Korby's connections: Dart leagues hit their mark

After a couple of years off due to the Covid pandemic, the competitive retiree dart league has returned to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Cloquet. The league resumed in late fall, but now “spring training” is in full swing. The dartboard is the shape of a diamond with bases, strikes, balls, double plays, and sacrifices … and play is similar to a nine-inning baseball game. Players throw 6-inch darts underhand from about 15 feet from the target board until their “at bat” is concluded.

The retirees range in age from 60 to 90-plus. There are regulars, but different teams (usually 3 or 4 players) are randomly drawn each week. Can practice help in the dart throwing? That’s a good question, with some players/amateurs walking in cold off the street and hitting home runs. It’s all for fun, with lots of laughs and a few “chicken calls” and other razzing.

Games are on Mondays now, with preliminary practice and coffee beginning at Our Savior’s Fellowship Hall at 8:45 a.m. The teams stick together for the day with coffee, cookies, cheese, makkara, and crackers in between games. There are three boards and three nine-inning games for participants each week. The day’s action concludes by 11:45 a.m.

Commissioner Ray Wild organizes and maintains the boards, runs the player/team selection process and, very importantly, perks a big pot of coffee each week. About 18-24 players make it weekly. League secretary Mike Berthiaume also brings the homemade cookies and treats for the group. Most players come for the coffee, cookies, and fellowship, with darts a conversation starter. News, sports, and weather can also be keen coffee talk with these intermission roundtable exchanges.

Although records are hit or miss, most think the league is at least 25 years old. Some attendees have maneuverability issues and some are vision-impaired, but still come every week (and always manage a way to beat my team).

Another tradition is for the preschool kids, from the attached school, to come marching into Fellowship Hall to sing for the retirees. Out of respect, all dart games are halted — “Stop, it’s the kids” is the signal to get ready to listen. Usually, two or three songs are energetically delivered by these 3- and 4-year-olds. Four-year-old and 94-year-old “kids” interacting … probably good for both of them.

Steve Korby’s interest in writing goes back to when he was in fourth grade and editor of the Scan-Satellite school newspaper in Scanlon. He welcomes ideas for human interest stories and tales regarding Carlton County residents, projects, history, and plans c/o [email protected].