The battle for the esteemed title of Branchville Champion Bocce Team was waged this past Saturday, September 9 on the site of the new Branchville bocce courts located at 59 Willridge Road Ridgefield.
Six teams representing various local charities battled it out in the Third Annual Branchville Charity Lawn Bocce Tournament in the name of fun and fundraising. The grand prize winner of $1500 and Bocce champ bragging rights (for the second year in a row) was the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department (RVFD)! The Ridgefield Library took second and earned the "Spirit Award".
Bocce master and organizer, Mitch Ancona recaps the nail-bitting matches, "After 5 rounds of play (each team got to play every other team) we had a three way tie between Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgefield Library and The Women’s Center."
The Ridgefield Library came out victorious, defeating the Women's Center and finally facing the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department.
The much contested “Spirit” award went to the Ridgefield Library (last year it was RVNA who earned the coveted award).
Here is the prize money break down:
- Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department - $1500
- Ridgefield Library $1250 (second place and the $500 spirit award)
- Women’s Center - $500
- RVNA- $250
- Wilton Library- $200
- Georgetown Volunteer Fire Department - $200
The Tournament is sponsored by the Branchville Civic Association (BCA), a group Ancona's grandfather helped to start. The charitable organization is comprised of three generations of local Branchville families, and is best known as the proprietor and caretaker of the Branchville Civic baseball field, which was built by the founding members in 1946.