UMass Alumni Beach Bocce Championship Doesn’t Make it Over the Bridge.

After residing in Amherst in the office of 2x Champion Russ Yarworth and Ryan Zaucha (2003), the UMass Alumni Beach Bocce Championship Trophy didn’t have to go far from the Cape this year. The local Marconi Beach guard duo of Becky Hunnewell (2001) and Zach Priest (2008) swept the competition with an impressive 5-0 victory and the trophy now sits in the hallowed halls of the Marconi Beach Guard Shack.

On what can only be described as a glorious August Saturday afternoon on the Cape Cod National Seashore, the UMass Men’s and Women’s Swimming Alumni, family, and friends gathered for the annual Beach Bocce Tournament. Mother Nature did her best to disrupt the event by washing away much of the playing fields at Marconi Beach earlier in the Spring, but tournament organizers and competitors adjusted to the elements and basked in a sunshine and warm weather well into the evening.

The tournament saw the return of many of the Bocce elite as well as some new faces to the annual summer classic. There were also some notable absences including Coach Yarworth’s partner Ryan Zaucha. As a result, they were unable to defend their Championship; paving the way for a new champion to be crowned. It was made known, multiple times (by Russ), that the team of Yarworth and Zaucha were never beaten. Mr. Zaucha’s passion and professionalism to the sport of Beach Bocce was sorely missed this day. Nevertheless, keeping the spirit of the sport alive, Russ carried on without his trusted partner. He hooked up with rookie Keith McLarty (class of 96’) who made the trek from Maine for the event and hoped to re-kindle some of the 1996 A-10 Championship magic. “Team Hernia” battled like grizzly veterans but ultimately Russ saw his streak of back-to-back championships end in the quarter finals, falling to “Lane 1” the team of BJ Brannan (Class of 00’) and Jeff Little (Class of 96’).

The 12 team field of competitors spanned over 50 years of UMass alumni and included both Men’s and Women’s swimmers. In a double elimination format the opening rounds fielded most of the new teams, with opening round bys rewarded to returning teams (and those who make considerable donations to the program). Building off their rookie seasons last year, the ladies teams of Angela & Mel Antononi, Corey Tawczynski & Sara Antononi, and Amy Bourassa & Shelley, performed well in the early rounds but opened up against some stiff competition and found their way to losers bracket where they ultimately exited the tournament. There play was commendable against the quality of competition that day. Not to be out done, they found their strength in the Cornhole competition (aka bean bag toss), dominating all opponents. A fact that Scarlett McRae (1982) and Paul McDonough (1987) can attest to after they were eliminated early from the bocce competition.

Also finding their way into the loser’s bracket for the second straight year was the team of Brannan and Little. The two were rumored to have undergone a complete off-season training overhaul in preparation for this competition and had high expectation for this year. Losing in the first round was a devastating blow for them. Though they did rally and appeared ready to strike for the Championship round, they ultimately fell to the tournament runner-up team of John Koritkoski (Class of 97’) and Mike Herald (2007) in the semifinals in what was arguably the greatest match of the day. Rounding out the loser’s bracket was the team of Derek Castellana (’08) and Nate Bromage (’09). Entering their second season on the circuit, the two had high hopes for this year’s competition and exhibited some youthful confidence towards their senior bocce brethren. Whether it was over confidence, or perhaps over celebrating at the Beachcomber the night before the competition, the two were unable to back up their brash talk and quietly went 1-2 on the day.

Perhaps the most surprising performance of the day was the return of Bill Chouinard (’92) and Jim Robertson (1991) Cape Cod Lifeguard Legends; the two quietly but efficiently flew under the radar and quickly became the dark horse to win it all. In what was perhaps the single greatest performance that day, after his partner was penalized for violating the ‘Personal Relief Rule’ (aka Bathroom break rules), Bill carried his team to victory by competing with only two bocce balls (against his opponents four). “Team Camel” as they were known, saw their Cinderella story end at the hands of Brannan and Little in the quarter finals of the loser’s bracket. Though their day ultimately ended in defeat, the two ensured themselves a spot in the annals of bocce history by further revolutionizing the game when they introduced the “Bocce Caddie” (in this instance using their son to carry one’s bocce balls over the course of the tournament). The rules committee will be reviewing this practice for future play, but initial signs indicate that the proposal will pass easily and be adopted in the 2010 Beach Bocce Rule Book.

Finally, showing that the ‘apple does not fall far from the tree’; Hank Priest and his partner John Weaver (’08) stormed out of the gate with an impressive 11-0 opening round victory, but did not have the endurance for the long-haul and were eliminated in their two next matches. But the Priest’s Family true contribution this day was not felt on the course, but rather with their generosity on the grill; supplying ample food for the contestants. Once again a special thanks to the Priest family for supporting the program and the cooking they do during this event. One can only imagine how honored Mom must have been to be there to see her son Zack hoist the trophy in triumphant victory.

In the end there was only one team that stood out this day and made claim to the Championship trophy. The team of Hunnewell and Priest showed promise in last year’s competition and rode that momentum into this year’s event. They used their home-course knowledge of Marconi Beach and tenacious play to out duel Kortikoski and Herald in the final match of the day; and so the trophy remains on Cape until next year.

See you on August 7th 2010.