Author: Nancy Kelso

Outstanding outing(s):

1. Esteban Q (his 2nd in a row), Mark DeM, Jerry R, Debo A, Tony L and Mona T all had perfect 80s.
2. Jim McC, Julian F, Sean B and Alex O each scored a 77.
3. Brandon D knocked down 76.

RAFFLE Status:

1. Sean B having quite a night, as noted above shot a 77 and was chosen for the break and run, too.
   • He broke on Table 16.
   • The 1-ball flew into to side pocket.
   • The cue ball was at the foot of the table just a couple inches off the rail, about a diamond away from the corner pocket and the 2-ball was almost mirrored at the head of the table with the 7-ball right in the middle between them.
   • He kicked the cue ball off the long rail with a firm stroke coming from behind the 2-ball whacking the 7-ball down to the foot of the table and banking back into the corner pocket, and the 2-ball caromed into the side pocket.
   • Shot the 3-ball into the corner pocket with nice position on the 4-ball in the same corner pocket.
   • That left a long, straight-in shot on the 5-ball. He contemplated whether or not to shoot it (he wanted it!) but in the background “someone” was saying “TAKE THE MONEY!”
   • He cashed out with 5/9th of the pot.
2. There was no 2nd pick.
3. The remaining raffle pot rolls over to Week 03.  

OTHER:

1. Roster alterations since sign-up night:
   • David C added to the Last Game and also made his debut.
2. Steve J went from Behind the 8-Ball to The Pistol Whips.
3. Racks and Balls had one absence which did not affect their HCP.
4. Chalkoholics also had one absence with no effect to their HCP either.
5. One deadline approaching in Week 03.  By 11pm on that night:
   • Last chance to fill in roster-specific subs.  If a team continues to have open slots at 11pm, they will remain open through the remainder of the season.
6. Any new member that plays at least one week will need to pay the ACS membership fee which will be good through May 2025. Will then vote next season to renew. New members please pay your fee within the next 2 weeks. It would be much appreciated!

Outstanding outing(s):

1. Roy S & Kevin C of the Wolff Pack and Esteban Q & Fermin A of Last Game all had 80s.
2. Ed S shot the only 77.
3. Bob K, Phil P, Larry P, Mona T and Julian tallied 76 points each.

RAFFLE Status:

1. Craig P was selected for the 1st time. He broke on Table 2, made 2 balls but unfortunately one was the cue ball.
2. Roy S was the second person selected, (picked 3 times last season) and started this season of strong with 2/9th of the pot.
3. Hoping everyone likes the single roll of tickets!!! Just seemed easier since you still get to rip them apart knowing how many chances you correctly have!
4. The remaining raffle pot rolls over to Week 02.  

OTHER:

1. League debuts included:
   • The Pistol Whips – Robin Veach, Kathrine Pfister, Tom Knapp and Ricky Ross – WELCOME and enjoy the season!
   • Racks and Balls – Tim Hasbrouck, Susan Niles and Jon Klimstra. WELCOME!!
   • Debo Alqadhi of Racking My Brain!
2. There was a missing player on Secret Spiders causing an 8 point HCP decrease, therefore, awarding The Pistol Whips an 8 point Bonus.
3. There was a missing player on Behind the 8-ball but had no effect on the handicap.
4. Hope everyone enjoys this 2025 Winter Season!!! Let’s have some fun!!

The official signup for the general public concluded with 19 teams enrolled, which means there will be a BYE week.  The season will end on 29May2025’s Party night.  Also, because we’ll have more than 14 teams playing each week, there will be 7-foot tables included in this season’s schedule.

If any other individuals are interested to join in, please notify the venue (Shooter’s Sports Bar and Billiards, Grayslake Illinois)  before Tuesday, 14Jan2025:7:00pm.  The venue will, in turn, notify the league operator by the final deadline of 8pm on the same night.

The season’s match play officially begins on Thursday, 16Jan2025 at 7:30pm.

