By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
BROWN COUNTY – Meeting the readers is always fun.
At a recent Bay Port softball game my daughter and I attended, I spoke with numerous people I hadn’t seen in a while.
After leaving the game, my daughter said, “You know everyone.”
I laughed and said, “I’ve never met two-thirds of the people on my Facebook – they are my ‘friends’ because they want to read about the articles I share.”
That’s not a knock on anyone because I know you’re all fine people, but you get my point.
It started a few days before while shopping at Woodman’s.
I saw former Bay Port softball pitcher Sydney LaPoint from a distance, and we made eye contact.
Sydney and I are good friends, so we hugged in the middle of the aisle and chatted.
I also saw her at the softball game a few days later.
A week later at an Ashwaubenon game, I caught up with Superintendent Kurt Weyers, whose sister lives in Rhinelander.
I am good friends with her and her husband from my teaching days as a Hodag.
Next, Frank Guarascio came and introduced himself since we hadn’t met personally.
Scrolling through Facebook, I saw another of my friends, Dan Flauger, who I hadn’t met personally before, either, posted a picture of a portable pickleball net he purchased for his backyard.
Dan’s daughter, Sheridan, was a senior on the Pulaski basketball team and is attending the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, the only Division II college in the state, to play ball.
Kiddingly, I asked Dan when he was going to invite me to play pickleball and let me teach him the game.
After some text messages, I drove to his house the next day.
Sheridan is athletic and competitive, and I found that out quickly.
Playing against me, I almost hit her with a ball, and I apologized.
She looked at me and smiled, “We don’t apologize for that.”
I like her style,
Sheridan’s boyfriend, Ty Melchert, was also there.
It was nice meeting everyone and get to know them better.
On the court, Sheridan and I teamed up for several games and were quite dominant.
Pretty soon, we were bumping paddles and talking trash – fun times!
If you see me at a game, please introduce yourself and say “hello.”
As always, thanks for reading.
To read another Hot Corner article by Rich, CLICK HERE.