Hot Corner: Meeting the readers is fun

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.