We Left Our Arch In Old St. Louis

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Hector Baldwin
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Known as "The Hill" because of the large presence of Italian Americans and the many restaurants, bakeries and home of the Volpi salami and sausage company.

1 UNITED STATES BOCCE CHAMPIONSHIPS June 22 to 28, 2014 Italia America Bocce Club St. Louis, Missouri We Left Our Arch In Old St. Louis By Danny Passaglia President, United States Bocce Federation The week of June 22nd though June 28th bocce players converged on "The Hill" of St. Louis, Missouri. Known as "The Hill" because of the large presence of Italian Americans and the many restaurants, bakeries and home of the Volpi salami and sausage company. Birth place of such greats as Joe Garagiola and Yogi Berra, this community prides itself on maintaining its Italian Heritage and the pride and joy of the area is the Italia America Bocce Club. For the entire week, players and guests were able to play bocce on state of the art courts, socialize at the bar, compete against players from several states and enjoy the company of some of the nicest people in the world, the St. Louis Club members. The IAC of St. Louis is no stranger in hosting the USBF Nationals, having done so several times and each time gets better. One of the highlights of the week occurred on the very first day, Sunday, June 22nd. With the exception of two teams from the Special Olympics, all the participants were age 21 OR UNDER!! Many of the players were from area High Schools that played in a league throughout the winter at the Club. The USBF thanks Robert Della Croce, Tony Sanna, Rich Robertson and Tom Drago and the rest of their team for all their efforts in creating this league, which I understand is going to expand to 14 High Schools entered for the season. Great job guys!!! It was truly a joy watching all these young players concentrate and show off some real good bocce skills. The Opening Ceremony was rather emotional and brought several observers to tears seeing all these young players, boys and girls, anxiously awaiting for the tournament to start. This was the FIRST time in the History of the USBF that an UNDER 21 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP has EVER been held. As a Special Guest, Pat McGauley, was invited to roll out the ceremonial first ball. Pat was a star soccer player at Indiana University and member of the 2 time NCAA Division I Championship Teams scoring the winning goal in the Final Game both years!! He continued his career as a professional player with the Chicago Fire until he retired and joined the Anheuser-Busch team and currently is Vice President of the New Products Division. Pat was born and raised in St. Louis and his alma mater high school was represented at the tournament. A special thank you to Pat for taking time out from his busy schedule to attend and speak to the youngsters. Several new "wrinkles" were introduced by the host club including a Women's Doubles Championship and a totally new format for qualifying teams for the quarter and semi finals. In addition to the tournament itself, the USBF held the annual Board of Directors meeting and a new slate of Officers was elected with their term beginning January 1, The new Officers are: Jerry South, President; Lio Giannotti, Vice President; Colleen Randazzo, Secretary and Julie Belfi, Treasurer. I personally want to wish them the very best and thank them for stepping forward and wanting to move the USBF forward and hopefully continue to grow. I am sure everyone who was able to attend this years Championship had a great time and built some friendships that will hopefully last a long time. Next year the Nationals will be held for the FIRST time in the Eastern Sector at the Methuen Sons of Italy Club just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. The Club is very excited having been awarded the right to Host and they are looking forward to a great event and promise to make everyone feel at home. They are going to entice everyone with a good old fashioned "clam bake"!! Hope to see many of you next year! God Bless! My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe. - Jimmy Durante

2 2 PUNTO RAFFA VOLO Jason Wiesniewski, Natale Scala, Lio Giannotti and Jose Botto Giampiero Della Croce, Gregory Della Croce Stephen Treese and Michael Della Croce Dennis Russa, Sal Lini Michael Grasser and Hunter Gallero 4th Place Navina Bernardi, Gerald Gilligan, Dario Bernardi and Joey Bernardi I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back. - Zsa Zsa Gabor

3 3 WOMEN S SHOOTOUT Navina Bernardi Margaret Shindelus 4th Sue Zona MEN S SHOOTOUT Jose Botto Jack Grandi Natale Scala 4th Jason Wisniewski Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. - Alex Levine

4 4 OPEN - Fabulous Four (names not in order) John D Denado, Alex Daus, Jim Ramsey and Dave Baranowski - IAC Sopranos L to r; Vern Cooper, Dorothy Cevasco and Armond Cevasco - Jay Wolfe Toyota (names not in order) Benny J Cardello, Joe Cardello, Chris Cardello and Tony Cardello 4th - Bocce Auditors (names not in order) Julie Belfi, Tammy Borage, Lynn Coats and Peggy Mazzuca My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying. - Rodney Dangerfield

