It’s time for the annual Silver Balls in the City charity tournament, supporting the Capital Area Humane Society! The tournament will be on Dec. 27 (there will be no league meeting that day). This will be a group (progressive) strikes tournament. The number of strikes is tentatively set at 10. The cost is $10 plus coin drop. $9 from each entry goes to the Capital Area Humane Society and $1 to the IFPA. There will be holiday-themed trophies and random prize giveaways!
As everyone knows (and likes to give me a hard time about), I’m notoriously terrible at writing the league night recaps except under deadline pressure. The “deadline” is that I have a strict rule to get them up before the next league night. Unfortunately, that bad habit combined with our having a six week gap between meetings due to pandemic-related cancellations, that means I end up not remembering much to write about. At least I have a few photos, right?
Josh doesn’t look entirely pleased with The Beatles.
Our last meeting on December 14 was Week 5 of the season, which began a two-week rotation of banks. We will be finishing that rotation at Week 6 tonight. The banks are the Stymphalian Birds (Attack from Mars, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Iron Maiden, and – supposedly – Elvira’s House of Horrors) and the Apples of the Hesperides (The Beatles, Willy Wonka, Medieval Madness, Indiana Jones, and Game of Thrones. By the way, some reasoning went into the games in each bank. We were attempting to get a certain number of games designated as “long playing” spread among the banks, although at this point we really need to reconsider which games are classed as “long.” At this point the Capital City Crushers have made almost everything into a long game. Stop being so good, people! Anyway, within that constraint, I tried to assign games to the chosen mythology theme of “Labors of Hercules.” In this case, the Stymphalian Birds were a group of monstrous birds defeated by Hercules, so all the games have “flight” or “flying creatures.” It’s one of the vaguer themes, I admit. The Apples of the Hesperides were magic apples that Hercules was given a quest to steal, and which were guarded by a dragon named Ladon. The games in that bank are thus about dragons (Medieval Madness and Game of Thrones), or quests to steal magic artifacts (Indiana Jones), or forbidden foodstuffs (Willy Wonka). Oh, and of course, Apple? The Beatles? That’s the joke. Thank you, thank you.
Josh plays the A division of Tuesday Night Smackdown on Lord of the Rings.
Unfortunately, I had someone come up and ask me to rule on a situation on Elvira’s House of Horrors. Someone’s score had escalated by some extremely implausible amount in a few seconds. I confirmed with Derik that the likely cause was something misfiring and registering phantom hits and that it could not be fixed right away, so we had to pull Elvira’s. It’s really fortunate that this happened during the first week of the rotation because that makes it easier to deal with. I switched in Theatre of Magic, which had been removed from a bank due to a malfunction early in the season and had since been repaired.
Tim shows off his medal for being the Tuesday Night Smackdown champion on Lord of the Rings.
Our Tuesday Night Smackdown side tournament game was Lord of the Rings, and Tales of the Arabian Nights was drawn as an undercard. Tim (who seems to win a lot of Smackdowns) took the top honors. Meanwhile, Joseph won a particularly hard-fought Undercard which saw a lot of good scores. It seems like a lot of people in the league have gotten really good at Tales of the Arabian Nights over the years. This is fitting because it’s one of the games that has been with the league the longest.
Joseph showing off his medal (barely visible thanks to the glare) that he won in the undercard of Tuesday Night Smackdown.
That was our last league meeting of 2021 but we did have one more item of business, which was to hold Silver Balls in the City, the annual holiday-week tournament supporting the Capital Area Humane Society. Although the turnout was on the low side due to a combination of dicey weather and people having to quarantine, we still earned $186.50 for CAHS. Danny even made a donation to cover the IFPA fees so all of the entry fees could go to the charity. The .50 happened because we had a Closest to the Pin side tournament with a 50/50 pot and an entry fee of $1. The goal of the side tournament was to get the score closest to 100M on Road Show without going over. Nate T. won the side tournament. It was popular, so I think I will do it again for the next charity tournament.
