Commanding Lead for Clouse in the Pro Division

Rank	First	Last	GP	Wins	Losses	Total Wickets	Wicket Average
1	Greg	Clouse	4	4	0	111	27.75
2	Paul	Miller	4	2	2	77	19.25
3	Dylan	Goodwin	4	3	1	75	18.75
4	Ron	Millican	3	2	1	59	19.67
5	Robert	Fournier	3	1	2	54	18.00
6	Carl	Distefano	2	0	2	33	16.50
7	Debbie	Millican	2	1	1	32	16.00
8	Jason	Johnson	2	0	2	22	11.00
9	Bill	Berg	2	0	2	14	7.00

Pro Division points are earned from Pro Division playoff games and open/Pro Division block games. Due to open block games, it is possible for Gold Division players to earn points in both the Pro Division and the Gold Division. It is also possible for a Gold Division player to qualify for the MCA Championship in both or all divisions.

Johnson Leads MCA Gold Division

Rank	First	Last	GP	Wins	Losses	Total Wickets	Wicket Average
1	Jason	Johnson	2	2	0	55	27.50
2	Debbie	Millican	2	1	1	27	13.50
3	Carl	Distefano	1	0	1	12	12.00
4	Bill	Berg	1	0	1	12	12.00

Gold Division points are earned from Gold Division only games in either block or playoff games. Due to open block games, it is possible for Gold Division players to earn points in both the Pro Division and the Gold Division. It is also possible for a Gold Division player to qualify for the MCA Championship in both or all divisions.

Clouse Racks 'Em Up in Stilwell

Pro Division FinalistsStilwell, KS -- Greg Clouse rolled through the Stilwell Open with relative ease in the early going. Clouse took 32-9 and 32-8 wins in block play to take the number one overall seed in the Pro Division Playoff. In the semi-finals, he knocked out Paul Miller 29-12. In the championship game he survived a late attack by Dylan Goodwin to claim the Stilwell Open title with an 18-16 win. Goodwin as the three seed, had advanced with a tight 18-16 win over two-seed Ron Millican on his side of the bracket. Clouse, Goodwin and Millican were all 2-0 in block play.

PHOTO GALLERY | OFFICIAL SCORESHEET

The final between Goodwin and Clouse came down to last turns. Goodwin was first ball with red and cleared 11PW to pull within two wickets of Clouse. He failed to gain a foward rush on black and then made a key mistake in trying to roll black toward 13PW while taking red toward blue near 14PW. He ended up wired and tried to jump the 15PW for the roquet on blue but missed by a foot.

The easier solution would have been to leave black and go set yellow (dead on red) in front of its wicket (six). Yellow could have then wired black from blue.

In the Gold Division, playoff Debbie Millican started as the number one seed after coming up on the short end of the gross points tiebreaker among the 1-1 block players. Debbie beat newcomer Bill Berg 14-12 in the semi-finals for a berth in the championship game. As the three seed, Jason Johnson caught fire in the semi-final and took a 32-12 win over Carl Distefano who is also brand new to the sport. In the final, Johnson took the win over Debbie with a 23-12.

First and second place in both divisions received white baseball caps with the host Kansas City Croquet Club logo.

Standings in the MCA Nine-Wicket Points Series are being tabulated and will be posted when they are available.

FINAL ORDER

Gold Division FinalistsPro Division
1. Greg Clouse
2. Dylan Goodwin
3. Ron Millican
4. Paul Miller
5. Robert Fournier

Gold Division
1. Jason Johnson
2. Debbie Millican
3. Carl Distefano
4. Bill Berg

BLOCK GAME RESULTS

A Block
Greg Clouse 32-9 over Debbie Millican
Debbie Millican 23-14 over Jason Johnson
Greg Clouse 32-8 over Jason Johnson

B Block
Dylan Goodwin 23-7 over Bill Berg
Robert Fournier 20-7 over Bill Berg
Dylan Goodwin 18-13 over Robert Fournier

C Block
Paul Miller 26-19 over Carl Distefano
Ron Millican 23-14 over Carl Distefano
Ron Millican 20-16 over Paul Miller

PRO DIVISION PLAYOFFS

Wildcard
#4 Paul Miller 23-21 over Robert Fournier

Semi-finals
#1 Greg Clouse 29-12 over #4 Paul Miller
#3 Dylan Goodwin 18-16 over #2 Ron Millican

Finals
#1 Greg Clouse 18-16 over #3 Dylan Goodwin

GOLD DIVISION PLAYOFFS

Semi-finals
#1 Debbie Millican 14-12 over #4 Bill Berg
#3 Jason Johnson 32-12 over #2 Carl Distefano

Finals
#2 Jason Johnson 23-13 over #1 Debbie Millican

Stilwell Open Game Times

We've got a great turnout considering the holiday weekend with nine players committed. We've got a few new players in the mix as well so this turnout bodes well for the Lee's Summit event as well.

For Saturday, you should be at the courts by 8:30 a.m. and they should be set for practice on right around 8:00 a.m.

Nine is a bit of a tough number for tournaments especially considering this group doesn't fit neatly into Pro and Gold divisions. I've set it as three blocks of three and the top five performers will go to the Pro Division playoff while the bottom four will go to the Gold Division playoff. All players are guaranteed three games. The block tie-breaker is head-to-head, gross wickets, net wickets, lag for the stake. Times and blocks listed below.

Lunch is provided and is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Camping chairs are a good idea and if you have a pop-up tent those are always good to have. I will have one set up.

Prizes awarded for 1st and 2nd place in each playoff.

