It's the bottom of the fifth, with two outs and a 13-13 score. Rookie kickballer Samantha Martin stands at the plate, struggling in this game with only one hit. Mikey Walters' first pitch rolls clean under Martin's foot for a strike. No wonder he's known for his fast-pitch kickball. Now, on 0-1, here's the pitch—Whoa—driven to right field! We may have something here! The ball, which whistles into the corner of the outfield, is fair and Kevin Brooks rounds third and heads for home. Meanwhile, Martin is on her way to second and looks like she could even be headed for third. The kickball—poorly handled in the outfield—is just coming in. Martin is being waved home—this could be it! That big red ball is rifled from second' for a play at home plate and—SAFE! The kickball has taken an awkward bounce and rolled right through the catcher's hands. Martin is safe!

Do you believe in miracles? Better yet—do you believe in kickball? If not, then you should! The Moneymakers have done it, winning this one-run  game 14-13, and advancing to the championship. And folks, in what has developed into one of the most dramatic adult kickball games this division has seen, it comes down to this: If you've been following kickball this year you'd never have guessed that the Moneymakers, a team that barely squeaked into the playoffs, would have a chance to advance to the divisional championship. And if you haven't been following kickball this year, you probably wouldn't ever have guessed that kickball is the next big thing in communities across the country—including here, in Dutchess County.

With virtually all inexperienced players, the Rhinebeck division of adult kickball began in May with an unofficial pick-up game at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. Headed by World Adult Kickball Association (WAKA) co-founder Johnny Lehane, the newly formed Mid-Hudson Valley adult kickball division gave players a chance to learn many of the rules and get their first taste of adult kickball, the country's fastest growing community sport.

Turnout for the pickup game was even between men and women participants, but ages varied significantly, from people in their early 20s to mid-to-late 40s. Many of the players were married couples. "It's a great opportunity for spouses to socialize and get great exercise at the same time," says Pam Ivers, president of the Mid-Hudson Valley division, headquartered in Poughkeepsie. Plus, many players find that kickball can be a great play date for children, allowing mom, dad, or both to be out on the field playing the real game while their kids run around after mini-kickballs.

At the pickup game, following a brief introduction, the folks who had turned out were assembled into teams, and players immediately took the field. Everyone seemed a bit timid at first, with many players apologizing for lousy kicks or dropped catches, but as the game progressed it got more serious, despite the occurance of those comedic moments that come with a bunch of adults assembled en masse to play one of gym class's silliest games—the maneuvering of an oversized, wobbly red ball. Yet for every missed kick, there was an impressive play, earning applause and cheers from both sides. "The WAKA motto is safety, fun, and friendly competitiveness," says Lehane.

The game appealed equally passersby: couples walking their dogs went out of their way to get a glimpse of what was unfolding, while drivers honked their horns and yelled out, "Yeah, kickball!" Some people even parked and joined in, encouraged by those on the field.

As the sun set on the pickup game, there was a two-run win, but neither team seemed too concerned about the score. Laughter echoed off the field as players gathered their gear and got set for stage two of adult kickball: the bar scene. "That's it, guys. Short, sweet, and to the bar," Lehane remarked as the players left the field.

Creating a social scene around the sport is an integral part of the adult kickball ethos. Unlike many other recreational sports, where each team often has its own sponsored bar or pub, the entire WAKA division meets at the same watering hole post-game. "We like to choose a place that feels comfortable having sweaty kickball players and where sweaty kickball players will feel comfortable as well," Lehane explains. "It's a lot of fun to see teams group in packs initially and then after a few drinks the team colors seem to blend together." Lehane explained that given kickball's co-ed demographic, the game has ignited more than a few romantic fires; even a few marriages have begun with a meeting on the kickball field.