Joe playing Batman ’66 during Silver Balls.
Allen playing Star Trek: TNG during Silver Balls.
There were a couple of surprise appearances for Silver Balls this year. One was Bill L., who has come to Avenue tournaments in the past but whom I haven’t seen since the pandemic hit. He made it despite scary roads, as did an even more surprising guest, Pat M. I know Pat well from playing in Detroit-area tournaments and leagues, but he had never been to the Avenue before!
Allen and Danny with their “trophies.”
Joe must know I was a Girl scout, as he is giving me the Girl Scout salute… wait, no, that’s with the hand facing the other way. I guess he’s just letting you know he came in third.
Danny won Silver Balls in the City 2022, with Allen taking second and Joe P. going home with third. The top three a souvenir Christmas ornaments with the tournament logo, which may not have been the most popular trophy I’ve given out. Joe said, “I don’t even have a Christmas tree” and Danny sardonically replied, “You want mine?”
This is the trophy I made. I used decoupage glue to attach the logo of the tournament to the back and a paint pen for the lettering.
We’re about to come back after over a month off league, with a new theme for our banks (the Labors of Hercules) and a new game (Stranger Things). By the time of the Zen tournament we had an exciting development: The Beatles was back! And other games too, but mainly The Beatles, that’s the important thing. This was made possible by the fact that our pinballing was so awesome and powerful that it blew down a wall at The Avenue. Or maybe someone just knocked that wall down but it was definitely a consequence of the league wanting more room for pinball, so that’s close enough.
Zen champions Josh and Mike, by the game they won on. (Edited: apparently they did not win on this game but did play it well. I guess we just shot the photo there for the great lighting in the alcove.)
During the break we had the Zen Night, AKA Super-Ball XIII, with the traditional “give me the cheesiest thing you have” trophies, a tradition started by our former director Matt. I still just call them up and say “give me the same things again” and they give us a different winged victory/Olympian athlete/star/whatever they have lying around. I paired with Joseph again, which despite the fact that Matt once claimed it was unfair for me to pair with Joseph since we have intuitive couple communication, did not pay off once again. We won our first Zen tournament playing together and never since.
Pat and Biff check on something (a stuck ball?) during a Zen game.
Despite the powerhouse pairing of Derik and Danny, Mike took home his fourth (I think?) Zen trophy (edited: he tells me it’s his fifth and that he really wants to make sure Chris knows it), this time with partner Josh. Mike is the most common Zen champion in the league.
Derik and Danny on Getaway.
We also had a Tuesday Night Smackdown on The Simpsons, though it had low participation due to some people still playing in the Zen tournament. I threw a last minute game on just because Joseph thought I should do that to lick my wounds after being tossed out of the Zen tournament, and surprisingly I ended up with a really good score. Tim, however, won the tournament (I got 2nd).
Tim celebrates his victory on The Simpsons Pinball Party.
We also had the fifth annual Silver Balls in the City charity tournament, which was well attended and took in over $200 for the Capital Area Humane Society. It was my first Saturday tournament, and though the Avenue was not able to let us start early (unlike at Stewie’s Strikes tournament), it still worked out, despite the late news that an album release party would be playing that night. We ended with a win for Mike Stewart and a three-way tie for second place between Jared, Derik, and Caleb, who along with Lupe was in town for the holidays. I hadn’t thought of the fact that a tie would be possible in a strikes tournament so I gave them the option of playing it off or just deciding how to split up the trophies and they chose the latter, which had the side benefit of allowing us to get done before the bands started playing.
I hope to see you tonight at 7 for the league opener!
The fourth annual Silver Balls in the City charity pinball tournament will be held at 6:30 pm on Dec. 27 at the Avenue Café in Lansing. The tournament will once again support the Capital Area Humane Society, but this year there will be a new twist. We will be holding a 10-strike progressive strikes tournament. In this format, you receive a number of strikes according to how many people finished ahead of you in a four-player group. If you come in first, you receive no strikes; second, one strike; third, two strikes; fourth, three strikes.
