Active Postseason for MCA Players

After a solid second year of MCA Nine Wicket Series play, MCA players and members made a lot of noise in USCA and club events in the postseason. Here's an update:

Matt Griffith and Paul Miller had a repeat of the Kansas City Open final on a much bigger stage as they fought through a tough field at the USCA Nine Wicket National Championship in Kansas City to battle in the title game. This time Paul Miller prevailed 24-15 to claim his first national championship. Miller also made a run at the doubles title as well with his partner Doug Moore from New York, but they came up short against defending doubles champions George Cochran and John Warlick in the final.

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VPC: Oklahoma Open Wrap Up, Part 4

The MCA held a Virtual Press Conference (VPC) today with MCA President Dylan Goodwin as a follow-up to last Saturday’s Oklahoma Open. This is Part 4 of 4 of the Q&A which was geared more toward Goodwin's role as a player:

Now that we have your insight on the Oklahoma Open from your point of view as MCA president, tell us about the event from a player's perspective. We had touched on the "true croquet court" playing surface. How did the players fare in the nine-wicket game on the fast turf? What sort of adjustments did players make? Were there trade-offs?

So, this is a really interesting question. I've never really seen much of a standard opening strategy develop in 9W on long grass. Chernobyls are effective because you can make hoop 1 and 2 in one stroke to get two shots. I will say with the faster grass, red and yellow were opting for corner 1 a lot, but people were also rolling past wicket 2 quite bit after scoring #1.

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Lead Expands in the MCA Pro Race

With Greg Clouse and Jason Johnson as scratches, it was up to Ron Millican and Greg Adams to try to make up ground on Dylan Goodwin in the MCA Nine Wicket Pro Points race. Unfortunately, Millican had an off day and was unable to collect any wins, but he did keep his spot in second place. Adams had a better day, going 2-1 in the morning to pick up the fourth seed, but #5 Art Parsells knocked him out in the first round of the afternoon.

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Goodwin and Airrington Repeat at Tulsa

Updated on Friday, June 20, 2014 at 7:14AM by MCA Website Admin

TULSA, OKLAHOMA -- The MCA made a successful trip on Saturday to expand the Nine Wicket Series into Oklahoma as thirteen players across two divisions battled the wickets and wind at LaFortune Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Both divisions ended up with repeat winners as Dylan Goodwin defeated Matt Baird 20-9 for the 2014 Oklahoma Open Pro Division title and 16-year-old Taylor Airrington went 3-1 to claim the Gold Division title. Bill Berg also had a 3-1 record in the Gold Division, but the Airrington won the head-to-head match 24-17.

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Both Goodwin and Airrington started the MCA season with wins at the Lee's Summit T-Bone Tournament in May and now both players will look for a three-peat on July 12 at the Kansas Challenge to be held at Mission Trail Elementary in Leawood, Kansas.

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MCA's Matt Smith Takes National Title

PHOTO GALLERY

SHAWNEE, KS -- The final day of playoff action at the Nine Wicket Nationals in Kansas City saw steady rain, but the players battled through. In championship singles, Matt Smith knocked of Billy Bob Breeden to make the final, while Matt Baird took out George Cochran to advance.

In the final match, Baird got the first break but stuffed number five. That let Smith set up his break which he ran all the way out to the penultimate wicket. He then turned it over to his partner and finished with a double peel to claim the 2011 singles national championship.

In doubles championship play, Matt Baird and Jeff Caldwell battled Billy Bob Breeden and Matt Griffith in the final. Baird and Caldwell took a tight match 32-25 to claim the doubles title.

In the first flight singles playoff, #4 seed Jason Cole knocked off #1 Greg Adams in the semifinals. In the other semi-final, #2 Barry Dupuy beat #4 Ron Millican to advance. Cole won the final over Dupuy to claim the first flight national championship.

Video report will be available later today.

Spring fling in Arkadelphia, AR

ARKADELPHIA, AR -- Results of the nine-wicket croquet tournament in Arkadelphia hosted by the Royal Knights Croquet Club of Arkadelphia, Arkansas are now in:

Championship: George Cochran 1st, Matt Griffith 2nd, Joe Franz and Matt Baird 3rd, Billy Bob Breeden, Jeff Caldwell, Pat Garner, Stu Brodsky 4th, Bob Bozeman and Glen Taylor 5th.

First flight: Rob Franks 1st, Ralph Bozeman 2nd, Lee Reed 3rd, Barry Dupuy 4th, Carl Jarret, Debbie Breeden, Scott Kennedy, Ron Millican 4th, Debbie Millican 5th.

They had a great tournament with the players from Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Oklahoma. The Royal Knights would like thank every one for making this a successful and fun tournament.

George Cochran only had one loss to Billy Bob Breeden and Matt Griffith only lost the one game to Cochran.

Nine Wicket National Championship

SHAWNEE, KS -- Sunday wrapped up the 9W Singles & Doubles Championship.

George Cochran defeated Bill Martin in Singles Championship 28-20 and Matt Smith & Nick Zink defeated Matt Baird and Jeff Caldwell in Doubles Championship 32-25.

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Sunday will wrap up the The 9W singles Championship between George Cochran & Bill Martin and the semi finals championship doubles. Matt Smith & Nick Zink vs Matt Griffith & Billy Bob Breeden & Matt Baird, Jeff Caldwell vs Geroge Cochran & Don Oakley

Todays winners for the 9W National First Flight Doubles was Greg Adams & Troy White over Ron & Deborah Millican. 

Billy Bob Breeden loses heartbreaker to Bill Martin in Semi-Finals 24-23. George Cochran wins over Nick Zink in Semi-Finals. George Cochran & Bill Martin will square off  tomorrow afternoon to decide who will be crowned 9W National Champion. Doubles competition will start tomorrow morning at 8 am sharpe.

Tulsa Fall Classic

TULSA, OK -- Matt Smith Wins Tulsa Classic 15 - 9 over Matt Baird in Championship division. Matt Griffith also place 3rd in championship division. In the First Flight division Don Brooks took 2nd in singles & in Second Flight singles Jodi Adams took 2nd & Deborah Millican took 3rd place. In Championship Doubles action Matt Smith & Art Parsells took 2nd & Billy Bob Breeden & Matt Griffith took 3rd. In First Flight Doubles Greg Adams & Wendell Thompson took 2nd place. All in all Missouri players played very well.