web1_WBA_MATH.jpg

5 years, 10 buildings and 2 new plans: Where $24 million went in W-B Area

web1_122448165-3bf8cc7cd410411c96990276602e972a.jpg

Vulnerable to attack: Businesses should boost cyber defenses

<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212; The Keystone Grand Ballroom at Mohegan Sun Pocono transformed into a playing field for more than 200 duos of cornhole enthusiasts from all over the East Coast on Saturday.</p><p>They were all vying to win cash prizes in excess of $5,000 at the March Bagness Cornhole Tournament.</p><p>&#8220;This strong turnout proves the sport is growing,&#8221; said tournament coordinator and NEPA Cornhole Association co-founder TJ Griffiths. &#8220;With over 400 people signed up to play, we have some of the best players from up and down the East Coast.&#8221;</p><p>Popular at backyard barbecues and sporting event tailgates, cornhole is a two- to four-player game, similar to a bean-bag toss. Two wooden boards are placed 27 feet away from one another, each containing a hole at the top. Players must toss their bags across the playing field with the goal of getting their bag on the board or through the hole.</p><p>But it&#8217;s not as simple as it looks, and a lot of strategy goes into it, according to cornhole player Tim Reilly.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s really a mental game,&#8221; said Reilly, 58. &#8220;It&#8217;s very methodical. You have to stick to your routine and shouldn&#8217;t change things up.&#8221;</p><p>For the last two years, Tim and his brother and cornhole partner, John, have traveled from Syracuse, New York, to play in tournaments.</p><p>The brothers tend to stick out at competitions because they dress up like referees.</p><p>Reilly also recommended the sport to people of all ages.</p><p>&#8220;Anyone can play this sport. That&#8217;s what&#8217;s great about it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We&#8217;ve played young teenagers to men in their 70s.&#8221;</p><p>He continued: &#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter if you are a man or a woman. This sport is inclusive. As long as you can throw the 1-pound bag, you can play forever.&#8221;</p><p>Although there are not many restrictions on who can play cornhole, only adults 21 years or older were allowed to enter the tournament Saturday because the venue was held at the casino.</p><p><strong>&#8216;Threw a lot of bags&#8217;</strong></p><p>Despite the game being billed as a leisure sport, it&#8217;s highly competitive and has steadily gained mainstream notoriety in recent years, most notably on ESPN. Saturday&#8217;s tournament featured players from the amateur level to the professional ranks, including the No. 1-ranked player in the world, Cody Henderson.</p><p>&#8220;There are always a lot of expectations when you walk into a tournament,&#8221; said Henderson, 27. &#8220;I got my ranking based on what I&#8217;ve done, not what I am going to do. I didn&#8217;t get to where I am overnight. I just threw a lot of bags.&#8221;</p><p>The Jackson, Ohio, native said he&#8217;s competed at the professional level for the last seven years but has been playing cornhole for 12 years.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s been a lot of fun,&#8221; he said. &#8220;These tournaments allow you to meet so many people. People are constantly asking me for advice or just wanting to shake my hand.</p><p>&#8220;At first I used to get overwhelmed by it,&#8221; he added. &#8220;I&#8217;m just a regular guy. But it is very humbling.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;I just really enjoy competing here in Northeastern Pennsylvania,&#8221; Henderson noted of his eight-hour trek to Plains Township.</p><p>He also spoke about the sport&#8217;s association with beer and alcohol.</p><p>&#8220;Some people like to have a few drinks to get the edge off and lose their nerves,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Others like to drink large amounts. It really depends on everyone. I will have a few beers at local tournaments to unwind. I won&#8217;t use any if I&#8217;m playing in a national one.&#8221;</p><p>Although he&#8217;s generally regarded as the world&#8217;s best cornhole player, Henderson still has a full-time job. However, he hopes to leave his day job and devote all of his time to the sport by later this year or early next year.</p><p>The NEPA Cornhole League plays locally in Pittston at the Susquehanna Brewing Company brewery.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Cornhole-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Locals Dan Drouse, Scranton, and Holly Subilla, Duryea, have fun while taking practice tosses prior to competition getting underway at Saturday&#8217;s March Bagness Cornhole Tournament at Mohegan Sun Pocono. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Cornhole-5.jpg</photo0><caption0>Locals Dan Drouse, Scranton, and Holly Subilla, Duryea, have fun while taking practice tosses prior to competition getting underway at Saturday&#8217;s March Bagness Cornhole Tournament at Mohegan Sun Pocono. </caption0><photoCredit0>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Cornhole-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Joe and Ginger Pastor, of Greenwood, New York, take practice tosses before Saturday&#8217;s March Bagness Cornhole Tournament at Mohegan Sun Pocono. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Cornhole-4.jpg</photo1><caption1>Joe and Ginger Pastor, of Greenwood, New York, take practice tosses before Saturday&#8217;s March Bagness Cornhole Tournament at Mohegan Sun Pocono. </caption1><photoCredit1>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Cornhole-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">TJ Griffiths, of Old Forge, one of the organizers of Saturday&#8217;s March Bagness Cornhole Tournament, speaks to the more than 400 players particpating this year. The competition was held at Mohegan Sun Pocono&#8217;s Keystone Grand Ballroom. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Cornhole-3.jpg</photo2><caption2>TJ Griffiths, of Old Forge, one of the organizers of Saturday&#8217;s March Bagness Cornhole Tournament, speaks to the more than 400 players particpating this year. The competition was held at Mohegan Sun Pocono&#8217;s Keystone Grand Ballroom. </caption2><photoCredit2>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Cornhole-1-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lines of participants extended into a hallway of Mohegan Sun Pocono casino for the March Bagness Cornhole Tournament at the Keystone Grand Ballroom on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Cornhole-1-1-.jpg</photo3><caption3>Lines of participants extended into a hallway of Mohegan Sun Pocono casino for the March Bagness Cornhole Tournament at the Keystone Grand Ballroom on Saturday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Cornhole-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cody Henderson, of Jackson, Ohio, the world&#8217;s No. 1-ranked cornhole player, played with partner Adam Hissner at Mohegan Sun Pocono&#8217;s Keystone Grand Ballroom in Plains Township during Saturday&#8217;s March Bagness Cornhole Tournament. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Cornhole-2.jpg</photo4><caption4>Cody Henderson, of Jackson, Ohio, the world&#8217;s No. 1-ranked cornhole player, played with partner Adam Hissner at Mohegan Sun Pocono&#8217;s Keystone Grand Ballroom in Plains Township during Saturday&#8217;s March Bagness Cornhole Tournament. </caption4><photoCredit4>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dan Stokes</p><p>dstokes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dan Stokes at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @ByDanStokes</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Hundreds turn out for local cornhole tournament