A NEPA cornhole tournament was held Saturday at Penn Forest Volunteer Fire Company #2.

This is not tailgate or backyard cornhole for most. Forty-six participants played in either a “social division” or “competitive division.”

Following a four-game round robin, a double elimination tournament was then played.

Eight games were played at one time in the bats where the firetrucks are usually kept.

“I played here at the firehouse on Tuesday nights, then found a tournament at Mohegan Sun and have been playing ever since,” said organizer Joe Loizzi of Albrightsville.

Loizzi’s sons, Junior, 15, and Jordan, 12, play, too.

Junior said that he’s been playing since he was 11 and has won numerous tournaments, traveling to North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and other states to play.

He said that the “bags,” which are thrown, have different speeds based on the textures. He should know as he owns 12 sets of bags.

His brother Jordan is just beginning to play as he’s a lefty and wasn’t sure how that would work out the way the game is set up.

Keeping score has become a whole lot easier.

A small electronic device that fits on the end of a post for each game includes the players individual names, team names, and score.

AJ Meranti of Old Forge is considered a top player in NEPA having played for eight years.

He was fondly called a “superstar” to which he replied, “I’m the fun one in the group.”

Bag maker Reynolds sponsors Trisha Nawrock of Pittston. Nawrock was playing in the American Cornhole League in Ohio, which led to the sponsorship. She explained that all bags weigh 16 ounces and there is a fast side and a slow side based on the fabric. “There’s a sense of community. You show up and we welcome people from all walks of life,” she said.

Nawrock has also traveled to tournaments as far away as California, Texas, Michigan and Florida.

Part of the $25 entrance fee to the tournament goes back to the fire company.

Monetary prizes are awarded for both social and competitive divisions.

If you’re interested in playing you can go to the app “Scoreholio” to find out where games are near, or maybe not so near, you.