The Santa Rosa American Poolplayers Association is expecting to see an increase in pool teams, according to league operator Matt Miley.
“When I purchased this in May of 2014, I purchased 22 teams, we are going into our Spring session, or final session, with 32 teams,” he said.
Miley showed appreciation to his league members on Saturday night at Oops Alley in Pace with a pizza party and an awards ceremony for the 2014 season. League teams were also playing for the opportunity to excel in the APA playoffs.
Click here to view a photo gallery from the Santa Rosa APA awards ceremony
One of the three teams which made it into the next round of the playoffs is the ‘Hot Pockets.’ Hot Pockets team member Eric Conroy, 26, said his team is playing for the chance to compete in the APA National Team Championships in Las Vegas.
Conroy has only played pooled for the past two to three years. Conroy said he was invited by a fellow Santa Rosa APA member.
“I just started shooting…I was like ‘this was pretty fun’ and I have been playing ever since,” he said.
Conroy currently plays pool whenever he gets the opportunity on a daily basis, he said. The local APA isn’t just about playing pool, he said.
“I can tell you the names of probably 99 percent of the people in this room,” he said. “We do other things than just play pool, we go see movies or whatever. I have made a lot of friends just through playing pool.”
While the younger players compete to be the best, the county’s only APA league also offers an escape for some of the older members. Richard Bigner, also a Milton resident, said the APA gets him away from the house.
“It gives you something to do and meet a lot of people,” Bigner said.
Although Bigner’s team ‘The Poolmeisters’ did not advance in the playoffs on Saturday, Bigner did receive an ‘Top Gun’ award in the 4-5 skill level. The award goes to the player who accumulated the points per game. In the female division, Theresa Gastel took the ‘Top Gun’ award in the 2-3 skill level. Gastel, a Milton resident, is also a member of the Poolmeisters.
Like Bigner, Gastel also enjoys getting outside of the house.
“I have a couple of kids at home and it’s nice to get a night out with some adults,” she said. “(Playing pool) is very laid back, it’s not something that is stressful. I just come and play for the fun of it.”
For more information on the Santa Rosa APA, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/santarosaapa, or visit their website at http://santarosa.apaleagues.com.
Fall Playoff Winners:
Monday Division 811:
Hot Pockets:
Eric Conroy
Gina Martin
Kristen Burt
Phyllis Hurst
Ryan Burt
Nichole Burt
Josh Wegman
Tuesday Division 824
Wreckless Knights
Terry Burkett
Michael Higgins
Ken Sears
Heather Kupiec
Jon Gibson
Cam Cammack
Noraly Asbell
Patty Burkett
Wednesday Division 831
Family Ties
Cynde Watson
Larry Watson
Chris Bentley
Angela Bentley
David Bentley
Susan Bentley
Butch Correll
Lola Correll
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa APA celebrates playoffs, award ceremony (PHOTOS)