The top three finishers will receive holiday-themed trophies. Additional festivities will also be in store, including a random translite giveaway. The cost to enter is $10 plus coin drop, with $9 of each entry going to CAHS and the other $1 going to the IFPA for our sanctioning fee. Everyone who plays in this tournament will become a world ranked pinball player!
For more information and the latest updates, please join our Facebook event page.
Matt P. and Danny, the Dream Team, in the Super-Ball finals.
Good heavens, how the time slips by. It has been quite a while since my last update, long enough that I never even got a chance to write about the two between-season events, and here we are about to have the third meeting of the “new” season. Let me do something about that.
After Season 9 we had our usual post-season Zen (split flipper) tournament, Super-Ball IX. The competition was fierce, but in the end Mike S. and Tim beat the “Dream Team” of Matt and Danny. (Matt has claimed all of his teams as the “Dream Team,” but this one seemed like a pretty strong contender for the title.) This made Mike the first ever three-time Zen Champion in the League’s history. The night ended on a sentimental note, as it was Matt’s last night as the League president. Everyone extended heartfelt thanks to him for founding the league and serving as its steward for nine seasons. He said that knowing the league would continue on with or without him gave him a good feeling. I said, “I get it. You have a legacy.”
Zen champions of Season 9, Tim and Mike S.
Trophies for the Silver Balls in the City tournament.
As usual, the league took a break until January, but in the meantime I hosted the third annual Silver Balls in the City charity tournament on December 27, benefiting the Capital Area Humane Society. Several people competed who had not attended an Avenue tournament before, including Derik from Pinball Pete’s, known to us in the past only as “the guy who fixes the pinball machines at the Avenue.” I knew him more by reputation than anything else. I had seen him once or twice and spoken to him in passing, but he had not played with the league so I hadn’t previously known what a skilled pinball player he is. He brought an extra $100 donation from Pinball Pete’s with him. Meanwhile, Speedy from Pinball Pete’s in Ann Arbor also attended. I had just met him a few days before when I happened to be at AA Pete’s while an informal league meeting was going on there. He brought two 40 lb. bags of dog food as an in-kind donation for CAHS. Pete’s also had Speedy and Derik bring some Pinball Pete’s T-shirts to give away as door prizes. This was all a big and very welcome surprise.
Quite a few other new-to-us players were in attendance, and Jake, who had first played at
Silver Balls tournament in progress.
the Avenue in the Fear and Trembling tournament in October, came back for more. And, of course, many of the usual suspects from league made an appearance.
The first time I did a Silver Balls tournament, it was four strikes, and we ended up just barely finishing before the bar closed. This time I was conservative and did three strikes, and we actually got done more quickly than I would have liked. Someday I’ll get this tweaked just right. Mike S. took first place (on a roll after his Zen victory), and two people playing in their first Avenue tournaments got second and third: Derik and Melinda (respectively). Melinda was especially pleased with her Santa-themed trophy, saying that it was the first time she had won hardware in a tournament.
Silver Balls winners Mike S., Melinda, and Derik.
That’s some catching up caught up on. Next I’ll be giving my report on the start of the new season, so expect to see that shortly!
It’s been a long while since my last update (just about two months, in fact). Does that mean everyone in the Lansing area took a break from pinball? Ha ha ha ha ha… yeah, right.
Mike plunges while partner Dan stands ready at the left flipper.
Zen winners Dan and Mike, with photobomb by Matt.
First of all, we had the traditional end of season “just for fun” tournament for the Lansing Pinball League, Super-Ball VII, better known as the Zen Tourney. Chris (partnered with non-league-member Steve, not to be confused with the Steve who does sometimes play with league) once again saw the elusive Zen trophy slip from his grasp as Mike and Dan coordinated their way to victory. Mike also joins the elite ranks of those who have won two Zen trophies (ahem). No one has yet won three…
Second, after a year of trying out quarterly Avenue charity tournaments, we had our first repeat: the second annual Silver Balls in the City on December 27. Once again the tournament’s entry fees were all donated to the Capital Area Humane Society. This year, based on the number of people who attended, we used a three-strikes rather than four-strikes format. We also started a half hour earlier. As a result, we did not end up running quite so long as last year. Yes, I can learn from mistakes: where’s my gold star?