5 5 UNDER 21 - Gateway (names not in order) Vinnie Drago, Jesse Campos, Kevin Kunkel, Larry Snider and Joey Drago - Ballerz (names not in order) Julie Summers, Jessica Summers, Allison Golomski and John Summers - The Kracken (names not in order) Garrett Epps, Cory Salmo, Zack Lindsey and Stephanie Prince 4th - Vitale s (names not in order) Joe Kaestner, Carlo Numerosi, Andrew Numerosi and Robert Frost Money can't buy you happiness... But it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery. - Spike Milligan

6 UNITED STATES BOCCE CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALISTS PUNTO RAFFA VOLO - Palazzo di Bocce Jason Wisniewski Jose Botto Lio Giannotti Natale Scala - IABC #2 Gregory Della Croce Giampiero Della Croce Michael

Diva Susan Zona Gayle Morris - Bocce Bella Joann Rolfi Daniela Della Croce - Lucky Laggers Cherie Wilson Donna Robertson 4th Place - Lady Sopranos Dorothy Cevasco RAFFA SHOOTING - WOMEN Navina

6 6 UNITED STATES BOCCE CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALISTS PUNTO RAFFA VOLO - Palazzo di Bocce Jason Wisniewski Jose Botto Lio Giannotti Natale Scala - IABC #2 Gregory Della Croce Giampiero Della Croce Michael Della Croce Stephen Treese - Palazzo #2 Mike Grasser Sal Lini Dennis Russa Hunter Gallero 4th Place - Campo di Bocce Dario Bernardi Joey Bernardi Gerald Gilligan Navina Bernardi WOMEN S DOUBLES - Due Diva Susan Zona Gayle Morris - Bocce Bella Joann Rolfi Daniela Della Croce - Lucky Laggers Cherie Wilson Donna Robertson 4th Place - Lady Sopranos Dorothy Cevasco RAFFA SHOOTING - WOMEN Navina Bernardi Margaret Shindelus 4th Place Sue Zona RAFFA SHOOTING - MEN Jose Botto Jack Grandi Natale Scala 4th Place Jason Wisniewski UNDER 21 - Gateway Vinny Drago Jesse Campos Kevin Kunkel Larry Snider Joey Drago - Ballerz John Summers Julie Summers Jessica Summers Allison Golomski - The Kracken Garrett Epps Cory Salmo Zack Lindsey Stephanie Prince 4th Place - Vitale s Joe Kaestner Carlo Numerosi Andrew Numerosi Robert Frost OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP - Fabulous Four John D Denando Alex Daus Jim Ramsey Dave Baranowski - IAC Sopranos Vern Cooper Armond Cevasco Dorothy Cevasco - Jay Wolfe Toyota Benny J Cardello Joe Cardello Chris Cardello Tony Cardello 4th Place - Bocce Auditors Julie Belfi Tammy Borage Lynn Coats Peggy ST LOUIS MONEY - IABC #1 Robert Della Croce Tony Sanna Tom Drago Leigh Borage - Pierino s Pasta Pierino Gugliemetti Rick Wagstaff Jack Grandi Danny Passaglia - Palazzo #2 Michael Grasser Sal Lini Dennis Russo Hunter Gallero 4th Place - La Bocce Vita Jim Summers Nicola Cottone Angelo Varvara Vittorio Ventmiglia Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP. - Joe Namath

IL GIORNALE REMINDER: Italia-America Bocce Club CONGRATULATIONS TO TEAM IABC LADIES ON WINNING THE PRV WOMEN S DIVISION OF THE USBF NATIONALS!

IL GIORNALE REMINDER: Italia-America Bocce Club CONGRATULATIONS TO TEAM IABC LADIES ON WINNING THE PRV WOMEN S DIVISION OF THE USBF NATIONALS! Italia-America Bocce Club IL GIORNALE Volume 7, Issue 4 August, 2018 REMINDER: Don t forget to pay your dues! If your dues are paid between August 1-31, 2018 $300.00 September 1-30, 2018 $350.00 CONGRATULATIONS