Tuesday, May 24, 2022 (Court Day #499)
I got the Skypark after work at 6:35 p.m. It was quite warm. The parking lot was completely full as were all the closest parking spots on the street leading up to the park. Busy! I had to park on the other side of the stop sign down the block and walk in.
I had to take my daughter Charlotte to San Jose Airport at 8:30 p.m. so I wanted to get in as much play as possible before that obligation cut my session short.
Only Half
But when I walked in the two tennis courts were full as well as the third tennis court which is dual striped for four pickleball courts. So we had four courts available, not eight. As a result there were about 10 pickleball players sitting along the fence and standing around waiting for the two tennis players to finish so temporary pickleball nets could be set up.
Also tonight, Ann had arranged for a “party” honoring Janet who is retiring from teaching this month and is moving to Washington State next month. There were a variety of drinks, some cupcakes, some cookies, and someone had brought garlic bread as well. I later helped myself to half a large fancy cupcake that Tim half brought and cut in half.
John and Peggy and Erne
A group cleared a court and I got into my first game which was with Scott against John A. and his wife Peggy. (As soon as the two tennis players left, which was about 5 minutes into our game, temporary nets are immediately set up and those courts filled.) That was a fun game, Peggy is still a weak link, but she’s getting better with time. Walking off the court, John said to me, “You played really well in that game.”
John had shared between points that he had his first successful Erne shot recently. I gave him congratulations. I have yet to attempt an Erne shot. It’s not a opportunity I’m looking for in games. If your partner isn’t ready, attempting an Erne can leave a hole and give your opponents a winning shot. But, obviously, it’s a very cool shot. Maybe I should be attempting those. I have had three Ernes attempted against me in my years playing pickleball, all in tournaments. The first Erne was hit into my chest. The remaining two—one in the same game, the other in a different tournament—I saw the attempt coming and simply sent the ball elsewhere.
Antlers!
Ann had brought a bag of…I’m not sure what to call them. Costume springy hair bands? Regardless, you’d wear one on your head and it’d give you rabbit ears, antennas, pig ears, or in my case, green deer antlers. We also wrote positive adjectives about Janet on a pickleball for her and we all signed a big card, which was a piece of paper with a tracing of a paddle.
I had a game with Maya against Scott and barefoot Terry. The first game we lost by a significant margin, there is only so much I could do to carry our team. I made some nice shots, even with those antlers slipping off my head!
Looking over, I saw Paul pull off a nifty shot in his game on the adjacent court. To get to a drive, with his back to—and moving away from—the net, he swung his paddle down and back in the direction of the net and successfully dropped the ball back over the net. It was an amazing shot. Could he do it consistently? Bet he’d laugh and say no way, but it was a very nice shot!
Terry, Scott, Maya, and I rotated off the court but then when no one filled it we went back again for a second game, a rematch, and this time my team didn’t have the sun in our eyes. Maya played much better in this game and we actually were leading by a pretty good margin. Terry and Scott came back though and won the game. It had been looking very hopeful for us to win that one, but it was not to be.
Tim and I played game against John A. and Scott. (The antlers went back into the bag for this one!) There was a lot of back-and-forth and it was pretty challenging. Tim and I won that one but it was not lopsided by any stretch.
Game of the Night
The last and best game of the night, was Tim and myself taking on Paul and his friend Matt. Paul and Matt were playing very well. This was the first time when I looked at them and thought, “They could end up better than me.” They went ahead, then Tim and I went ahead, then Matt and Paul went ahead, then Tim and I went ahead and finally pulled off the win. 11-7 or 11-8. It was a fabulous, very challenging game. I wish there were more like that. As we walked off, Tim told me, “You played really well.” I shrugged it off. Did I feel I played well? Yes, but I made some dumb mistakes. Like slamming what would have been a winner into the white tape of the net. Tim replied knowingly, “Well enough!” When I told him that he had played well, he sagely replied, “Well enough.”
Oh, I should mention Paul’s ATP. From my right, Tim hit a dink crosscourt and the ball bounced in then out wide. Paul saw the opportunity. I saw the ATP coming and shifted getting ready for it. But Paul’s shot was outstanding. He slammed the ball hard and very low, literally hitting my left foot. Just excellent.
That last game would not have been possible except for my wife texted and said instead of 8:30, we could leave sometime between 8:45 and 9:00. The game with Matt and Paul took about 20 minutes. When I checked the time it was 8:51 and then my wife had texted asking where I was. I texted back that I was on my way and that was that. Charlotte is flying
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 (No Play)
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted to rename Willowbrook Park in Aptos after a sheriff shot and killed in the line of duty just about two years ago now, Damon Gutzwiller.
I didn’t know Damon personally, but he was a friend of an friend. I was told he’d be seen at mass at St. Joseph Church in Capitola with his wife Favi and their kids.
Sgt. Derby Park in Santa Cruz is also named after a local law enforcement member, Sgt. Charles Derby. He passed away of a heart attack in 1972 after nearly three decades as a police officer. He was reputed to be very supportive and friendly to youngsters, going out of his way to befriend at-risk youth.
My next pickleball outing will be my 500th. A milestone!
Number of days on a court: 499
Number of total hours: 2,329.5
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