Birth of Backyard Bags

Local holiday tournament turns 13 years old

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — A citywide holiday backyard bags tournament was long overdue.

And so was La White.

“I was already over nine months pregnant with our first son,” La said. “I went into labor and had to go to the hospital the night before we held our first tournament.”

Over the Fourth of July weekend, La and Leroy White’s Holiday Backyard Bags Tournament, as well as their first son, turned 13 years old.

“Bags have always been big around here,” Leroy said. “Especially during the summer. We just thought that since we have a pretty big backyard, we might as well hold a big tournament here.”

The White’s backyard on July 3 resembled a campground with several tents set up.

“Sometimes we’re here all night depending on the amount of teams,” Leroy said.

There were around 30 teams at this year’s tournament.

“We’ve had as many as 60 teams some years,” Leroy said.

One bags player who remains a tournament regular despite moving to Norwalk several years ago is Lowen Reams.

“He usually wins every year,” La said.

“Not every year,” Reams said, “but we’re doing good today,”

Reams was paired up with Tim Geertz, who several weeks before as part of the Whitewater Challenge Weekend won the Charles City Bean Bag Tournament with Dalton Reams.

“I first started throwing when my uncle got me interested in bags,” Lowen said. “It’s a great way to meet new people.

“No matter where I live, I’ll always make it back here for this.”

La does most of the cooking for tournament participants.

“That’s why they come back … for my cooking,” she said.

La and Leroy were also participants, and so was Leroy’s mother, Kathy White.

“Yeah, we won that game, but I’m not that good,” Kathy said. “At least I’m not as good as most of the players here.”

Though La and Leroy’s annual event may have been Charles City’s first backyard bags tournament, it’s no longer the only.

“Jake and Lori Kummer now hold one later in the summer,” Leroy said.

Jake was Leroy’s doubles partner.

For convenience sake, Jake designed and made dual beverage cup holders that can be stuck in the ground near pairs of throwers.

“And people go out of their way to buy them,” La said.