This year’s Silver Balls trophies. Most of the glitter even stayed on them.
Mike S. came up with the idea of having a just-for-fun side tournament for $1 per entry. The side tournament was a “closest to the pin” contest on Medieval Madness. The winner would be the person who got closest to 15 million without going over or tilting. Bill L. ended up winning and I still need to get him his prize (a $10 Coldstone Creamery gift certificate donated by Mike).
In an odd coincidence, the main tournament finished on the same game as last year: Junk Yard. Fortunately the overactive slam tilt has been repaired since then. Spectators who held out until the very end were treated to the spectacle of Aaron G. starting the video mode on Junk Yard no fewer than 15 times in the final game against Adam, and in this manner, climbing his way to victory on top of a mountain of toast. Third place went to Jared A.
Rodney and Karen try out the side tournament.
Between the main and side tournaments, Silver Balls earned $217 for the Capital Area Humane Society. As most league members know, my beloved pet rabbit Stephen died on December 22 at the age of 10 and half. Joseph and I were still very shaken up and grieving when the tournament came around, but it gave us some consolation to know that the donations people made for the tournament would help other wonderful animals receive care.
Aaron and Adam with first and second place trophies, respectively.
The next Avenue tournament will be the second annual March Hare Madness amazing race tournament. The date is to be announced, but it will probably be in the last few days of March. Stay tuned here or to the Lansing Pinball League Facebook group for more information.
Announcing the 2nd annual Silver Balls in the City charity pinball tournament, supporting the Capital Area Humane Society! The tournament will be held at the Avenue Cafe in Lansing at 6:30 on Tuesday, December 27. It will be a four, three, or two strikes tournament depending on turnout (probably three). The entry fee will be $10, which will go toward CAHS, and players will also be responsible for coin drop. Trophies will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and it will also be eligible for WPPR points from the IFPA! This will probably be the penultimate tournament of the year in Michigan, so get your last points in before the state championship is locked in.
Holiday-themed trophies I made for the main and side tournament. This is why the tournament was so popular, right?
You may have heard rumors about a tournament held Dec. 29 at the Avenue — no, who am I kidding? You were there. Everyone was there.
Well, maybe not everyone. But including the tournament director, yours truly, there were 26 entrants, a number beyond my wildest dreams and most feverish nightmares. “The only way anything could really go wrong,” I said to myself, “is if more than 20 people show up. And what are the odds of that?”
I’m getting ahead of myself, so let me start from the top. Silver Balls in the City (a name suggested by Joseph, playing on both the name of a holiday event in Lansing and the time I was endlessly teased by certain persons for missing the Arcade League to go to said event) was the first tournament hosted by the Lansing Pinball League at our home base of The Avenue Café. It was my first time trying my hand at being a tournament director and I was awfully nervous. But as long as we had enough machines working for everyone to play at once in the four strikes tournament, it would be OK… and we should have more than enough.
Joseph has everything under control at Brackelope Master Command.
My first sign that things might not go as hoped was when I walked into the Avenue and saw the entire upper floor dark, with all the games turned off. It turned out they had suffered a leak as the icy roof melted, and were trying to dry the floor before anyone was allowed upstairs. Eventually we were told we could turn all but one of the games back on.
But with 26 people, and the occasional game having to be taken out of service for malfunctions (Austin Powers first, then Fish Tales, then World Cup Soccer), we ended up with quite a lot of stacking. Plus there was the fact that most of the state’s luminaries were in attendance, people who can play a 45 minute game of Lord of the Rings. Everyone can thank Andy for the mysterious disappearance of LotR from the randomizer for the rest of the evening.
