KING CITY — With 16 teams participating, the King City Rotary Club’s first Pickleball Tournament on Saturday was a smashing success, according to organizer and Rotary President James Ewart.
The Feb. 10 event was held at the Expo Building of the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City.
Teams that played in the tournament were: the Rocket Renegades, the Dingle Berries, Purdy Picklers, Velociraptors, the Girls, Hearne, the Bald Barbarians, Pickle Boys, Printers, Dirtbags, 1 Hit Wonders, Pickle Ninjas, Courageous Chamber, KC’s Best, Cougar Hunters, and the Optimists.
Teams had almost two hours of play until the final contest that featured the Pickle Ninjas against the Dingle Berries.
In the championship game, the Pickle Ninjas team of Esteban Lopez and Juan Morales defeated the Dingle Berries team of Mattie Barrington and Rory Johnson. The first- and second-place pickleball teams went home with a trophy and a bottle of wine.
“People were really excited and talking about the next tournament,” Ewart said. “Hopefully we can make it an annual event. I’d like to thank Alex Gourley, my co-coordinator, for all his help, as he was instrumental in suggesting the idea of putting on the event.”
Ewart also appreciated the help of: Tim and Phoebe Cheney and King City in Bloom for the refreshments; Paul Beckett for serving as announcer; Susan King for logistical support; Greg and Mary Hughes for coaching and planning; and the set up crew of Barry MacGregor, Greg Rust and Oscar Avalos.
“We raised over $800 that will go toward the King City Fourth of July parade and fireworks, and everyone had a good time,” Ewart said. “Everyone played at least two games in the tournament.”
