BOCCE, THE G-MAN, CHARLESTON BOCCE LEAGUE AND THE G-ZONE

I don’t know if you know this or not, but I love bocce! I love to play it and I also enjoy watching others enjoy it. Two digital short stories have poured out of my laptop and gone out into the world, published by Trestle Press called: “I Have Chrome Balls, Don’t You? And the sequel to it “Holy Chrome Bocce Balls on Fire!” To take that a bit further, wait did I just say I am going to take something further, what a surprise, let me finish… To take it a bit further I have begun forming relationships with bocce leagues all over this great land of ours, from sea to shining sea. I will be featuring the Charleston Bocce league first, besides today’s guest post they will be guests on my blogtalk radio show The G-ZONE, on Weds Sept 14^th @ 12pm EST. There motto is, are you ready,: “If you have the time , we have the balls.” Do I think the time on the blogtalk will be interesting, fun and informative? I should say so. Tune in; get the spirit, bocce baby!  Here is a little something the Charleston Bocce League sent me to get us warmed up:

“Just days after Hurricane Irene swept across our shores The Charleston Bocce League ventured out to Folly Beach to commence their semi finals and finals for the season’s Championship Tournament! Upon arriving at the beach it was all too clear that a major storm had just passed. The water line was up to the dunes and there were patches of dune grass strewn throughout the beach. Where used to lie 12 inches of deep soft white sand had been washed away and replaced by a hard, unforgiving black grit. The ocean was still churning, murky at best, with gray foaming white caps. The clouds were dark and rain felt imminent. What used to be blue skies, white beaches and a bluish-green ocean was transformed into a muddled mixture of grays. Clearly the mood was set for the final leg of the tournament.

First up in the semi-finals was our 2nd season team Coach and K-Dog (Paul Stevens & Kevin Ward) currently the 4th place seed entering the tournament taking on the 1st place seed and freshman team Balls to the Vol (Aaron Alexander & Slim). After the first couple of rounds Coach and K-Dog had a commanding lead up 3-0. But Balls to the Vol weren’t going to roll over and play dead. They fought back and took the lead with some impressive ball skills. A few unfortunate tosses by Coach and K-Dog were all it took to seal their fate as Balls to the Vol advanced to the finals.

Concurrently, the second leg of the semi-finals was being battled out by 2nd place seed and freshman team Bocce Bros (Matthew Johnson & Zach Carichiuta) taking on the 6th place seed and 2nd season team Bocce and Bullwinkle (Katie & Adam Webb). Unbeknownst to either team was the bocce battle that was about to ensue! Bocce and Bullwinkle, being the only coed team in the semi-finals, had something to prove. After two rounds Bocce and Bullwinkle were able to squeak a 2-1 lead, but it wouldn’t last long. Bocce Bros battled right back to take the lead at 3-2. Then some impressive skills and a good turn of luck lead by Katie gave Bocce and Bullwinkle a commanding 6-3 lead (playing to 7). Bocce Bros had other plans however. A few key rounds with some defensive maneuvering and great tosses breathed new life into this game. After what must have been a 45 minute battle the Bocce Bros were able to take the lead and then the win with a 8-6 final score moving on to the finals!

The battle for 3rd place between Coach and K-Dog & Bocce and Bullwinkle was short and to the point. Bocce and Bullwinkle still pumping with adrenaline and fuming from their loss made short work of Coach and K-Dog. With 4 points in round 1 and 3 in round two Bocce and Bullwinkle secured 3rd with a commanding 7-0 win.

The sun was setting as the finals began between Balls to the Vol and the Bocce Bros. It was a great spectacle to watch! Here were the two teams that rightfully belonged in the finals. Neither team had missed a single match out of the 42 played throughout the season and neither team dropped below the top 3 for the season. It was truly a battle between the best and both were out to prove a point. The name of the game with these two teams is the long ball. If they had a motto it could be “go long or go home”.

Balls to the Vol started out strong and after only a few rounds had a 3-0 lead. The Bocce Bros weren’t going to go out without a fight though. They fought hard and threw well to take the third round with a single point bringing the score to 3-1. Balls to the Vol wasn’t having it though and made the last two rounds game changers. You know it’s truly impressive to see these two teams toss a 107mm ball what must have been 30 plus yards at a target the size of a golf ball and land within 6 inches of it time and time again! But that’s exactly what happened and Balls to the Vol showed a commanding presence with the last few rounds to close out the match with a 7-1 victory!

Loggerhead’s Beach Grill, this year’s league sponsor, hosted the award ceremony and the end of the year celebration. Balls to the Vol took the 1st place trophy along with $300 prize money and ensured that the Charleston Bocce League Championship Trophy stayed another season on Folly Beach! Bocce Bros took the 2nd place trophy and $200 prize money followed by Bocce and Bullwinkle in 3rd place with $100. Also honored was The Good, The Bad, The Bocce (Vanessa During & Chad Garrett) for the Baddest Ballers and Bocce Said She Was 18 Officer (Will Phillips & Bart Smith) for best team name! All in all it was a great end to another successful season for the Charleston Bocce League!