As I began to worry about whether we would beat last call, the tournament that I hoped would be over by midnight finally came to a close around quarter to 2, and after I instructed Joseph to remove all but the three fastest-playing games from the lineup for the last couple of rounds.
Andy and Aaron and lots of other folks mingling. It was the biggest crowd we’ve yet seen crammed into our little pinball alcove.
Aside from the malfunctions (expected) and the late night (less expected), the tournament did go pretty well. It drew many people who had never been to The Avenue to play before, and resulted in historic first meetings between longtime Lansing League regulars and other players from around the state. It also ended with a really suspenseful final match between home-court hero Matt P. and east Michigan powerhouse Aaron G. All the work and stress was made worthwhile for me by the moment when Matt, having blown up the mothership in Junk Yard’s Attack from Mars video mode, turned around, threw his hands in the air, and yelled, “I saved the earth, m*****f*****s!” Sadly, the game ended prematurely shortly afterward as Matt went to slide the notoriously too-touchy game, hit a crack in the floor, and slam tilted.
So the night ended with a victory for Aaron G. in the main four strikes tournament (and for Andy R. in the side tournament on Iron Man). More importantly, it ended with $260 having been raised for my favorite local charity, the Capital Area Humane Society. Although I said I’d be crazy to do it again, the truth is that I’m kind of crazy, so you can probably expect another charity tournament at the Avenue in 2016.
Aaron #2, Andy #1, Andrew #3, in the side tournament, with their tiny snowman trophies.
Chris, excited that he can now take his 3rd place trophy and go home.
The second and first place main tournament winners, Matt and Aaron. You wouldn’t have known they had just met, for all the horsing around and playful trash talking they did.
Thanks to everyone who attended, and particularly to Joseph for handling all the organizational work of pairing off matches during the tournament, Chris for staying up past his bedtime (and his waking time too, probably) to be my backup tournament official, and Alex for providing advice during the planning stages. The official results of the tournaments follow.
Main Tournament Results
1. Aaron Grabowski
2. Matt Pries
3. Chris Tabaka
4. Todd Seaver
5. Alex Harmon
6. Andrew Rosa II
7. Dustin Frigy
7. Ahna Rosa
9. Mike Stewart Jr.
11. Aaron Holmes
11. Jarid August
11. Andy Rosa
14. Sarah Schudel
14. Greg Spahlinger
14. Amanda Grabowski
14. Bill Lembesis
18. Matthew Stacks
18. Joseph Nebus
18. Mike Schudel
21. Ryan Wood
21. Heather Kendrick
21. Scott August
24. Robert Wolverton
24. J.P. Jackson
24. Aaron Mike Brown
24. Evan Williams
Side Tournament Results
1. Andy Rosa
2. Aaron Grabowski
3. Andrew Rosa II
4. Evan Williams
5. Mike Stewart Jr.
6. Todd Seaver
7. Chris Tabaka
8. Bill Lembesis
9. Jarid August
10. Sarah Schudel
11. Scott August
12. Amanda Grabowski
13. Matthew Stacks
14. Alex Harmony
15. Aaron Mike Brown
16. Heather Kendrick
17. Mike Schudel
18. Dustin Frigy
19. Aaron Holmes
20. Joseph Nebus
21. Greg Spahlinger
22. Matt Pries
The first Silver Balls in the City charity tournament will be held on December 29 at 7 p.m. in The Avenue Cafe, 2021 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing (the league’s normal venue). The entry fee will be $10, plus coin drop. All entry fees (excluding coin drop) will be donated to the Capital Area Humane Society. All are welcome.
The format will be four strikes knockout. You will play randomly selected matches against competitors until you lose four games. This is a great format for people new to tournament play, so don’t be shy if you’re a novice. There will also be a side tournament with best game qualifying on one game. The entry fee registers you for both tournaments.
Please take the time to peruse the general rules that will be used in case of malfunction or player error, so you know what to expect.
