The Inaugural Special Olympics Bocce Ball Bash last summer was a great success.
But event chairman Robert Tadlock is hoping for bigger and better things for this year’s event. “We had 76 teams for the first year. It was phenominal,” Tadlock said. “Were going to get 100 teams this year. I’m not going to stop until we get 100 teams.” Teams are already signing up for the event, which takes place Oct. 2 and 3. Tadlock looks to have all 100 teams in place by the Sept. 18 deadline for entries. There are already teams from outside the area, even out of state, which have reserved their spots for this year’s tournament. “We’ve got one team out of South Boston, Va., one out of Kill Devil Hills, one out of Raleigh and one out of Greer, South Carolina that are coming in that we know of,” Tadlock said. “So we’re going to bring people into town and I hope it’s going to promote the city of Elizabeth City.” Area law enforcement agencies have already been promoting the event. There are already rivalries building from last year’s tournament. “Last year, the (Pasquotank County) Sheriff’s Department beat up on the Elizabeth City Police Department,” Tadlock said. “They have been razzing each other all year. This year, it’s going to be a big thing.”
On Oct. 2, a kickoff party will be held at Mariners’ Wharf from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The tournament will have an opening ceremony the next morning at Waterfront Park at 9:30 a.m. Tadlock hopes to have a