By Sally Brock
Guest Writer
Area pickleball players completed the final week of competition in a six-week Ladder League event on Saturday, July 27 at the Clay County Sports Complex. The event was hosted by Mountain Lakes Pickleball. Approximately 35 players from Hayesville and surrounding communities competed each weekend throughout the event with 24 players playing on the final day.
In Ladder League events players compete in a doubles play format but accumulate points on an individual basis each week. Prior to the beginning of the Ladder League players are assigned to brackets on the ladder based on their self-assessed skill level on a 2.5 - 5.0 scale. Players then compete in doubles play within their four-person brackets weekly. At the end of each week individual scores are totaled and players move either up or down the ladder. This format allows for competitive play for all skill levels. Also leaders in various categories are recognized at the end of the six-week event.
Players from Hayesville as well as surrounding counties joined in the competition. Players were required to play in at least four of the six weeks to be eligible for the championship.
During week six the top four players in the championship had an amazing matchup. After three games, three players were tied for first place. According to Ladder League rules, the player who began the day at a lower position on the ladder advances in a tie. David Alsobrook was named champion with Dave Strothmann taking second place and Heath Lucas earning third place. Congratulations to all.
The Mountain Lakes Pickleball group also congratulates all the other top finishers in the Ladder League. Winners were:
• Overall Ladder winner - David Alsobrook
• Second place - Dave Strothmann
• Third place - Heath Lucas
• Top women’s Ladder leader - Melinda London
• Top points ratio - Heath Lucas 94.5 percent
• Second place points ratio - Dave Strothmann
• Third place points ratio - Kevin Sampson
• Perfect score week six: Jack Bacon, Marty London