Mike Bohanon

Golden West Saloon kicked the Welcome Inn team #1 to the curb and out of the playoffs this past week. This week, after they had won, they seemed tied with the Grill #1 team. Hmm, but then, there was more to the story. Like others, the West had problems during the Ides of March. They were short a player and had to forfeit a couple of games. Well, no big deal, it happens. Except that the forfeits returned to the West this week, to haunt them. Noyo River Grill team #1 was tied with the Golden West team #1 for games won. The Grill, though, forfeited only a single game, not two, and therefore wins the playoff position #4 by a forfeit. We used to wish we had more competition among teams. Well, winning by a forfeit is pretty close to competition for a playoff spot. I hope you were at the Welcome Inn on June 9th. Both tables will feature the best players in town, competing to win, survive, and make the final, which will be held on June 16th, also at the Welcome Inn.

Noyo River Grill No. 1 and No. 2 face off at Welcome Inn on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in the final match for the Spring Championship. Last Tuesday, the two leading teams in the league went down in defeat in the first playoff. It was a fun night watching the players. Welcome Inn's teams No. 3 and No. 4 led the league from the first week to the last week of the regular season. Everyone was shocked when both teams lost to Noyo River Grill's teams No. 1 and No. 2. Grill No. 1 barely made it to the playoffs and then barely beat Welcome Inn's team No. 3. If Welcome won Game 12, they would tie; if they lost, they would lose the match. They lost. Gabe Medina of the Noyo River Grill team No. 1 broke and made the 8-ball on the break, winning Game 7 and the match.

When the playoffs began, Noyo River Grill Team 2, with captain Dan Casteel and teammates Eric Banks, Mike Casteel, Lance Evans, Ridge Gorman, Rick Merlin, Nick Moore, Scott Sheply and Bruce Silveria, was in third place. The other underdog team, Noyo River Grill Team 1, with captain Mike White and teammates Nacho Alcala, Tino Berlesci, Bill Carter, Jose Manion, Gabe Medina, Luis Medina, Michael Van Pelt and Tom Van Pelt, was in fourth place. With both of the top-ranked teams having lost to these two teams last week.

Big changes are coming to the Fort Bragg Pool League. We are adding 10 new players and two new captains for Golden West Saloon Teams 3 and 4. Also, players are moving to different existing teams.

What are the prevailing opinions about going to a no-playoff schedule in the coming fall season? We never used to have a playoff in the fall. The reason is

Listen up, league players! The Fort Bragg Pool League starts Aug. 4, 2026. The captains' meeting is at 6 p.m. July 28, 2026, at the Noyo River Grill. Leo Bowers played for Welcome Inn Team 1 in the spring session of the league. Now, he is the new captain of Golden West Team 3. Golden West Team 4 doesn't have a full team or a captain, but both Casey and Sean signed up and are ready to play. Oh, by the way, are you a league player who is not playing enough and has no hope for much change in the near future?

The movement of players from one team to another has been happening at a near-frenetic level. Noyo River Grill Team 2 was the league champion last season. Time to relax as a team, pat each other on the back and enjoy the moment? No way. They revamped the entire team from the captain position down to the subs, and now half the team is gone! Well, not all of them; two went to Welcome Inn Team 1, the green table. Raphael Briseno left Golden West Team 1, and Cali and Oakland Sam left Welcome Inn Team 4. The news is where those players went. Well, I'll tell ya, they went to Milano Hotel and Bar Team 1 with captain Gabe Krienhop. Milano Team 1 barely missed the playoffs last season, and one of their players, Willie Williams, was the player who knocked Golden West Saloon out of the playoffs. But Willie, reading the writing on the wall, left the team for Golden West's new Team 3. Steven Gonzaga left Welcome Inn Team 3 for Golden West's new Team 4. That's not all, but until they put in the new game camera, I give up.

When you read this, you only have a few days to be ready for pool league. The fall season of the Fort Bragg Pool League starts Tuesday, Aug. 4. We have enough positions for nearly everyone to play. Yes, it will be crowded at the GW, but we've done this before. Remember when the Welcome Inn was closed? We played there. The only delay to our game was when someone's butt was hanging over a table. The upside is obvious: More people will get to play every week with 12 new positions. It is supposed to be fun, and it will be. We only need to be understanding because seeing any of our butts, especially hanging over anything, is not going to be on any to-do list, but watching players laughing and playing pool will be.

Rack 'em up: We are, one and all, standing in the waiting line for the 2026 fall pool league season to begin.

Rack ‘em up: One of the new captains, Leonardo Bowers, was smiling despite being in the midst of a raucous scene.