The first-ever game of Critzball, a new sport that blends elements of cricket and Blitzball, kicked off in Jersey City with Team Splat Elite taking on Team Happy to Be Here. The format featured two batters working as a pair, scoring runs by running or hitting Boundary shots off the back wall for four or six points. The fielding team could get outs either by catching hits, hitting the strike zone directly, or beating runners to their crease. Each inning lasted 18 legal pitches or ended after three outs.
Splat Elite set the tone early. Jake started hot, hitting multiple boundaries and pushing his team to 16 runs off the first over. A highlight came when Luke O’Brien made a full-extension diving catch to end Jake’s dominant run. Despite tweaking his hamstring, Luke’s grab was one of the top plays of the game. Jimmy then subbed in and kept the momentum alive with precise hitting and smart running, pushing Splat Elite to 24 in their first turn at bat.
Happy to Be Here looked strong in spots but struggled to match the firepower. Miscommunications on base running cost them early, and by the end of the first inning they trailed 24–20. Splat Elite exploded in their second turn, switching to a thicker cricket-style bat and racking up 45 more runs. Jimmy went off, tagging the wall for four after four and capping it with a booming six. His bat control and situational awareness kept piling on. Splat Elite’s total reached 69, forcing Happy to Be Here to chase 50 in the final inning to win. That chased collapsed under early errors and tight fielding. Rob got run out on an early mental lapse. Luke tried to rally with some late boundaries, but the deficit proved too much. Splat Elite held on to win by 19 runs in the debut of Critzball.