Coachella Valley Scorpions Win National Pickleball League: The Coachella Valley Scorpions started their 2025 National Pickleball League season with a perfect 4-0 record on May 17–18. Competing at Power Play Pickleball in Carson, California, the team won its first-ever weekend title and earned a $5,000 prize.
A Strong Start After Exhibition Match
Just days before the tournament, the Coachella Valley Scorpions played their first public exhibition on May 15 at Agua Caliente Casino against the Seattle Tsunami. The event gave fans a preview of what the season could bring.
Led by Scott Burr of La Quinta, who won all six of his matches, the Scorpions went undefeated in their first regular-season appearance. The National Pickleball League features 12 teams made up of players aged 50 and over.
Saturday’s Double Wins
On Saturday morning, the Scorpions faced the Denver Iconics. They led 4-2 in the gender-based matches and secured the win by taking three of the six mixed doubles, finishing 7-5. Scott Burr, Wendy Ochoa from San Diego, and Natalie Hill from Newport Coast each won twice.
Saturday afternoon’s match against the Seattle Tsunami had a similar result. The Scorpions again won four gender matches and three mixed doubles, ending the match 7-5. Double winners in this round included Keith Jain of Carlsbad, Stacy Zelenski of Morro Bay, Cord Robbins of Alpine, Utah, and Scott Burr.
Sunday’s Clutch Performances
The Scorpions began Sunday by defeating Boca Raton, winning five gender matches and three mixed ones for an 8-5 victory. Scott Burr and Kim Jagd won their match 11-0. David Katz and Brandi Zaslansky also impressed, coming back from 0-5 to win 11-5, 11-0, scoring 22 straight points.
In the final match on Sunday afternoon, the team only won one gender match against Oklahoma City. Facing a possible loss, the Scorpions bounced back, winning the last five mixed matches to tie the match.
Because there was not enough time for a tiebreaker, the winner was decided by point differential. After waiting for the final results, cheers erupted as the Scorpions were announced winners with a +17 point difference.
What’s Next for the Scorpions
The Coachella Valley Scorpions’ impressive start puts them in a strong position for the rest of the season. Their next tournament will take place in Denver on June 28–29. With momentum on their side, the team is looking to continue its winning ways.
News in Brief: Coachella Valley Scorpions Win National Pickleball League
The Coachella Valley Scorpions went 4-0 to win their first National Pickleball League weekend title in Carson, California. Led by Scott Burr, the team earned $5,000. Key wins came against Denver, Seattle, Boca Raton, and Oklahoma City. Their next event is June 28–29 in Denver.
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