Lansing Pinball League

Tag: season 9

  • League Night Non-Recap for 7/25/17 (Plus Pinburgh News)

    League Night #2 of 8

    Games Played: Indiana Jones, Attack from Mars, Terminator 3, Jack-Bot, Fish Tales

    Once again I missed league night, this time because I was at Kings Island riding the legendary wooden coaster The Beast, as part of a whirlwind trip with fellow league members Joseph and Mike S.  We drove to the Cincinnati-area amusement park before heading east to Pittsburgh to attend Pinburgh, the world’s largest pinball tournament (the largest it’s ever been, with 800 participants this year).  Then after Pinburgh, we stuck around Pittsburgh one more day to visit possibly my favorite amusement park, Kennywood.  Although I’m sorry to miss two league sessions in a row (the most I’ve ever missed in a season), it was a great trip and one I will remember for a long time.

    Lansing Pinball League was represented by several current and past league members, including me, Joseph, Mike, Jake, Christine, Adam, and Rodney.  Joseph and I were the only ones to officially register LPL as our league affiliation for Pinburgh results, despite my attempts to cajole others.  Joseph notably represented the league by earning the top qualifier spot in D division and going on to win 2nd in the division after a nailbiting, high-scoring tiebreaker on the EM game Jungle Queen. He won $100 for being top qualifier and $750 for his second place finish.

    Joseph with the other final four players in D division at Pinburgh.
    Joseph (far right) with the other final four players in D division at Pinburgh. The other medal he is wearing was for having a perfect round the previous day, winning all four games in a match.
    Mike, Christine, and Jake playing the Bowler Roller game.
    Mike, Christine, and Jake playing the Bowler Roller game at Kennywood. After several attempts, Mike won a prize.

    Jake and Christine came along with me, Joseph, and Mike, to Kennywood this year, which made for a very merry group. I am always delighted to show people around my favorite amusement parks (as that is my other big hobby besides pinball), as it gives me an opportunity to see them through new eyes. The highlights of the day included cramming all five of us into a car on the Turtle (a vintage tumblebug ride, one of only two of its kind remaining in the world), and all of us minus Mike (who didn’t want to get wet) riding the log flume together. I could hear Jake laugh hysterically behind me as I, the front passenger, took a big old wave to the face at the bottom of the big hill.

    In just a couple of hours it will be time for this week’s league night, the third of the season but the first for me! Although I don’t have a league night report from last time due to my absence, I did finally catch up on entering the results from the first two nights. Matt has announced that tonight’s games will be Iron Man, Attack from Mars, Demolition Man, and The Addams Family, with Lord of the Rings and Getaway as backup games.  I hope to see you soon.

  • Results for League Night #2, Season 9, 7/25/17

    [table id=54 /]

    Results may change due to makeup games.

  • Results for League Night #1, Season 9, 7/11/17

    [table id=53 /]

    Results may change due to makeup games.

  • League Night Non-Recap for 7/11/17 (plus Super-Ball VIII)

    League Night #1 of 8, Season 9

    Games played: Austin Powers, Junk Yard, Medieval Madness, Star Trek,  Theatre of Magic

    To my dismay, I missed the season opener for Season 9, held on July 11. I was on a long-planned trip up north with my parents, brother, and Joseph. I heard that only six players made it there in the flesh.  This season there is going to be an attendance bonus (10 points, if memory serves) to discourage makeups.  I fully endorse this change even though it’s hurting me this season, as I think a league should mean getting together in person to play as much as possible, but I also think that a flat zero for a missed night here and there is too harsh for a casual league.

    Matt and Kristen (closeup).
    Matt and Kristen, the Team of Destiny.

    Since I can’t report on the night I missed, I will instead say a few words about Super-Ball VIII, AKA the Zen Tournament, held back on May 23.  It was the first league meeting of new player Tim T., who ended up paired with Chris in what we swear was not intended to be hazing.  It must not have been too bad, as Tim has gone on to become a regular league member.  Chris, however, still has not gotten his coveted Zen trophy.  The final match was between Mike B. and Mike S. (a repeat pairing), and Matt and Kristen.  Matt and Kristen, AKA the Team of Destiny, won the final game on Star Trek, inducting Matt into the prestigious circle of two-time Zen tournament winners.  No one has yet won three times.

    The next league night will be this Tuesday, July 25.  It’s not too late to join for the season, and you still have time to do makeup games before then (since Matt asks that makeup games be played prior to the next league meeting).

    Team Mike makes a show of beating up the Team of Destiny.