Penelope Bauer was on a roll Saturday afternoon as she hopped from one side of the marbles ring to the other, knocking out marbles.
"She's going to win," a competitor whispered to her mom as they watched Bauer at the Allegheny County Marbles Tournament on yesterday, the last day of a three-day event in the courtyard of the Allegheny County Courthouse. Winners qualified to attend the National Marbles Championship in Wildwood, N.J., in June.
Bauer, 12, of Bloomfield went to nationals last year and made it to the semifinals. She took first place yesterday and will be returning to the championship along with runner-up Sarah Ireland, 14, for the girls.
For the boys, winner Brandon Matchett, 10, and runner-up Ben Eddings, 10, will represent the county. Long-time pals Brandon and Ben, both 10, are fourth graders at Phillips Elementary School in the South Side.
"I like (marbles) because it's a different kind of sport," said Bauer, who plays basketball and fast-pitch softball. She said getting a back spin on her shooter -- the marble used to knock other marbles out of the ring -- is the most challenging aspect, one that can give her callouses on her thumb.
At the 2008 National Championship, local marbles champs took both the boys and girls first prize. The county has had a national champion in either category for five years, but last year was the first time for a sweep. National champions John Leffakis of Lawrenceville and Amber Ricci, 13, of Glenshaw were both at this weekend's tournament, helping as judges.
Amber's father Ed, one of the event's organizers, said the county has more champions than any other place and many were on hand to help with the event.
Ricci, 43, of Shaler said marble-playing has been a part of his family for a century. His grandfather and mother have both helped run the county marble group.
"I've been around my marbles my whole life," Ricci said.
His other daughter Sierra, 3, is too young to compete, but plays on a smaller circle designed for younger marbles shooters.
County marbles starts in March, when coaches go to malls, schools and Boys and Girls Clubs to show kids how to play and to invite them to the tournament held every year, he said.
Ricci said the concepts of marbles playing are very similar to pool and marbles has been called "knuckle pool." Thirteen marbles are set inside a circle. Players take turns attempting to shoot the marbles out of the playing area. The first player to get seven marbles out, or the player with the most marbles out at the end of seven turns, is the winner, he said.
Bauer's mom, Marcia, said her other daughter Alexandra, 14, plays marbles. As a mother, she likes her kids playing marbles in an atmosphere where they are able to meet other kids.
Charlotte Murphy, 8, of Squirrel Hill said she met at least 10 kids yesterday and likes playing tag in between rounds of marbles shooting. She's been playing for three years.
"The hardest part is trying to hit the marbles out of the ring and putting a back spin on the shooter so it stays after it hits the marble," she said.
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