After years of persistence and training, Scotts Valley Bocci Club won three games in a row to take the trophy away from Los Gatos during the May 23 9th Annual Over The Hill Tournament.
Team manager Tom Walsh, along with team members, report being ecstatic for the win as it shows those years of hard work and training finally prevailed.
Walsh, who has been playing for ten years, said Los Gatos Bocci Club was instrumental in helping set up the Scotts Valley club. Though everyone is friendly with each other, the last competition got fierce when his team scored 12 to 11 in the first game, 12 to 8 in the second game, and 12 to 11 in the third game.
Bocci ball is usually played for five games between the teams, but once Scotts Valley took three in a row, they had the clear win. Each game is played until 12 points are reached.
“We emphasized different strategies, which proved to be successful,” said Walsh. “They (Los Gatos) are one of the premier bocci ball organizations in U.S.”
To explain just how distinguished the Los Gatos players are, Walsh elaborated that one of Los Gatos players is a seven time U.S. men’s national champion. Another is the former president of U.S. Bocci Federation, and another was national men’s doubles champion in the past.
The winning tournament was played at Walsh’s house where he has an 84-foot long by 13-foot wide bocci ball court. Each year, the teams alternate between Scotts Valley and Los Gatos tournament locations.
“There was probably a slight advantage with having a home court, but several of the Los Gatos players have played at my house before,” he said.
And while some may think bocci ball is all about simply rolling the ball, strategy is huge in ensuring a win. In that sense, the game is akin to playing pool because teams can set up their opponents to face challenging turns.
The goal of bocci ball is to get as close as possible to pallino, a small white ball that gets tossed into the court at the start of the game. Players use bigger balls with either lagging or rolling techniques to achieve proximity. Each team normally has four players, with one substitute. The players take turns until the desired score is achieved.
The recent win guarantees Scotts Valley Bocci Club recognition from the U.S. Bocci Federation. In order to compete at this level, each member has to be sanctioned through the organization. Anyone can join the federation, but as the Scotts Valley players have learned, it takes skill and dedication to get heads turning.
With the Los Gatos win behind them, Walsh said the Scotts Valley team looks forward to competing in other tournaments throughout the state and beyond.
Organized bocci ball has been happening in Scotts Valley for approximately ten years. Team member Steve Horlock originally brought bocci ball to Scotts Valley with help of Los Gatos member Bob Rauh.
“I congratulate Scotts Valley team because after nine years and lots of skill development, they finally beat Los Gatos team,” said Rauh, who has been playing bocci for approximately 15 years.
“I am proud to say that I helped get them started and have helped to mentor them over all this time. I expect them to continue to challenge us, but I wouldn’t count on many wins,” Rauh said.
Horlock, who is just as passionate about the game as he was when he started, also has a court at his house. He said that when he first started spreading the word about bocci ball, former Press-Banner editor Jim Reed wrote a story about it and the game has taken off locally ever since. At that time, Horlock had raised $25,000 to have bocci courts built in Skypark.
Horlock is so into it that he has a name for his elite team of players.
“Bocci Ministries is about the fellowship and camaraderie that we have,” Horlock said. All players at the court agreed that the friendships they built over time have been fulfilling.
People can join the ministries after they prove themselves. There are many opportunities to practice towards that goal. The City of Scotts Valley Recreation has daily practice at the Skypart Courts. And now there are approximately 13 houses in Scotts Valley, including Horlock’s and Walsh’s, that have bocci courts.
Overall, Walsh and Horlock estimated that the number of bocci ball players in Scotts Valley tops 200 people. A person of any age can play.
“There’s a lot of women here in Scotts Valley who play,” said Walsh. “One of the aspects that I promote as the president of the Scotts Valley Bocci Club is that I try to work assist starting players in their development.”
Come play with Walsh, Horlock and their friends and get some exercise in fresh air.
Horlock said he wants to remind locals that the Scotts Valley Parks and Rec Department has free bocci balls when they are open during the week that anyone can use. The only times those balls are unavailable is when there is official playing happening Mondays through Fridays 9 a.m. to noon.
