4×7 Cup
By Tamra Easley
On Sunday, July 5, Cactus Moon’s Jeff Springer, Gil Bell, Jim Hestkind, and Matt Alejandro dragged themselves out of bed and to the Cactus Moon to defend their 4×7 Cup title at the ungodly hour of noon. Tacoma’s Home Plate team of Denny Mickelson, Randy Donahue, Randy Zimmerman and Kelly Papuzza did the same, but also drove an hour north. Now that’s dedication!
Cactus jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead early in the match. Home Plate settled in to take the next two games and tie the score, then the true competition began in earnest.
Randy Zimmerman is a dart dinosaur, a veteran in the local dart world. Traditionally a steel tip player, he transitioned into soft tip long ago. However, this would be his first challenge cup. And surprisingly, this was Denny’s first challenge cup as well.
The aiming fluid kicked and the highlight reels began to roll, beginnning with Denny taking out game 12 out with a 104 (B, T18). Matt started the High Ton frenzy in game 13 with his T60. Jeff followed suit with one of his own in game 15.
Cactus maintained the lead until game 12, when Home Plate tied the match, then went on to take the following two games for their first lead in the match, 8-6. Undaunted, Cactus Moon tied things back up over the next two games. The match maintained a two-game exchange, keeping the match tied, 12-12.
Home Plate continued to lead the scoring by taking games 27 and 28 to reestablish their two-game spread, 15-13.
Game 30 was the nail-biter of the match. Not because it would be the final Cricket game of the match, but because Cactus could even the score at 15-15 going into the final team 901 games. The final score was 433-430, in favor of Home Plate, putting them on the hill.
Jeff issued Cactus Moon a stay of execution in game 31 by taking out a 133. Home Plate tightened up enough to allow Cactus to come back and take the 32nd game, for the final tie of the match, 16-16.
Leave it to a woman to get things done. Kelly shot the most important out of the match and she even did it steel tip style; B, T16, to snag the trophy and the cash, making for a very pleasurable ride back to Tacoma.
