Yohn wins second World horseshoes crown
June Yohn of rural Princeton seems to be on the 10-year plan when it comes to winning National Horseshoe Pitching Association’s World horseshoes titles.
She won her first World Title in 1999 in Greenville, Ohio, at age 68. She won her second title earlier this month at age 78 in Springfield.
She doubts she’ll win another 10 years from now.
“I don’t think I’ll be around,” said Yohn, now 79.
Yohn captured the Class I title with a 37.5 average, including high games of 52.5 and 50 percent. She was ranked 14th of 14 pitchers in her class coming in, but she got off to a fast start.
“I had two good days of pitching, and the third day wasn’t too well,” she said. “Frank (her husband) was kind of worried.”
Was she worried?
“Not really. I just had to concentrate,” she said. “I just got to do my best, and that’s what happened.”
She throws a double-flip and, when she starts to lose her flip, she said it’s hard to get it back.
Yohn held on for victory to beat out Indiana pitcher Sue Stubbs (34.3) and her friend, Dorothy Hack (31.54) of Shelbyville.
She was asked by fellow pitchers how often she pitches during a week and had to laugh.
“I said, ‘I don’t. I pitch in the league once a week.’ That’s it,” she said.
Yohn, who said, “I was old when I started,” has been pitching for about 17-18 years. She figured she had to start pitching to keep up with Frank, who has been pitching since he was in the service. He bought her first set of shoes for her birthday in Florida. June got her start with the junior league the Yohns sponsor and then joined in on the seniors circuit.
She pitched in her first world tournament in 1996 in Syracuse, N.Y.
Yohn said pitching horseshoes is very good exercise, and “you forget about all your aches and pains when you start pitching.”
• Junior Horseshoes: Jessie Purvis took first place in the Junior Horseshoes Tournament during the Wyanet Festival. Noah Bickett finished second. Crystall Gee was third and Jade Purvis fourth.
Austin Peach was the top pitcher in last week’s Junior Horseshoes with a 4-0 record. He also scored the high game of 111, most ringers (25) and the high-ringer game (8).
The league held its season-ending tournament Monday.
• Rolle bolle: Thirty eight bolders competed for the top five prizes in Wednesday’s Manlius Rolle Bolle League competition. This was a special night for the Manlius Bolders Club as Zina and Yano from Germany, tried their hands at learning and playing the game of Rolle Bolle.
First place was won by Ardie Clementz, Rachael VanKerreBroeck and Roger DeBrock. Second was taken by Kristene DeBrock, Wilma Anderson and Tony Marchand; third was claimed by Clayton Hewitt, Hayden Nielsen and Rob Morey. Winning fourth were Coleen VanKerreBroeck, Lisa Marchand and Troy Clementz, and in fifth were Mary Nielsen, Carl Gustafson and Darrell Wallace.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three women, men and junior bolders on Aug.26.
• Summer hoops: Team Dave Davis took first place in the summer 4-on-4 basketball season at the Metro Center with a 9-1 record, capped with a 67-53 win over Team Alex Franklin. Scott Newton had 17 points and Matt Shevokas 16 for the winners. Team Jason Marquis fell to Team Brandon Nyman 66-54 but still wrapped up second place at 7-3.
In other action, Team David Anderson defeated Team Trevor Rowley 45-42.
• SRRC dates: Upcoming dates on the Starved Rock Runners Club circuit include: The Boo Milby Memory 5K Run/Walk, Aug. 15, LaSalle, call (815) 223-1885, and the Underground Railroad 5K Run/Walk, Sept. 12, Princeton, call (815) 872-0840.