The Scotts Valley Bocce Club surprised everyone, including themselves, proving to be a tough contender at the 2011 U.S. National Championships at Campo Di Bocce in Los Gatos. The team took second overall in the national competition that saw teams travel from New York, Texas, Massachusetts and Maine to compete in the annual tournament.
Scotts Valley won three of their first four games and rolled into the finals for a showdown against the No. 1 seeded Team Baresi of Los Gatos.
However, Scotts Valley started out the championship match dismally, finding themselves down 8-0 early on. After mounting a small comeback, they finished the match losing 12-7, good enough for second place in the Open B Division.
Both losses were to the champion, Team Baresi.
“For a team that has never competed in this type of environment I am really proud of how we played,” Walsh said.
Walsh, who hosts bocce matches at his home in Scotts Valley, enjoyed the experience.
“Not only is it fun to play in this venue, but it is really fantastic to see first hand, the amount of talent players of this caliber have,” he said.
The team consists of Scotts Valley residents Diane May, Tom Walsh, Paul Chapin, Dave Imwalle and Bob Ruah of Los Gatos.
The tournament began Saturday, June 25 and ran through this Saturday, July 2 at Campo Di Bocce locations in Los Gatos, and Livermore with awards being distributed on the final day.
