It was a day of firsts at the 2022 Burt Reynolds Memorial Bocce Classic.
The competitors woke up to an extremely chilly morning in Fairmont. Though there was no talk of postponing the Tournament the weather was an unspoken topic of conversation. But an encouraging text from Grant Pollock telling the competitors to layer up and "maybe wear a vest" for extra mobility cheered everyone up. Only Friesen would take his advice.
When Stan hit the Bocce on his first shot of the day it would be a harbinger of things to come. Stan and Bob put on what some in attendance would call an instant classic. A see saw battle that would end up with Stan winning 21-17.
Bob and Koks would play game 2 with Friesen clearly rattled from game 1. Koks wins 21-12 giving Friesen his second straight loss of the day. Good thing everyone makes the playoffs.
Stan and Koks would play game three which most in attendance would agree that they witnessed a piece of bocce history. They took many first-time shots from all around the yard, upper deck and everything in between.
Stan invented the "Anti Byno Shot". An almost impossible shot for a left hander and an incredibly difficult shot for a right hander. Koks managed to bounce a bocce off of the garage roof.
Stan had a commanding lead but Koks managed to wrestle botch control away and then took Stan to the creek. Another first took place as Koks threw the bocce across the creek. Stan was clearly rattled. Koks retained botch control and the two competitors crossed the creek to retrieve the balls and play back. As the crowd gathered around, Friesen fumed and called it "Carnival Bocce". Koks proceeded to hit the bocce twice and ended up with a six-point swing. Koks took the lead and never looked back serving up Stans first loss of the day.
At the end of the Round Robin.
Koks - 2-0.
Stan - 1-1.
Bob - 0-2
After a quick Burt Reynold the Semi Finals began.
Stan and Bob took to the Court. Stan took a quick lead which soon became insurmountable. It was not Friesens day as the crowd witnessed another first. Friesen goes O-fer for the first time in his illustrious career sending to Stan to face Koks in the finals. Was it the vest?
The crowd anticipated another epic encounter from these two bocce giants and they weren't disappointed. The skies suddenly cleared and the sun came out. It was as if the Universe wanted to watch too.
To the surprise of the crowd Koks and Stan played a mostly traditional game of Bocce. There were many lead changes but Stan was able to holds Koks a bay, winning the game 21-17. Which leads us to the last but yet most important first of the day. Stan wins his first BALISA Championship!!
As the sun set on the 2022 BRMBC the fans and competitors knew that they had been a part of something special.
Point awarded:
James Wallace 4
Ryan Kokott 2
Rob Friesen 1
