Washer pitching tournament held
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Flat Lands Washer Pitching team members are Anson Rendon, Carlos Rendon, John Vasquez, Paul Marmolejo, Victor Martinez, Earnest Vasquez, Drew Trevino, Daylen Gatica, BJ Jimenez, Chris Torrez, Dustin Griggs, Marky Ascenico, Fernando Derien, Allen Arvizu, Andrew Arvizu, Julian Hernandez, Buddy Garcia, Juan DeOchoa, Armando Vasquez, who is the oldest member, and five-year-old Skyler Hernandez.
By Teresa Bigham/The Hesperian-Beacon—
MUNCY – During the 1950s, the game of washer pitching was a favorite pastime. Julian Hernandez and Marky Ascencio` brought back the fun Saturday with their first Flat Lands Washer Pitching Tournament in Muncy.
Thirty-two teams turned out to show off their skills, including teams from Austin, San Angelo, Lubbock, Amarillo and, of course, Floyd County.
While the teams battled late into the evening, it was the team from Austin that was able to pull ahead for the overall win. Winners took home trophies, cash prizes and T-shirts.
Flat Lands is a team made up of residents from Floydada and Lockney. The team practices weekly with each team member taking their turn hosting the practices. The team has traveled as far as Ballinger, Texas.
These four gentlemen traveled from Austin to take part in the first Flat Lands Washer Pitching tournament held in Muncy. (The Hesperian-Beacon/Teresa Bigham)
On Saturday, the Flat Lands will be taking part in a tournament in Roaring Springs.
Washer pitching dates back to ancient Egypt and Greece around 500 BC, according to the Wikipedia.
Tradition says that washer pitching was introduced in the Unites States around 1873 in Indiana. Wikipedia states that pioneers took work breaks and used spare washers for their wagon wheels to play the game.
In the early West Texas oil fields, workers would pitch washers using the washers from their oil derricks.
The object of the game is to earn points by tossing metal washers, usually around two inches in diameter and 1/8-inch thick toward a hole, usually denoted by a can or PVC pipe.
The throwing player stands next to or behind one box and tosses washers toward the other normally using an underhand throw. Scoring is like horseshoes in that the second team to throw can wash-out/rebut any points that the first team may have scored, then add to their own total. Three points are awarded to a non-rebutter ringer. One point is awarded to each non-rebutted washer inside the box.