The captains/delegates at the meeting participated in a rule change discussion and vote.  Summary of the discussions:

1. Bonus for Missing Players – It was brought up to not award the “Bonus” when a team’s missing player causes their handicap to decrease and therefore, award “Bonus” points to the opposing team. But after a little discussion and explanation it was voted “no change”.
2. The 8:30 cutoff for a late player – It was asked if there could be any leniency when they know a player is on their way but may be delayed a little longer due to weather, etc. It was voted “no change”. 8:30 is the hard cutoff.
3. Coaching on the 9-Ball Raffle Break & Run – It was asked not to allow any coaching on the Break &Run. It was voted “no change”. Coaching still allowed on the Break & Run.
4. Weighted Averages – It was brought up about not having the first 5 weeks done with weighted averages. I checked with Paul about it. He said that was put in place to prevent sandbagging. It doesn’t truly prevent it, but it surely makes an individual throw away their 1st five weeks to try to benefit which is very risky. If we disregard the weighted average, a whole team could sacrifice their 1st week and shift their handicap significantly which wouldn’t be fair. The vote was “no change”.
5. There are no rules about prohibition or limitation or minimum weeks criteria, therefore, rostered players for the current season are eligible to play the raffle under any circumstances.
6. New first-time in-coming players will need to pay the $15 ACS fee which will be valid through May 2025. Next season we will have a vote whether or not to stay in ACS, and if so, ALL players will need to pay the one-time $15 ACS annual fee in the Spring 2025 seasons and newly-joining players in the subsequent 2025 seasons.
7. Tickets – I neglected to bring it up at the Captain’s Meeting, but we will be going to a “single” roll of tickets. So instead of tearing the first row of tickets and placing them in the can and holding onto the second row, you will only get one row of tickets that you can count and you tear those and place them in the can. We will pull the ticket and find the ticket holder on the computer. This way no one has to worry about losing their ticket or accidentally putting both sides of the tickets in the can.

RAFFLE Status:

There were 317 chances invested in Thursday evening’s raffle opportunity.

1. Ed S (was picked 5 times in the 2024 Season) and was the 1st pick for the 2025 Season.
   • He sank the 7-ball in the corner pocket. He had a fairly long shot on the 1-ball, made it.
   • He then looked at the 2-ball but decided to leave with 2/9ths of the pot.
2. Jerry R broke dry on Table 4.
3. The remaining raffle pot rolls over to 2025 Winter’s Week 01.

OTHER:

1. We had 4 teamless individuals sign up, and they decided to form a team together. Good luck to them and welcome.
2. Sharon W has formed her own team which accounts for the 19 teams for this season!
3. Good luck to everyone this upcoming Season!!!

Outstanding outing(s):

1. 24 individuals were paired into 12 teams (should have been 2 more but I forgot to enter Esteban & Braxton…sorry guys!) for the Scotch-Doubles tournament.  The two teams that earned the finals match agreed to split the pot evenly.   Romy G & Danny O was one team (who actually left before the semi-final was over between Kevin J & Goose vs Mike M & Francisco), Kevin J & Goose were the victors of that. Romy asked both teams if they would split so he could go home! It was agreed!
   • Romy G & Danny O were victorious in the preceding three matches against:
     • Joe L and Cristina
     • Lito G and Josh
     • Eric L and Johnny G in the semi-final
   • The team of Kevin J & Goose won their preceding three matches against:
     • Bye in the first round
     • Ed S and John V
     • Mike M & Francisco in the semi-final

RAFFLE Status:

1. Primo was selected for the 1st and last time this season. He had a weird break on Table 14, but the last second the 8-ball was kicked into the side pocket.
   • Had a nice angle on the 1-ball in the corner pocket to come up for the 2-ball.
   • 2-ball straight in the side with a little draw so not to be shooting over the 9-ball.
   • Almost a full table length straight-in on the 3-ball and made it with ease.
   • Cashed out for 4/9th of the raffle pot.
2. Braxton was also picked for the 3rd time this season, nice break but broke dry.
3. The remaining raffle pot rolls over to next week’s official 2025 Winter Season sign-up night!

OTHER:

