BUSH LEAGUE - Ryan Robertson, Ryan Kerley, Jimmy Wright, Ulysses Escapite presented by Madelyn Jason Cobb
The final game of the 2021 Mack and Madelyn Jason Memorial 8 Goal tournament, played at Southern California’s Eldorado Polo Club, was a high scoring spectacle and wasn’t decided until late in the sixth chukker.
The first decider of the new season, on a wonderful afternoon weather-wise, saw JC Polo/Folded Hills (Christopher Busch, Tom Sherman, sub for Jemma Contreras, Jesse Bray 6, Bayne Bossom 2) face-off against Bush League (Ryan Robertson,Ulysses Escapite 4, Jimmy Wright 4, Ryan Kerley) in a game highlighted by a possible regulation time record on Eldorado’s storied number one field of 29 goals – with the winning goal not counted until the final two minutes.
The scoring started very early in the first as Sherman collected a well placed pass at center and carried to goal to give JC Polo/Folded Hills a quick lead of one. Bush League got that one back as strong offensive pressure allowed Robertson a free shot from 40 yards which he converted. Busch – with a perfect penalty four deflection - and Bossom – from the field - then counted to give the JC/FH combination a lead of two at 3 – 1. Robertson scored his first from the field to narrow the gap to one, but Bray replied and the first period was over with JC/Folded Hills leading by a pair at 4 – 2.
The strong early showing of JC/FH was not to be in chukker number two as Bush League dominated with four unanswered counters – Robertson with his second open goal conversion, Kerley with one, and Escapite with a pair. The second was over with Bush League leading by two at 6 – 4.
Scoring in the third chukker continued to favor Bush League but just by one as JC/FH were able to recover somewhat but it didn’t happen right away. Kerley notched his second from close in – on an absolutely perfect set-up from Wright - to give Bush League a three goal advantage at 7 – 4. Bray counted an open goal opportunity to get that back but Escapite replied from the ensuing throw-in to again lead by three. Bray replied to that with his second field goal to trail by just two. However, Wright converted a long penalty 5 effort from 85 yards and well right and the half was over with Bush League expanding their lead to three at 9 -6.
Scoring in the fourth was split evenly with Wright extending Bush League’s lead to four with a text book penalty four conversion. Kerley counted his third of the day to give the minor leaguers a major lead of five at 11 – 6. However Bray, never going away, scored twice to bring JC/FH back to the three goal deficit at 11 – 8.
With JC/FC down by three going into the fifth, it was obvious that they needed to step up if there was to be any chance to hoist the Jason trophy. With that in mind, early pressure afforded Bray an open goal penalty opportunity which narrowed the deficit to a pair at 11 – 9. However, Escapite got that back and Robertson nailed his second field goal to give Bush League a relatively strong late game lead of four at 13 – 9 and many thought it was over. Not yet however as the JC/FH combination got back into it with a strong force on the Bush League goal that allowed Bossom a successful open goal opportunity and then Bray scored from the field to come back within two. However, Wright clobbered his second penalty number 4 counter to once again lead by three. Busch then scored his second goal to take JC/FH to the sixth down by two at 14 – 12.
A good sixth chukker was all important for JC Polo/Folded Hills – who had not led since early in the second period and they started well. Bossom, started the new alphabet on the score sheet with his second field goal bringing JC/FH to within one. Bray later tied the count at 14 with his sixth counter from the field. At this point it was anyone’s game and really could have gone either way. Wright, who had scored on three previous long foul attempts, struck for his first from the field and it turned out to be the winner. Bush League had defeated JC Polo/Folded Hills by a final count of 15 – 14 and had won the 2021 Mack and Madelyn Jason Memorial Trophy.
Madelyn Cobb, granddaughter of Mack and Madelyn Jason was on hand to present the awards and the trophy to the victors.
Because of his ability to start and finish plays and his extreme accuracy on long foul efforts, Wright was chosen as the MVP.
Mamba, owned by Bush League Farms and played by Escapite in the second chukker, was distinguished as the Best Playing Pony.
Tony Gregg