Event details: http://croquet.ning.com/events/2013-stilwell-open

A BLOCK

Greg Clouse

Jason Johnson
Debbie Millican

B BLOCK
Dylan Goodwin
Robert Fournier
Bill Berg

C BLOCK
Paul Miller
Ron Millican
Carl Distefano

Round 1 - 9:00 a.m

CT1 - G Clouse vs D Millican

CT2 - D Goodwin vs B Berg

CT3 - P Miller vs C Distefano

Round 2 - 10:15 a.m.

CT2 - J Johnson vs D Millican

CT3 - R Fournier vs B Berg

CT1 - R Millican vs C Distefano

Round 3 - 12:30 p.m.

CT3 - G Clouse vs J Johnson
CT1 - D Goodwin vs R Fournier
CT2 - P Miller vs R Millican

Stilwell Open Entry Deadline Approaches

The Kansas City Croquet Club will host the Stilwell Open Nine-Wicket Singles tournament on Saturday, May 25. The nine-wicket singles event will be played according to USCA 9W National Championship options 1, 1a, 2, 3, 7, 9 and 10 (1a is modified to disregard the game score).

The Stilwell Open will kickoff 2013 MCA Nine-Wicket Series that concludes with the MCA Championship on September 14. The Stilwell Open format will likely be open blocks that filter to a Pro Division bracket and Gold Division bracket.

Lunch will be included. Entry fee structure:

• $20 for non-MCA members
• $10 for MCA members

Entry deadline is Monday, May 4. You can enter by registering with Croquet Network Overdrive (link below) or e-mailing kccroquetclub@gmail.com

Stilwell Open Address/Details:
http://croquet.ning.com/events/2013-stilwell-open

Known commitments: Dylan Goodwin, Greg Clouse, Ron Millican, Debbie Millican, Bill Berg, Paul Miller, Robert Fournier.

Strong Interest: Matt Smith, Carl (Cleveland)

Interest: George (Cleveland), Justin Marciniak, Paul Moore, Kirk Whitworth, Jason Johnson, Brad Clouse

Update on Friday, May 17, 2013 at 7:51AM by MCA Website Admin

Jason Johnson is now a commitment.

Update on Monday, May 20, 2013 at 1:21PM by MCA Website Admin

New update on recruits. We now have a balanced eight. Added Jason Johnson but Matt Smith officially declined:

Known commitments: Dylan Goodwin, Greg Clouse, Ron Millican, Debbie Millican, Bill Berg, Paul Miller, Robert Fournier, Jason Johnson

Strong Interest: Carl (Cleveland)

Interest: George (Cleveland), Justin Marciniak, Paul Moore, Kirk Whitworth

Out: Brad Clouse, Matt Smith

Kactus Creek/MCA U.S. Rules Handicap Ladder

Matt Smith will manage a U.S. Rules Handicap Ladder to be held at the Kactus Creek Croquet Club.  This will be six-wicket American rules play among the Kactus Creek members.  Games will be 1 hour 15 min. long. Bisques will be given on a 1 to1 ratio with half bisques dropped from players handicaps when figuring bisques.  Games can be played any time between March 1 and July 31.  The player at the top of the ladder on July 31st will be named winner. Matt will explore sanctioning via the USCA to have games count for tracking points.

You may play anyone in the ladder, but the results have to be recorded in the following thread on the MCA website or emailed to Matt Smith. Additional details are in the thread:

http://missouricroquet.squarespace.com/forum/post/2107852

2013 Sunflower Wickets Details

The Olathe Parks and Recreation Department has posted details for the 2013 Sunflower Wickets Benefit on Friday, June 7. Schedule:

• Registration: 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Heritage Center
• Croquet Play: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Olathe North Soccer Fields
• Wicked Wickets Happy Hour: 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Heritage Center with presentations beginning at 4:00 p.m.

More info: http://www.olatheks.org/parksrec/sunflower-wickets#overlay-context=sunflower-wickets

Lee's Summit New Date: June 8

The Lee's Summit T-Bone Croquet Tournament in Lee's Summit, MO has been rescheduled for Saturday, June 8. The event will be held at Howard Park (3498 NE Independence Ave) and starts at 9:00 a.m.

This re-opens the registration period for anyone that could not make the May 4 date. For players that cannot make the new date the Lee's Summit Parks department will provide refunds.

The event will feature a singles nine-wicket division and also offer a six-ball cutthroat division. The singles division will be played according to official USCA nine-wicket rules with options 1, 1a*, 2, 3, 7, 9 and 10. Awards will be given to the top finishers in each division.

The event is sponsored by the Lee's Summit Parks & Recreation and you can register at lsparks.net or call 816-969-1500. Fee is $17 and the deadline is April 24.

*We will disregard the game score relative to the 1a. Clearing option. We have petitioned the USCA to change this rule.

Lee's Summit T-Bone Tournament Postponed

Due to the inability to get a good cut on the grass with the snow and a forecast for wet and cold weather tomorrow, the Lee's Summit Tournament will be postponed. We are exploring new dates and will send notice once we have something set (new date is Saturday, June 8).

If a registered player cannot make the new date June 8 date, Lee's Summit Parks and Rec will offer a refund.

2013 MCA SCHEDULE
05/25 — Stilwell Open (9W) / Stilwell, KS

06/07 — Sunflower Wickets Benefit (GC) / Olathe, KS

06/08 — Lee's Summit T-Bone Tournament (9W) / Lee's Summit, MO
09/14 — MCA Championship (9W) / TBD

Smith and Breeden at AC Nationals

MCA members Matt Smith and Billy Bob Breeden are playing at this week's USCA Association National Championship. Smith tied for second in the yellow block with a 6-3 record, while Breeden went 1-7 in the blue block (which looks like an incredibly tough block). You can follow the event here:

http://www.croquetscores.com/2013/ac/usca-nationals