Second Post of the Day
This year we had our biggest tournament ever with 20 hopefuls vying for the coveted Bocce trophy.
Who would be taking it home this year? There were a lot of past Bocce champions present,
including Aunt Sarah who not only was a tournament champion, but when the Ten Year Champions Tournament was held in 2023, it was she who beat all the past champions, too! (How about that beautiful rosette from it that she's sporting?)
Always held at Martins' Fields in Indy, Aunt Jenny promised this year to have the pitch ready to go. Except she forgot to move the bird bath, which left a gaping hole on the pitch. Thinking quickly, we covered it with a piece of plywood.
A rumor was going around that magic would be used by some of the participants who may have bribed the cheerleaders to use their Harry Potter wands for some extra help.
Interesting that two of those cheerleaders (and their wands) helped with drawing up the rounds. Hmmmm.
I ended up with a bye the first round - it worked! Thanks, magicians!
Lunch demolished, we headed out to the pitch, eagerly anticipating our turn to trash talk and aim for the pallino.
Boompa wore a recent gift from Lisa - a hat with two fans embedded in the brim. BreyerFest attendees take note - it worked really well!
A couple of cheerleaders still working on their lunch.
Another two keeping Henry company.
Time to begin! Head steward and line judge Curt gave some instructions and read the first pairings.
And then, per tradition since this is a sporting event, we sang the national anthem.
With a surprise appearance by the Blue Angels! What a highlight for us all!
And the tournament began with Champion of Champions Sarah knocking her dad right out of the competition.
The atmosphere was so electric that Eric and Trinity could not remain in their chairs. (Or was that because some cheerleaders had slipped into them?)
I was pitted against fellow horsewoman, Ellen, and it was close - see how our balls are paired together?
But in the end, Ellen bested me and I was done for the year and not going to make the podium. (Note to self: next year, order ribbons to tenth place. Or maybe fifteenth. Maybe I will make the podium then.)
Champion of Champions Sarah was bested by a magical cheerleader.
And 2023 and 2024 winner Leslie lost to Nancy who had pinned her past ribbons to her tunic for good luck. (It worked. Nancy ultimately came in fourth.)
Todd had sent a text a few days before the tournament, telling us all to just stay home as he was going to win it all this year.
But, when he came up against Lisa (last year's second place winner, losing only by a smidge) down he went.
Poor Rick had to go against one of the Blue Angels.
Just look at Cole's form! But perhaps it was the long drive from Nashville to Indy, Henry in the backseat, that proved to be too much for Cole, and Rick took him out.
Line judge and steward Kyle had the misfortune of being pitted against cheerleader and magician Susie.
He gave it his all
but in the end, Susie took the round.
Lisa beat Todd; would she beat his daughter, her niece, too?
Yep! In the end, she was closer to the pallino than Trin.
Curt was busy tracking rounds
and pointing out where the pallino was,
but he also was competing. (Here his brother is pointing out where the pallino now was. Whoa, that's a long toss to make!)
Unfortunately, Ellen won the round. He was now out of the competition.
After beating her Uncle Kyle, Susie was paired against her mother in the next round.
This time, her mama bested her and moved on to the winners' rounds to determine final placings.
Nancy has another ribbon to wear next year.
She lost to Emily who placed third. Nina was second...
And Lisa won the blue ribbon and trophy!
The 2025 Bocce Tournament winners on the podium.
We also had a round of applause for our cheerleaders and magicians,
and our Blue Angels, line judges, and stewards. (Lisa isn't excited at all, is she?)
If I can ever pry that trophy out of her hands, I'll add the 2025 disk with her name on it to the chain.
Key word, "if," right? LOL
More things to share tomorrow, so stay 'tooned!
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