Almost Hay
By Johnny Kettler
Texas Game Company
Allen, Texas
Sunday, June 9th, 2002
14 participants

'Tis Johnny/Thegreatcell again (with another one of those strange tourney reports)! This is our league's 4th tournament, and I expected this one to be the best yet, since it had almost all of my competition over the year (Contrary to popular belief, there are places where most people play without Feraligatr and Sneasel)! Although I won two of the last three tournaments,  I was still a bit nervous! As usual, I took them all on with my tried and true, Almost Hay!

Almost Hay

Pokemon (13):

2 cleffa (Neo Genesis)
1 electabuzz (Base, Base2)
2 Rocket's Zapdos (Gym Challenge)
2 Scyther (Jungle, Base2)
1 Rocket's Scyther (Gym Heroes)
2 Onix (Neo Genesis)
2 Steelix (Neo Genesis)
1 Scizor (Promo)

Trainers (22):

4 gust of wind (base, base2)
3 gold berry (Neo Genesis)
3 Pluspower (base,base2)
3 Computer Search (Base,base2)
3 energy removal (base,base2, and a triumphant return in LC!)
2 Prof. Oak (Base, Base2)
2 Prof. Elm (Neo Genesis)
2 Misty's Wrath (Gym Heroes)

Energy (25):

6 Lightning
6 Fighting
6 Leaf
3 Metal
2 Rainbow
2 Double Colorless

If any of you have read my last (posted) report back in February, you might have noticed how I recently loaded up on broken trainers. Well old chums, I realized that I would probably face off against some tough competition, so I took most of the steps required for success, including broken trainers.
    As most of you probably know, byes are rewarded to those who win the most games during the league. I was awarded a bye, along with my prime competition, a kid named David Higginbothom (That name can be a doozy). So the single elimination bracket was set, and of the 14 contestants, only 8 would survive the 1st round guillotine (that's "gee-a-teen for some of you yanks :}).

Round 1 (Skip if you don't care):

As I said earlier, I earned a bye for my exceptional win/loss ratio, so I just waited in the main room, playing Magic: The Gathering against the other bye, David. I was beating him senseless with some armadillo cloak elves,  but the Manager of the store said that it was time for our games...

Round 2: Vs. Karen Ferguson:
(Ampharos deck)

In the beginning, I think she had only a mareep, while I had a buzz, a cleffa, fighting energy, but no onix! Fortunately, I got a lightning energy and started to lay the beatdown with buzz. after about 5 to 10 minutes, the game ended in my favor.

Intermission:

In the main room, I waited patiently for my next challenge. Although I said that most of us did not play Feraligatr or Sneasel, my two possible semi final opponents played with those two archetypes. Eventually, Feraligatr pulled through, and I knew who would be my opponent...

Semi-final: Vs. Nick Bradshaw:
(Feraligatr)

During the last tournament, I played an extremely long and explosive game against Nick (I won that tourny). not so during this game. I had a turn 1 rocket's scyther in play, ready to kill the woopers and totodiles. The game
lasted 3- 5 minutes, and I won.

Final Round: Vs. David Higginbothom:
(Ampharos/Hay)

I would say that of all the games I have played in the league, this would be one of my favorites (although it did not end the way I wanted it to). During the entire course of the match, I never obtained those needed gusts, searches, and elms. For most of the game, I had only a rocket's scyther, two gold berries, and lady luck. David started with a rocket's zapdos and a buzz. I do not know how it happened, but I managed to stall against three or four pokemon for over 10 minutes! Although I eventually got the pokemon needed, David lost by simply running through his entire deck. The tournament was over, and I emerged victorious!

Aftermath, prizes, and insults galore:

For winning the tourney, I obtained many promotionals, including the most popular foil energy yet.. leaf! I realized that although I have had many good games at the league, I have never really had the best game yet. So after trades, I made David promise that I would be able to play at least one game without winning or losing due to (literally) the flip of a coin. Nevertheless, it was a spectacular tournament... just not THE tournament. For my victory, I asked others to insult me for winning, and boy were people kind! I heard insult after insult after insult after insult...

Ciao!

~Johnny Kettler

you may insult or compliment me at: thegreatcell2@aol.com