Longtime San Jose State University athletics booster Al Crema's team claimed a championship and Spartan student-athletes are the long-term winners of the fifth annual Spartan Bocce Battle hosted by senior associate athletics director John Poch on April 26.
Twelve bocce teams raised more than $40,000 on behalf of the Spartan Foundation, the fund-raising arm of San Jose State Athletics whose purpose is to raise funds in support of student-athlete scholarships.
Crema's team, Crema's Balls, won five matches outdueling the Bocce Heritage squad led by Michael Benito and former college football game official Bill Del Biaggio in the championship finale for the coveted Bocce Battle crown and the honor to proclaim their support of San Jose State Athletics.
The Mariucci Family Foundation, former football coach and current NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci, the Poch family and the Spartan football staff set the stage for the Bocce Battle all participants will remember.
Scott Rees' "Balls In My Hands," Gary King's "Bacchus Ballers," Larry Sparling's "Diaper Dandies," Bill Tamblyn and Ed Davis' "Spartan Sigs," Kevin Shannon and CA Blinds "Irish Kevins," Keith Stephens' "K-Dog's Crew," Bob Foy & Mike Herkenrath's "ATO Spartans," Tracey and Gene Enfantino's "ESI Goombas," John Kirkorian's "Skillz that Killz," and Blake Sasaki's "Team Sparta," demonstrated their support for San José State student-athletes and battled valiantly throughout the day.
Referees Aldo Giordano, Scott Holt, Rolando Negrini, Richard Amico, Bobby Rauh and Chris Benson officiated 21 matches over six hours and kept everyone on schedule.
Pietra Santa Wins Gordon-Biersch, the Caffe Frascatti's remarkable expresso cart, CB Hannegan's and Bill the Oyster Man and the Poch family pizza oven kept the players fed and fueled to play their best for the Spartans present and future.
The sixth annual Bocce Battle is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, April 24, 2016. Team reservations can be made by contacting John Poch at john.poch@sjsu.edu.