POOL 18 area teams qualify to play in state tournament in June

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
CALCUTTA -- In early September in the East Liverpool Motor Lodge, 18 teams, including 14 in eight-ball competition and four competing in nine-ball from the local American Poolplayers Association, advanced to next June's state tournament.
The site for that tournament is yet to be determined, but the national tournament next August will be at Las Vegas in the Riviera Hotel.
This competition, with 200 teams and 1,784 participants in the area, is one of the Valley's secrets.
Girard resident Bernie Pavlock and his wife Nouhad are designated as league operators. It is a long-time love for Pavlock, a 1966 graduate of Girard High who began playing at age 13 at Kay Lanes.
The St. Louis-based APA, with 200,000 participants, was founded in 1978 and is the largest amateur pool league in the world.
Pavlock became involved in October 1981, when he applied for a franchise, and the following June, with six teams, he initiated APA play in the Valley.
"For a lot of folks who have an affinity for all sports, but not the ability to perform in them, this is a way for them to compete," said Pavlock.
There are three playing sessions a year: summer, which begins in June; a fall session in September, and a spring session in January.
182 locations
The year for the league begins with the summer session at 182 host locations, most of them at bars throughout the area with others based at clubs and fraternal organizations. There are eight-ball and nine-ball teams with all competition handicapped, with best players having seven handicaps down to the weaker players having a two handicap.
There are no barriers when it comes to age or sex. More than 350 players in the area are women and five players are over age 80. The most populous age group is 26-30, which numbers 290. Bernie and Nouhad are on duty for everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and for both of them running the league is a labor of love.
"We have average people coming out of their homes who are from all walks of life competing in a relaxed and congenial atmosphere," said Bernie Pavlock. "Playing pool is a common ground for everyone as friendships are developed and old friends come together."
One of the teams that came out of play in Calcutta to qualify for the state tournament is the Jackyls, based at the Chalet in Cornersburg
The Jackyls were a wild card team, drawn out of a pool of 161 teams. The team captain is Canfield High graduate Spencer Hollendoner, who along with Joe Guerrieri and Dennis Ross have been original team members and league competitors for 11 years. Along with the original threesome there is Spencer's wife, Denise, Ken and Joyce Hicks, and Joe Veneroso.