Joseph and I won our first Super-Ball split-flipper “Zen” tournament as a team since Season 2 during Super-Ball XVII on Tuesday, March 21. Although we have played as a team more often than not subsequently, our only previous victory was at Super-Ball II. This was also the first pinball tournament either of us had ever won and because of that, the trophies still have pride of place on our mantel, along with Super-Ball trophies each of us have won with other partners. Originally, the teams were dictated by seeds, with the top seed partnering with the bottom seed, then the second seed with the second-to-bottom, and so on, in an attempt to equalize the teams. It was only by luck that Joseph and I got paired during Super-Ball II. (In Super-Ball I, since I was the most novice player in the league, my partner was Chris Tabaka, which I remember Matt Pries apologizing to me for.) This proved unpopular as people wanted to play with their friends or significant others, so in recent years people have been allowed to choose their own partners.
Our two most frequent Super-Ball champs, Josh and Mike, both missed the event this year, leaving a relatively open field of competition. As happens more often than not (somehow), we had an odd number of people attend. In the old days this would mean the lowest seed would play on two teams, but it turned out that some people, especially newer players didn’t want to do that, so usually we take volunteers now. This time everyone wanted to do it so I did a lottery for it, and the gods of randomness chose Mark, who was playing in his first Super-Ball. Our teams were Dan and Derik, Biff and Pat, Joseph and I, Linda and Mark, and Mark and Tim. Unfortunately, Linda and Mark had a first-round match with Mark and Tim, thus causing the most awkward situation to happen straight off the bat. (Mark and Tim beat Linda and Mark.)
Finals were between top-seeded Dan and Derik in the winner bracket and Joseph and I in the second-chance bracket. In the first round, Joseph and I won 2-0 on Dan and Derik’s picks. In the second round, we went 1-1 on Dan and Derik’s picks (The Munsters and Tron) and got to choose the third game. We had already used up all our favorites (since a game could only be chosen once) and I was at a loss and feeling doomed, but Joseph suggested Cactus Canyon. We managed to narrowly triumph on it in an exciting finish to an exciting match.
The final positions were as follows:
- Heather and Joseph
- Dan and Derik
- Biff and Pat
- Mark and Tim
- Linda and Mark
That truly concludes Season 17 and we’re moving immediately into Season 18 to get back on schedule after our delay last month. See you all soon!