina has been practicing just in case brother Hussein runs out of steam again this week. This one is going to be a nail biter!

Prediction: 7-6 Eagles

Game 7 – Bucks vs Eagles

Rounding out the day will be the battle for first place. After both the Bucks and Eagles winning their respective games, this game will determine who will be in first going into the back half of the season. Look for a stellar defensive game as both teams look to put their best foot forward. Rumour has it that Manek has been petitioning to move Kermalli to first base to get some youth on his right side as Manek’s range isn’t quite what it used to be. Watch for the Bucks to exploit that hole at the hot corner to do some damage.

Prediction: 8-5 Bucks