Great pickleball. Great time.
Wow, what a battle. These guys played some great pickleball and had fun doing it. Cody Hayden, left, and partner Andy Bond congratulate Dan Goldstein on a hard-fought victory while partner Giuliano Hafling celebrates.
That was fun to watch
Dan Goldstein and Giuliano Hofling did it the long way, coming up through the Group 1 losers/runners-up/fat chance bracket to claim victory in the final game of the EPC Men’s Doubles Tournament Saturday at Marshdale. They ultimately defeated Andy Bond and Cody Hayden for the title.
Third place was claimed by Frank Kassay and Pat Bixenman.
In Group 2, John Wells and Grant Kalbfleisch bested Erich Meyer and Doug Jones for first place. Third went John Hoskinson and Don Marshall.
The setting was damp, cloudy and a bit cool Saturday morning, but volunteers armed with leaf blowers dried them out before the first ball bounced.
Kathy Fasold led the effort to make the courts playable, intimidating Brian Pilcher along the way despite his scary attire.
The tournament brain trust assembled for some deep thinking pre-tournament. From left, maintenance and facilities director Monte Poague, webmaster Jim Hunsaker, VP John Dunlop and tournament director Mick Pearce.
Scorekeeper Pat Theno goes above and beyond to wipe rain off the bleachers before play starts.
Group 1: These guys were totally cooperative about lining up with one partner kneeling and the other standing behind. The photographer will now specify that the first listed of each pair is standing. From left, Cody Hayden/Andy Bond, Dan Goldstein/Giuliano Hofling, David Smith/Larry Flowers, John Plotkin/Bob Kerr, Ed Dodson/Jon Stein, Pat Bixenman/Frank Kassay, Rich Remington/Bob Impson, Ryan Gibbs/Mikael Ribeiro.
Tournament director Mick Pearce congratulates Giuliano Hofling and Dan Goldstein, at left, for their victory in Group 1 of the Men’s Doubles Tournament. Cody Hayden and Andy Bond took second place.
Group 1 action gets under way as Pat Bixenman, left, and Frank Kassay take on a leaping Cody Hayden and Andy Bond.
Frank Kassay is tickled to receive his Group 1 third-place prize money. This may or may not be a direct quote, but something along the lines of “maybe enough for a mid-range beer” was heard. Mick presents and Pat Bixenman appreciates the moment.
Group 1: Ed Dodson is set to receive the serve from Rich Remington, who partnered with Bob Impson. Jon Stein is Ed’s partner.
Group 2: Grant Kalbfleisch/John Wells, Jim Mosby/Brian Pilcher, Erich Meyer/Doug Jones, Paul Costello/Dale Jeffries, Gary Euliss/Todd Landrum, Jerry Mogab/Dan Mogab, Don Marshall/John Hoskinson, Justin Zimmer/Cory Vander Veen (our esteemed EPRD executive director).
Group 2: Doug Jones and Erich Meyer took second place, with John Wells and Grant Kalbfleisch claiming first.
Don Marshall, left, and John Hoskinson celebrated 3rd place in Group 2. What other tournament furnishes margaritas with the food? Come to think of it, it might have been these two that had the beer discussion.
In Group 2, Grant Kalbfleisch, left, and John Wells face Doug Jones at back left and Erich Meyer.
Group 2: Brian Pilcher, left, and Jim Mosby face Don Marshall and John Hoskinson, right.
Group 2: Gary Euliss, left, and Todd Landrum take on Paul Costello and Dale Jeffries, right.
The food started arriving at 9, with John Dunlop and Mick Pearce helping to unload and social director Kathy Kincannon discussing the logistics with Treasurer Jeri Herskovits.
Sarah Kassay cheers on husband Frank from the berm.
Cody Hayden, left, and Andy Bond are pretty chipper after their second-place finish in Group 1.
Larry Flowers, left, and EPC President Bob Kerr have a meeting of the minds (or not) as Bud Parr minds his own business.
John Dunlop was thrilled that competitors were going to have access to cookies.