Oakdale Pickleball Tournament: The Oakdale Pickleball Club hosted its fourth tournament of the summer, drawing 14 teams from Riverbank, Oakdale, and Escalon to Gilbert Park in Oakdale over the weekend. The event, held on Saturday, August 31, featured a free-entry, double-elimination format that showed the local pickleball talent.
A Community Affair
“Playing in these tournaments is a great way to see how you compare with others playing in the area. My favorite part is meeting new people who want to play,” said Talmage Allen, a competitor in the tournament.
Trey Hoyt, a Riverbank resident and father of five, added,
The Oakdale Pickleball Club has been a great experience. I love that they are getting people out and moving, interacting, and making their community fun and great.”
Hoyt, a regular at these events, has been instrumental in encouraging participation from Riverbank and surrounding areas.
Competitive Play and Unique Team Names
Teams in the tournament often choose creative names, many of which feature playful pickle puns. Teams such as Pickleball Pals, PartTime Picklers, and The Smash Talkers competed fiercely, aiming to advance through the brackets with games played to 11 points.
The Fickle Pickles’ Win
The evening’s highlight came as The Fickle Pickles, initially defeated by T-and-T in their second game, staged an impressive comeback. Borrowing paddles from Talmage Allen of T-and-T and using their tennis experience, The Fickle Pickles overcame T-and-T in a rematch.
They then faced Big Dink Energy, winners of the Oakdale Pickleball Club’s second tournament. After two intense games, The Fickle Pickles emerged victorious, claiming the championship.
Final Standings and Upcoming Event
The final standings saw The Fickle Pickles, composed of father-son duo Ryan and Caleb Poling, take the gold. T-and-T, represented by Talmage Allen and Tyler Thalman, secured third place, while Big Dink Energy’s Ryan Carey and Moe Moe finished second.
Part-Time Picklers, with Trey Hoyt and Brent Bauguess, came in fourth, and Two Old Pickles (Jason Jericoff and Craig Baize) and Net Ninjas (Robert Stout and Bryan Whitemyer) tied for fifth.
The Oakdale Pickleball Club is set to host its final tournament of the season on Saturday, September 14, with the venue to be announced. Teams interested in participating can register by emailing their names, team name, and a self-rating of pickleball skill.
News in Brief: Oakdale Pickleball Tournament
The Oakdale Pickleball Club’s fourth summer tournament at Gilbert Park saw 14 local teams compete in a double-elimination format. The Fickle Pickles, led by Ryan and Caleb Poling, clinched the championship after a comeback victory over T-and-T and Big Dink Energy.
The final standings were: 1st place – The Fickle Pickles, 2nd place – Big Dink Energy, 3rd place – T-and-T, and 4th place – Part-Time Picklers. The club’s final tournament is scheduled for September 14.
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