Wednesday, January 29, 2020 (Court Day #330)

After a number of fits and starts, today was finally the day of Tom’s mini tournament with a $5 buy-in. I arrived at Brommer Park at 8:37. I was late, but I wasn’t the latest. We’d have to wait another 10 minutes for Tony to arrive through traffic.

Rick A. got sick and had to drop out, so yesterday, someone asked Dave Cox to fill in and he did.

Our lineup would be:
– Andrew (me)
– Tom S. (organizer)
– Dave C.
– John P.
– Tom B.
– Mike K.
– Karl
– Tony

I opted to play left-handed since I felt seven games would be too much for my right arm. I figured I’d be in the bottom half of the results. My private prediction for top three were Tony, Dave, and John.

Setting up. Karl, John P., Tom S., Tom B. and Dave C.

Tom S. had us all draw wooden Scrabble letters from a paper bag. I drew “H”, so I’d be Player #8. We’d be playing games to 9, win by 1.

We played seven rounds, rotating through all the players as partners.

Game 1. Tom B. against Tom S. and Mike. We won 9-6.

Game 2. John P. against Karl and Tom B. We lost 8-9.

Game 3. Tom S. against Dave and John P. We lost 1-9.

Game 4. Dave against Tony and Tom B. We lost 5-9.

Game 5. Tony against Tom S. and Karl. We won 9-5.

Game 6. Karl against Dave and Mike. We lost 2-9.

Game 7. Mike against Dave and John. We lost 2-9.

Tom’s clipboard with the master rotation and player assignments.

In the end, I won two games and lost five. In some games, I got picked on. Some games, I played well, others not so much.

The surprise of the day was Tom B. taking second place! He was happily shocked. Good for Tom. Tom S. didn’t fare as well, finishing in last place, but I gave him a run for his money for the bottom of the barrel!

Tom’s completed scoring grid.

Final results with total points:
1st Tony (62)
2nd Tom B. (54)
3rd (tie) Dave C. (49)
3rd (tie) Mike K (49)
5th John P. (48)
6th Karl (46)
7th Andrew (36)
8th Tom S. (35)

Tony took home the $25 winner’s envelope. Tom B. took the #2 envelope and Dave and Mike split the 3rd Place winnings.

One particularly memorable moment was getting an ace serving left-handed from the left side of the court. I hit a curving ball, it landed just inside the center line then continued curving left into the other service court. Never touched. I got nearly all my serves in today.

Rinsing the Taste of the Frustration Out of My Mouth

I was frustrated after my tournament play and playing lefty. I couldn’t stand it. So I played three games righty. John P. and I played a game against Dave C. and Karl and won something like 11-8. We played a rematch and lost by a couple points. I wanted 2 out of 3, but Dave and Karl had to go. Of note was several of my serves forcing failed service returns into the net.

There was one backhand while playing righty that hurt enough that I made a mention of it to John: “That one hurt.”

I played a game with Olga against Dan and . . . boy. I’ve forgotten Dan’s partner. Anyway, Olga and I won. It was a good game.

The problem with switching to righty is I start to drive shots that should be drops. I just have to remember play smart.

I left at 12:15 p.m. 3.5 hours. Home, then work.

Number of days on a court: 330
Number of total hours: 933.5

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