1. By night’s end, 16 teams were listed on the signup sheets for the 2025 Winter season.  Next week is official sign-up night to the Open Public.
2. The end of season ceremony included the following announcements:
   1. Mona T was the league’s official Top Shooter with a 8.973 points per game average. Larry P was ahead with 9.194, however, he didn’t have the 13 weeks to qualify. There was no Top Shooter side-pot this season.
   2. Frankie C was recognized with the greatest average-per-game percentage improvement (08.88%) when comparing final average to the average heading into Week 01. Cristina C was 2nd at (06.79% and Mike K third at (05.78%).
   3. Sean B was the player whose final average points per game was closest to what it was at the season’s onset – finishing at (0.03%) change.
   4. Other stats from this season:
      • 99 of our 101 rostered players had at least one week played, and 20 people played all 16 possible weeks.
      • We had 12 players make their league debuts.  Six were from the new team 501 Club roster (Renee R (it is her BDay today), Rich V, Don L, Matt G, Chris R & Andrew St), John W from Free Agents,  Chris Einterz from Chalkoholics, Tom Kane from the Road Warriors, Patrick Wetzel from Stanly Steamers, Ed Flatt from the Wolff Pack and Jenn Y from There Goes My 80! Welcome to all!
      • Counting Party nite – 26 different people were selected in the raffle draws this season.
        • Mike K was picked 5 times (cashed out twice), Ed S was picked 4 times, Roy S picked 3 times, and Braxton, Mike M and Nancy K were each picked twice. (Yes, Nancy was picked ONLY twice!)
        • There were 6 different cash-outs (counting Primo last night) totaling over eight thousand bucks.
        • The league operator has no prize money left over, so contact your team captain if you didn’t collect your prize money yet.
3. Eleven 18″ pizzas were served and none remained at the night’s end.
4. A Scotch Doubles Tournament was conducted and was much improved with our modified rule 24 limiting one timeout per game per team.  There is still room for improvement though to figure out a way to get the tourney started earlier (once Nancy figures that out!).

End of season standings in reverse order:

1. 501 Club – featuring ALL new members.
2. Racking My Brain– WHAT????
3. Scorpions -a team greatly admired by the League Operator for having paid their full weekly fees before the 2^nd half of the season even began.
4. PhaCues 
5. Creepy Bullys 
6. Stanly Steamers –(sure this name is changing since Stan’s out!)
7. Behind the 8-Ball
8. Last Game
9. The Butchers
10. Pocket Rattlers
11. Ferocious Ferrets – the primary team to take advantage of the ACS Illinois State Tournament this season.
12. Chalkoholics
13. Road Warriors – a rarity to see them this far from 1st place
14. Free Agents 
15. There Goes My 80
16. Wolff Pack
17. Big Slick – finishing with an average of 317.63 points per week. The team members were captain Frankie C, Kevin J, Mike B, Dennis S, Alex O.

Many members ask about Paul all the time! We want to wish Paul (who’s so far been having a pretty good couple of weeks) to keep it up and hope you have a wonderful 2025!

Congratulations to all!! See y’all next season! Happy New Year! (and thanks for your patience!)

Outstanding outing(s):

1. Alex T (his 1st) and Craig P (his 4th) scored perfect 80s.
2. Fermin A, Romy G, Jerry R and Nancy K each tallied 77.
3. Ramiro G and Mike B both shot 76.

RAFFLE Status:

1. Ed S, Table 14: Picked for the 4th time this season, miscued on the break.
2. John R, Table 13: First time picked this season.  Broke Dry.
3. The entire pot rolls toward next week’s party night. 

OTHER:

1. Ferocious Ferrets had one absence reducing their HCP by 8 points thereby awarding 8 bonus points to their Pocket Rattlers opponent.
2. Renee R scored a 55, her highest score of the season. Oh what a night!
3. Want to wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year. May 2025 be prosperous for all. See everyone at PARTY night!!

Outstanding outing(s):

1. Mark H had his first 80 of the season! Dennis S and Romy G had their 2nd 80 of the season.
2. Frankie C shot the only 77.
3. Tim B scored a 76.

RAFFLE Status:

1. Bill T, (first time this season) Table 11:  Dry break.
2. Sharon, (her first time this season) Table 11: The 4-ball sunk on the break into the corner pocket.  Had a fair shot on the 1-ball but juuuuust missed.
3. The entire raffle pot rolls over to Week 17 – the last week of this 2024 Autumn season.  

OTHER:

1. Ferocious Ferrets had one absence reducing their HCP by 8pts thereby resulting in an 8pt bonus for their Creepy Bullys opponent.
2. One more week left for 2024 Autumn Season. We DO play the day after Christmas, so everyone have a very Merry Christmas!!! Hope no one gets coal in their stockings, Santa is always watching!!!

Outstanding outing(s):

1. Nancy K, Joe L & Eric C (Eric’s 1st ever!!!) of Behind the 8-Ball along with Alex O (his 2nd in a row) and Roy S (his 2nd this season) all scored an 80. Free Agents “ghost” player scored an 80 also and good thing, because the “ghost” player decreased their HCP by 16 points!!
2. Kevin C & Kyle B shot 77.
3. Romy G tallied 76.

