SIDNEY — Caven Risk, coordinator of the Sidney Bocce League, has announced that games are played every Wednesday at 6 p.m. behind Brokers Real Estate, 302 W. Russell Road.
The public is welcome to watch.
“It started six years ago as an escape from the worst economic downturn in our lifetime. It wasn’t just faceless people and numbers losing their homes and moving out under the cover of night. It was friends, family, and neighbors,” said Risk. The lost homes particularly saddened Risk, who sells real estate.
“It was a very depressing time and I thought, ‘What makes me happy? Bocce makes me happy,’” said Risk. The first season was 2013 and there were eight teams. Today there are 12 teams. A team must have at least two and no more than four players. Bocce is Italian lawn bowling.
Billed as the greatest show on grass, the league plays its annual championship game on the south side of the courtsquare in downtown Sidney. The top four teams qualify for the playoffs and then on to the championship. It is a game for all ages and skill levels. Anyone can play. This year, the players’ ages have ranged from 10 to 80.
New this year are two 10-foot by 60-foot stone courts. The championship will be played Oct. 10.
