Accuracy counts in (horseshoe) pitching

Editor's note: Cedar Rapids Prairie junior Mike Gunn is wrapping up a 45-hour internship through Kirkwood's Workplace Learning Connection.

By Mike Gunn, The Gazette

IOWA CITY - Pitching with accuracy is not a skill exclusive to baseball.

In horseshoes, the closer the pitch, the better you are - unless someone throws a ringer.

The Iowa City Horseshoe League is one place where pitching of horseshoes takes place. The league is comprised of six three-person teams, which pitch a game of 50 shoes against each player on the other team. There is a handicap for beginners.

The league is scored by the 'count all” system. Any shoe within six inches scores one point and ringers score three.

While the league has started, it still could use subs. Interested players always are welcome to come watch or pitch on any Monday night. They can pitch a few games to establish a handicap when subs are needed.

The Iowa City Horseshoe League has matches every Monday, excluding Memorial Day, at 6:30 p.m. for 10 weeks. The matches are held at the courts in City Park.

'I personally enjoy the fellowship and the competition (while playing horseshoes).” Dick Shepardson, league statistician, said.

'I started in the Iowa City League. I enjoyed that experience and joined the National Horseshoe Pitching Association. That allowed me to play in sanctioned tournaments across the state.”

Click here for more information about horseshoe pitching in Iowa.