The overnight thunderstorms hadn’t cleared the valley as hoped,
and pitchers arriving from all directions reported rain at home,
but driving out-from-under as they approached the Draft. 48
hearty dedicated pitchers showed up to play, meaning a full
eight classes and putting all courts in use for two full
flights.
The VaHPA wants to thank this year’s class sponsors. Their
support and assistance helps keep the State Singles entry fees
as low as possible.
A Class Orvis Company
B Class Chesapeake Horseshoe Club
C Class Portsmouth Horseshoe Club
D Class Suffolk Horseshoe Club
E Class Winchester Horseshoe Club
F Class Stuarts Draft Horseshoe Club
G Class Anonymous
H Class King Custom Inc .
In the spirit of “Horseshoe Pitching is Fun” month, the VaHPA
sent out notice that the Old Dominion would be used to encourage
pitchers to “bring a friend”. We were delighted to have three
new pitchers sign up Saturday morning, which included two brand
new cadets. Welcome aboard, Jazmin Campbell (7yrs), Peyton
Skillman (8yrs), and Richard Croteau. We hope to see you on the
courts again sometime.
The morning classes got underway smoothly but about halfway
through the second game, a light drizzle caused a brief “wait
out”, as the pitchers were called off the courts. Four more
times during the flight, brief light showers caused a hold on
the games.
Even though the pitchers covered the pits as they left the
courts, pitching conditions deteriorated throughout the day.
With each passing cloud burst, the “drizzle” got heavier and
longer. By the time the second flight started, things were
getting really messy. Playoffs for two of the morning classes
delayed the start of one of the afternoon classes, because the
courts were loaded. The majority of the second flight got
underway around 1:30. But just after 2:00, another shower halted
the games temporarily. Then another shortly after, and this
time, several pitchers decided they could not continue under the
wet, sloppy playing conditions, and dropped out. At 4pm, a rain
hit that forced us to call the event. This wasn’t a passing
shower, this was a downpour that wasn’t going away any time
soon.
At the end of it all, the morning classes had finished up
completely, most of the afternoon classes had finished more than
half of their games, but D Class, the one delayed by the
playoffs, only squeezed in 2 games out of 6, making this event
not count as an ‘event played’ in NaStats. (reference the RGS
book, page 23 – Requ 2, Sec E – Tournament Credit “for
singles...events, all contestants must have completed at least
half of their scheduled games to receive NaStat credit for that
event...”
Having spoken with all of the effected people, none was really
disappointed that this event wouldn’t count, they were pitching
as miserably as the court conditions would allow!!
To all of the pitchers – thank you! for your patience and good
humor as the day wore on, especially to the D Class players. And
thanks also to all of the scorekeepers who got just as drenched
as the pitchers, and to the Stuarts Draft club members, who
helped set up, and then made sure everything was packed up at
the end – even in the pouring rain !!
We’ll see you on the courts again soon. Pat
