Kickin’ Balls

Summertime in Lawrence is laid-back and mellow with one notable exception: kickball. Now in its seventh season, the Kaw Valley Kickball League has blossomed into a 28-team mongrel with multiple battles every Sunday evening. The league has yet to implement a mandatory steroids-testing program, but its competitors are more likely to abuse beer anyway. As the league sweeps up every closet jock in town, the All-Star Game has become a showcase for the most elite of local ball kickers. Tonight’s marquee 8 p.m. showdown at Hobbs Park (702 East 11th Street) pits the best of the Jayhawk Conference against the best of the Wakarusa Conference in both female and male games. “Last year, by far, the highlight was the women’s game,” says KVKL veteran Jacki Becker. “You can’t go wrong watching athletic girl-on-girl action.” At stake: pride, dignity, territorial bragging rights, and perhaps a few strained hamstrings. See a full schedule of KVKL games at kawvalleykickball.com.

Sun., July 5, 8 p.m., 2009