Matt Baird sets up during the USCA 9-Wicket Doubles Championship
Baird and Parsells Claim National Title
Matt Baird and Art Parsells capped off a fantastic three days of croquet by surviving a final run by Reid Fleming to claim the 2008 USCA Doubles National Championship early Sunday afternoon in Shawnee, Kansas. With time expired, Fleming had to run out from wicket #5 to the final stake on his last turn in order to snatch away the title from Parsells and Baird. Fortunately, Fleming's partner Bob Kroeger set him up for a three-ball break. Fleming worked the break all the way to #12 but got caught in the jaws on the wicket shot.
In other action, Brad Clouse claimed the national title in the Cutthroat (six-ball singles) division on Saturday. On Friday, George Cochran claimed the title in the singles Championship flight.
The event was hosted by the Missouri Croquet Association and ran pretty much on schedule and featured three straight days of perfect weather. Plans are already in place for the 2009 event.