Bocce players roll in 3-day tournament

Rolling: Four games are played at once on the bocce courts at the Anderson River Park during Paesano Days.

With 132 players entered, the yearly bocce ball tournament at Paesano Days in Anderson River Park was spread out over three days last weekend. With shouts of "meat-a-ball" emanating from vociferous Sons of Italy volunteers in the food court, it's noteworthy that bocce isn't pronounced "<B>bah</B>-chi." It's pronounced "<B>boat</B>-chay" by most players.

It's origins are Italian, but similar games abound in Europe, bocce organizer for the Sons of Italy Paul Ryness said, citing lawn bowling in England and petanque in France.

Even though many players sported flip-flops and a glass of beer during play, most were there to win.

"It gets pretty serious," Mike Flashner of Anderson said.

While no serious arguments were heard Saturday afternoon, there was at least one complaint that a judge didn't measure a close call.

And in bocce ball, the closest ball wins. The game starts with the golf ball-sized polina tossed onto the court. While many play bocce ball in their backyards, an official bocce court is shaped more like a bowling lane - with walls instead of gutters.

With two chances each, players take turns rolling the softball-sized bocce balls to get closest to the polina.

A team earns a point by getting a ball closest to the polina. Furthermore, a team earns a point for each ball closer to the polina than the nearest ball from the opponent's team, Ryness said.

"First team to eleven wins," he said.

A new rule this year allows players to knock another player's ball or the polina more than 36 inches away, Flashner's teammate Clay Fisher said. While allowing a player to make more aggressive rolls to change the scoring position, Flashner said he bases his strategy on the first couple throws.

Flashner's team, "Just Having Fun," lost their first match on Friday before advancing in the loser's bracket on Saturday afternoon.

"It's good we got to advance," he said, adding that the team would play next against a team that has played together for many years. "The older the rollers, the more experienced they are.

"I only play once a year," Flashner said, "which is pathetic because I live just down the street. But it's easier on the body than softball or horseshoes ... and the people are great." At the championship game on Sunday, The Cellar Dwellars defeated No Skill Required.