Bocce On! – Yountville – July 30, 2026 – We’re back!
And we’re back!
Not only is the Yountville Bocce Club back in action after a two-week break, but this column is being shared via the Yountville Sun, which is also back, thanks to new owner Gary Jabara.
Bocce club members made the most of their time off. Monday night’s Andrea and Joe Holko travelled to Cincinnati to celebrate her father’s 99th birthday. Sharron O’Neill had lots of family time at a camp in the Santa Cruz mountains and hosted her granddaughter in Yountville.
Wednesday night players just couldn’t stay away from the courts. On July 1, a group of seven players gathered for a few “scores don’t count” games. Steve Rogers, Marilyn Cardone, Mary Carpenter, Curtis Paxton, Guido Muratori, and Joel and Sherry Breitigam had a fun evening with all of the usual laughs, none of the pressures and lots of bellringers that didn’t count!
Thursday night’s Dana Dellascio had a fun girls’ trip in Southern California. Twelve teams returned to the courts on Monday, July 13. The break was a boon for Barbara and Mario Pirondini, Nancy Caldwell and Charles Burke, and Patricia Reis and Jan Horn, who won all three of their respective matches. Giulio Giuliani teamed up with Bruce Orr to score 21 points. Andrea and Joe Holko also gained 21 points. Mac Akin and Priscilla Hegner partnered and earned 20 points. Bellringers were rolled by Court Manager Charles Ainsworth, Jan Horn, Bruce Orr and Lilette Taylor.
Wednesday night had 11 teams in play, despite the hot weather. A decision was made to play to 6 points for each game. Sherry Breitigam played with both Joel Breitigam and Guido Muratori, and she finished with a perfect 18-point score. Also winning their three games were Lisa and Robbie Whitham and Mary Carpenter and Curtis Paxton. Next up were Marianne and Jim Lyons with 14 points. Bellringers were celebrated for Joel Breitigam, Marilyn Cardone, Lisa Whitham, Terry Bremer and Mary Carpenter.
The warm weather continued on Thursday with eight teams in attendance. Mike Muters and Ernie Cabral were the night’s top scorers with 24 points. Dana Dellascio and Fred Espinoza came in second with 21 points. Evelyn and Heather Donoviel were next with 19 points. Mike Muters rolled the sole bellringer of the night.
Week Two’s Monday night was a bellringer bonanza. Mario Pirondini scored two bellringers. Jodi Akin, Nancy Caldwell, Violet Hover, Giulio Giuliani, Mac Akin, Joe Holko and Ellen Nelson all rolled one bellringer each, for a total of nine. Mario and Barbara Pirondini and Nancy Caldwell and Charles Burke won all their matches. Next up were Court Manager Charles and Kathy Ainsworth with 23 points. Mac and Jodi Akin (welcome back!) finished with 22 points.
Wednesday night was back in action with 13 teams, prompting the scoring to be capped at 6 points for each game. Court Manager Joel and Sherry Breitigam won all three of their matches. Carol Shirmang and Don Olvarado were next with 17 points. Marco Wright and Steve Rogers ended the night with 16 points. John Dorenbecher and Terry Bremer celebrated bellringers.
Bob and Renee Garske were the big winners on Thursday night, winning all three matches. Mike Muters and Ernie Cabral came in second with 19 points. Next up was Dana Dellascio and Fred Espinoza with 18 points and Danny and Carolyn Brown with 17 points. It was a rare “no bellringer” night for the Thursday crowd. Dana Dellascio learned how popular the Minions are and will probably put “Despicable Me” on her watch list.
Now that we’re back for our second 11-week stretch, the race is on to determine the qualifiers for the year-end tournament. The top five individual scorers for each night will be qualified to play. Any other YV Bocce Club member who wants to compete is invited to participate in the Wild Card Roll-Off, which will precede the tournament and determine the sixteenth seed player.
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