Shuffleboard king returns with two more titlesEarl Ball ties record for national championships
By Kyle
When it comes to shuffleboard national championships, no one has more than Zephyrhills resident Earl Ball.Ball, 66, won two of the three titles at the Eastern National Shuffleboard Championship in Hendersonville, N.C., bringing his total title count to 15. That ties him with Lary Faris, who has retired from the game.“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to win so many titles,” Ball said. “I’ve really enjoyed chasing this record because the guy who had the record and I go back and forth with it. I wrote him e-mails saying that’s number 14 and that’s number 15. He typically comes back and says he’s going to come out of retirement to stay on top.”The weeklong championship finished Sept. 7. Ball, 66, took home the men’s singles and doubles Eastern National titles, but was eliminated in the semifinals of the mixed doubles event.Helping Ball bring home the doubles event was Stan Williamson, who now has won eight championships. Seven of those titles came as a doubles team with Ball.“I really went and played for Earl,” Williamson, 63, said. “He plays a lot more than I do and is much more into getting the most titles, so I did it for him.“When we go anywhere people always know Earl,” Williamson added. “He’s the person everyone knows and is trying to beat. That makes it harder for him because everyone is gunning for him.”Williamson is three years younger than Ball. Because of that, Williamson said he is like Tiger Woods chasing down Ball who is Jack Nicklaus for the most titles. Nicklaus has the most major championships in professional golf history with 18, while Woods is chasing him with 14.“When you’re the person doing it you don’t even feel it,” Ball said. “Other people see it. When I look at what Tiger Woods does or what Jack Nicklaus has done I’m amazed, so it’s the same thing. When you’re the actual person, it’s just part of what you’re doing.”Ball first started playing in 1997, so he has averaged more than one national championship per year. His main goal has been to track down the record for most national titles. He also wants the all-time wins crown in Florida.“The person with the most has 85 and that’s by Glenn Peltier,” Ball said. “I am third with 58 and won 10 last years. So I’m chasing that. I’m also about 20 points behind Faris for total national points. So I’ve still got that to chase down too.”Players receive points for finishing near the top of various events.Ball said he wants to continue playing as long as he can to reach those last goals and stretch out a lead in the number of national championships.“Every now and then I consider reducing the amount of play because I always feel it wear on me at the end of the season in March and April, but come October you get excited after you start playing some tournaments,” Ball said. “It’s the mental part that really gets you. It’s not so much physical, but it’s the combination of the travel and playing four and five days a week in heavy competition.”At the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club most people said they look up to Ball on the courts, including Tom Churchill.“He’s a great player,” Churchill said. “I wish I was half as good as him because he’s the best in the city and really in the country.”The next chance for Ball to take the overall lead in championships is in November in Bradenton for the National Singles Championship. If he does not win there, Ball and Williamson will team up for the National Doubles Championship in January, also in Bradenton.“That’s where I won my first title with Stan,” Ball said. “It was the first championship of the new millennium in January of 2000 and it would be fitting if we could win that to set the record. Of course I want to win in November too.”
Shuffleboard king returns with two more titles
Earl Ball ties record for national championships
By Kyle LoJacono
When it comes to shuffleboard national championships, no one has more than Zephyrhills resident Earl Ball.
Ball, 66, won two of the three titles at the Eastern National Shuffleboard Championship in Hendersonville, N.C., bringing his total title count to 15. That ties him with Lary Faris, who has retired from the game.
“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to win so many titles,” Ball said. “I’ve really enjoyed chasing this record because the guy who had the record and I go back and forth with it. I wrote him e-mails saying that’s number 14 and that’s number 15. He typically comes back and says he’s going to come out of retirement to stay on top.”
The weeklong championship finished Sept. 7. Ball, 66, took home the men’s singles and doubles Eastern National titles, but was eliminated in the semifinals of the mixed doubles event.
Helping Ball bring home the doubles event was Stan Williamson, who now has won eight championships. Seven of those titles came as a doubles team with Ball.
“I really went and played for Earl,” Williamson, 63, said. “He plays a lot more than I do and is much more into getting the most titles, so I did it for him.
“When we go anywhere people always know Earl,” Williamson added. “He’s the person everyone knows and is trying to beat. That makes it harder for him because everyone is gunning for him.”
Williamson is three years younger than Ball. Because of that, Williamson said he is like Tiger Woods chasing down Ball who is Jack Nicklaus for the most titles. Nicklaus has the most major championships in professional golf history with 18, while Woods is chasing him with 14.
“When you’re the person doing it you don’t even feel it,” Ball said. “Other people see it. When I look at what Tiger Woods does or what Jack Nicklaus has done I’m amazed, so it’s the same thing. When you’re the actual person, it’s just part of what you’re doing.”
Ball first started playing in 1997, so he has averaged more than one national championship per year. His main goal has been to track down the record for most national titles. He also wants the all-time wins crown in Florida.
“The person with the most has 85 and that’s by Glenn Peltier,” Ball said. “I am third with 58 and won 10 last years. So I’m chasing that. I’m also about 20 points behind Faris for total national points. So I’ve still got that to chase down too.”
Players receive points for finishing near the top of various events.
Ball said he wants to continue playing as long as he can to reach those last goals and stretch out a lead in the number of national championships.
“Every now and then I consider reducing the amount of play because I always feel it wear on me at the end of the season in March and April, but come October you get excited after you start playing some tournaments,” Ball said. “It’s the mental part that really gets you. It’s not so much physical, but it’s the combination of the travel and playing four and five days a week in heavy competition.”
At the Zephyrhills Shuffleboard Club most people said they look up to Ball on the courts, including Tom Churchill.
“He’s a great player,” Churchill said. “I wish I was half as good as him because he’s the best in the city and really in the country.”
The next chance for Ball to take the overall lead in championships is in November in Bradenton for the National Singles Championship. If he does not win there, Ball and Williamson will team up for the National Doubles Championship in January, also in Bradenton.
“That’s where I won my first title with Stan,” Ball said. “It was the first championship of the new millennium in January of 2000 and it would be fitting if we could win that to set the record. Of course I want to win in November too.”
