T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Special Olympics athletes are excited to be competing at the Bellaire Sons of Italy bocce court on May 14. This time athletes will be playing to compete at the state level. Pictured are Darla Austin, from left, Brittany White, Jordan Bolton and Joe Kuthey.

BELLAIRE — The Sons of Italy lodge is again opening up its bocce court to host Special Olympians, and this year the athletes will compete to qualify at the state level.

“This is going to be our first state-qualifying tournament ever,” coach Doty Toohey said. “We’re pretty excited for that. The state of Ohio and Columbus has called down. … They participate here, and the scores have to be recorded and sent to Columbus, and then you will be able to compete at the state level during summer games.”

Toohey said the state qualifying tournament will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 14 at the Sons of Italy Lodge 754 on Belmont Street in Bellaire.

“You have to participate here to be able to play in the state games in Columbus,” she said, adding that about 25 teams are expected. “We’re expecting three or four different counties and we’re expecting about 50 people.”

The state games will be held June 24-26.

Toohey said the setting in Bellaire is particularly nice.

“We have to practice in the yard, grass, mud, so it’s really nice for us to come here and compete,” she said. “We want to thank them for hosting this.”

“It’s an honor for us to do this,” Bill Ault, president of the Sons of Italy, said. He commended Vice President Doug Hartlieb, a past president and director of the bocce program, and Belmont County Common Pleas Judge Frank Fregiato for spearheading the effort.

Ault said the athletes are welcome and their enthusiasm is contagious.

“Just to see them enjoy life a little bit is great,” Ault said. “It’s something they look forward to.”

“It’s a true match made in heaven. We have the facilities, they have the need,” Fregiato said.

“This is the first time … that we’ll be having the people compete for the state tournament here,” Ault said.

“This is a pretty big deal for the Ohio Valley,” Fregiato added.

“Volunteers and participants have a lot of fun,” Hartlieb said.

He added that in order for the lodge to qualify, a state-level representative from the Special Olympics visited to inspect the court last year. He said the representative was impressed both by the Sons of Italy facility and the group’s hospitality.

“We’re just glad we’ve been selected by the state to have the participants qualify at our facility,” Hartlieb said.

“I think it’s great, even for the community, to see the Sons of Italy participating in such a great function,” Arleen Sabatino, trustee for the Sons of Italy, said.

The athletes are overjoyed at the prospect of playing in the upcoming games.

“I can’t wait. I’m happy,” competitor Darla Austin of Barnesville said. “I like bocce ball. … I got medals. … I like coming here.”

They also enjoy the chance to socialize.

“I get to meet different people in bocce ball,” Austin said. “It’s a sport, and we know that we can achieve it.”

“We have to practice, to exercise,” another athlete, Brittany White of Barnesville, said.

“I enjoy sports,” Special Olympian Joe Kuthey of St. Clairsville said. “I like trophies. I like it ’cause of being outside.”