RAFFLE Status:

1. Jimmy S broke dry (didn’t see what table as I was shooting!)
2. Braxton’s 2nd time this season also broke dry!
3. The entire raffle pot rolls over for Week 16.  

OTHER:

1. Behind the 8-Ball played 501 Club, both were missing a player.  Behind the 8-Ball’s missing player had no HCP impact, but unfortunately, 501 Club’s missing player caused an 8pt HCP decrease awarding an 8pt Bonus to Behind the 8-Ball. (Seems unfair but that is the rule!)
2. Free Agents were also missing a player causing their HCP to decrease by 16pts awarding Stanly Steamers a Bonus of 16pts. (But luckily, as mentioned above, Free Agents “ghost” player scored an 80!)
3. TWO more weeks to go, then PARTY/PIZZA night!!!
4. The cold is now here! Everyone stay warm!!

Outstanding outing(s):

1. We had 6 80s, John W, Kyle B & Craig P all of Free Agents and Larry P, Kevin C and Alex O.
2. Roy S was the only one who shot 77.
3. Romy G, Steve VD, Kevin J and Mike B each totaled 76.

RAFFLE Status:

1. Mike K was picked for the 4th TIME this season. He had his lucky (or unlucky) big Green Bay Packers hat on, breaking on Table 8.
   • he pocketed the 4-ball in the corner on the break.
   • he had a bank shot on the 1-ball but it did not want to go in. Next pick…..
   • Mike K picked himself, now the 5th TIME this season! How does that happen!!!! This time he did not wear his big Green Bay Packers hat while breaking on Table 9.
   • the 8-ball was pocketed in the same corner pocket that the 4-ball went into above.
   • this time, the 1-ball was just a couple inches from the side pocket with the cue ball resting on the side rail with the angle going away from where the 2-ball was. Pretty easy shot, but no attempt for position on the 2-ball as it was not easy to get to.
   • He was happy taking 2/9th of the pot.
2. The remaining raffle pot rolls over to Week 15.

OTHER:

1. No missing players this week!
2. Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving!!
3. There was a questionable hit, luckily it was recorded, and even with that it was a tough decision. They called the Interim League Operator for a final call. Didn’t want to know WHO was shooting (showing NO favoritism), made the call of a split hit, which, in turn is a legal hit. Verified with our real League Operator and he agreed a simultaneous hit is a good hit.
4. Three more week of matches remains for this season.

Outstanding outing(s):

1. Kevin C, Sean B & Dennis S each scored a perfect 80.
2. Bill T & Mona T each shot a 77.
3. Romy G & Cristina C each finished with 76.

RAFFLE Status:

1. Roy S got selected for the 3rd time this season.  Unlike his amazing 2nd showing, this time he broke dry on Table 6.
2. Nancy K was chosen for the 2nd time this season, and just like the first try, she was unable to cash out with a dry break on table 2.
3. The entire raffle pot rolls over to week 14.

OTHER:

1. Patrick W of Stanly Steamers made his season debut scoring 46 against the Road Warriors.
2. There Goes My 80 was missing a player causing a 16 point HCP decrease, which in turn, awarded the Scorpions a 16 point Bonus.
3. Paul updated the ACS Tourney information page for you, as there is an Iowa Tournament for anyone who is interested. Entry deadline is a postmark date of Dec. 18th.
4. Wishing ALL our members and Shooter’s staff and especially Paul a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Remember there is NO play next week, as well, because it’s Thanksgiving!!!

Outstanding outing(s):

1. Frankie C, Roy S and Jerry W each scored their first 80 for this season.  For Larry P it was his 2nd, Mona T his 3rd and Julian F his 5th 80 for this season.
2. Wolff Pack teammates Tony C and Kevin C each had 77.
3. Bryan W and Fermin A tallied 76 each.

RAFFLE Status:

1. Mike M, Table 04: Broke dry leaving the 1-ball just hanging in the corner pocket!
2. Eric L, Table 07: He made 3 balls on the break, unfortunately one of them was the cue ball.
3. The entire raffle pot rolls over to Week 13.

OTHER:

1. There were no absentees this week.  There were, however, many substitutes (7) playing tonight and only 2 of them added 8 HCP points for their team, Pocket Rattlers and The Butchers.
2. We play next week and will be off the following week 11/28/24 for Thanksgiving!!