Nothing was more evident on the affect of the pandemic the Yatesville Bocce League reconvened for the first time in 19 months to restart league play this past Wednesday night.
Thirty-six men gathered at the Yatesville Bocce Pavilion to play bocce, which has origins from as far back as 56 B.C.
I covered the opening night of the 43rd season and it was great to see all the smiling faces back at the courts one more time after the big layoff.
As most big occasions in the past, the evening involved food, with several trays of pizza delivered prior to the beginning of action of the night.
How many outdoor bocce courts have a stove and refrigerator under a pavilion? I can’t imagine too many.
The pavilion was the result of a grant secured by the late PA State Rep. Raphael Musto back in the mid-1990s. The clay courts were done over; pavilion built, concrete set, electric scoreboards, and yes, a stove and refrigerator were added.
There were plenty of old faces in the crowd, a few new players, and of course, a the absences of a few players that either retired or passed away since the league last met in September of 2019.
Some of the fellas were joking that you could only get into the Yatesville Bocce League if a player died. That’s no joke, really. League president Little Guy DePascale told me since the inception of the league, 50 members have passed away.
Even 50 deceased over 43 years only averages to less that one death per year, so you can see how hard it is to get into this league.
One newcomer was our good friend, Judge Michael Vough. Mike told me he’s been on the waiting list to play for about three years.
Regardless of how Mike got in, he was thrilled to be a part of something sharing good friendship, sport, fun, and yes, food.
Mike’s a great guy and I’m glad he will get to get away from the rigors of being a Luzerne County judge. As he said, the Wednesday night league would be a great way to break up his week.
Little Guy is the second-generation DePascale bocce player; his father, Guy Sr., is one of the founding fathers. At 83, Guy Sr. isn’t looking to slow down on bocce play.
Another founding member, Joe Chiumento Sr., is in his early 90s, and I really believe his love for bocce and the league has kept him young. No doubt it is something to look forward to each and every year. Last year’s pandemic must have been awful for him as well as the other players.
Little Guy’s son, Guidon DePascale III, at age 18 months, was given the honor of the rolling the first ball.
At first, Little Guy wasn’t sure how his son was going to do at 18 months in tossing a pallino or bocce ball, but the little guy really got into it. He did an excellent job, so no worries about the future of the Yatesville Bocce League. I’m sure Guy III will be the third generation to participate.
It’s really great to see such an ancient sport still surviving. There’s a strong bocce league in Lackawanna County and often times both leagues collide in tournament play.
And if you think the game is a game of a bunch of Italians playing, you’d be wrong. Mike Vough is a great example of that. Guys with last names like Toole, Wall, Williams, Gavigan, Stull, Dyller, Wruble and Kacsmar grace the courts.
Bocce is such a great touch of the old world in the 21st Century. Yes, competition could be stiff and competitive, but honestly, I don’t believe for one moment these guys are in the league to beat the brains out of the opponent for the week.
No, I really believe these guys just love the camaraderie behind it. It’s a great night out with friends, old and new, it’s a chance to escape the aches and pains of the real world.
The setting is peaceful behind the Yatesville Borough garage under shaded trees. As the sun sets, the court lights are very pronounced, lighting them up like the lights on Broadway.
There is plenty of conversation to be had while games are being played.
Even though it is fun and games, the boys do get serious, especially when the measuring stick comes out. The game is really a game of inches and when the ruler makes an appearance, you know how serious it can get.
The league will be in action each and every Wednesday throughout the entire summer into September, and that’s where you will find 36 men acting and feeling a bit younger with a little pep in their step while feeling the joy of competition once again.
Welcome back Yatesville Bocce League, I hope you have a great summer of fun, food and friendship.
No matter how cold or wet spring can be, it always seems when Memorial Day comes around, the temps start climbing and summer is eminent. If you’re a summer person, you’ll relish this weather.
Sometimes when we struggle to get out of a bad spring, Memorial Day just pops up on us and the next thing we know, it’s June 1.
I am going to do my best to enjoy each day of summer.
Quote of the week
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Thoughts of the week
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank
Bumper stick
“We can only learn to love by loving.” – Iris Murdoch
