Lorri Morgan, Communications

The Regional Season for the Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL) is finished, and not one, but two of our teams were victorious in the East Valley Region. APPL has four regions in the Phoenix area: Southern, Casa Grande, Western, and Eastern (us). There is also a White Mountain region, but that is separate, as it’s a summer league. The Desert Jays competed in the 3.0 Division, 50 years and older. There are 20 teams, and Desert Jays earned their spot by being the only undefeated team in the A Division! There will be a playoff against the top team in the B Division. Each division has 10 teams. In the Men’s 4.0, 65 and over, Stevie’s Wonders, the Cottonwood men’s team, earned a spot in the Championship match. As far as we know, this is the first time Cottonwood teams are competing for the state title.

The Championship match will be held at Pueblo El Mirage Pickleball Club, located inside the Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort, 11201 N. El Mirage Road, Mirage, Ariz., and boasts 26 courts. Mirage is located just south of Surprise and is about a 50-minute drive. Finals are April 5 through April 7, and the women’s semi-final match is scheduled for April 6 at 8 a.m. The final will be at 12:30 p.m. The men’s matches will be the same times on Sunday, April 7. Go up and support your local teams! These dates and times are scheduled as of this writing (March 11), but if you plan to go up, it can’t hurt to check the Arizona Pickleball Players League website for changes. Keep your paddle up and a smile on your face!