Dodson places third at world tournament

A member of the Bayou Horseshoe Pitchers Association placed third in Elders Class G1 at the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association World Tournament in Topeka, Kansas in July.
Al Dodson of Morgan City recorded the finish with an overall record of 11.5-3.5 and a ringer percentage of 40.33.
Dodson, one of 16 competitors in his field, competed for three days, playing five matches a day from July 16-18.
Dodson, who has competed at the tournament four times, has placed in three trips.
This year marked the second time in as many years he has placed third in Elders Class G1.
While he was pleased to get third place out of 16 competitors, he did have some disappointment.
“I was a little disappointed because I lost my last two games, and I would have had a chance for first,” he said.
Dodson, who now throws from 30 feet, had won a title in the event a few years ago in a different division when he still was throwing from 40 feet.
The event featured more than 1,400 competitors from the United States, Canada and Norway.
Among the competitors Dodson faced, he said four were from Colorado, one from Canada and a few from Ohio.
“Most of them are from up North. … There was nobody else from Louisiana in my class,” he said.
To qualify for the tournament, Dodson had to be a sanctioned player and compete in four events in a year by a certain deadline.
At the national tournament, he was placed with those who have similar averages.
“They put you in categories with people of your own caliber,” Dodson said.
ESPN also hosted Sports Center at the tournament. The network showed highlights of the tournament and interviewed some of the event’s top players.
Dodson actually made the local news in Topeka, Kansas.
“They were showing some highlights, and they didn’t even mention me in particular, but I was throwing horseshoes in the background,” he said.