The Brick Companies’ Inaugural Summer Slam Pickleball tournament took place on July 8th, 2023, on a warm and sunny Saturday at Truxtun Park in Annapolis, Maryland. The event attracted hundreds of pickleball enthusiasts, both players and spectators, who enjoyed a wonderful day of friendly yet heated competition to benefit CRAB (Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating) charity of Annapolis.
During check-in, players received a tournament shirt and pins to commemorate the event. After which, announcements were made regarding rules of play, court assignments, and bracket formats. Men's & Women's Doubles took place early in the morning and Mixed Doubles took place in the afternoon, including youth. Teams were guaranteed at least 3 games, so players were able to get into the swing of the fun and fast-paced game of pickleball.
Exceling at hosting charity events, The Brick Companies brought in popular pickleball vendors and offered exciting contests during the fun-filled day. The "Beat the Pro’s” competition was a crowd favorite. Over 15 pairs of players of all ages accepted this challenge including a few memorable duo’s: a father and son, wife (with child)/husband, and two youths. None were successful in beating the professional pair, but the effort was applauded, nonetheless.
Another highlight was the announcement of raffle winners. Over 15 intriguing items were offered, such as restaurant gift cards and pickleball jewelry by Dainty Dinker. The raffle items generated a lot of interest and excitement while raising money for a great cause.
Scattered throughout the tournament area were popular vendors offering the latest and greatest pickleball gear. This included local favorites Charm City Run of Annapolis Town Center and Stretch Zone in Festival at Riva, who provided on-site relief to athletes competing in the tournament. Other vendors included Dope Pickle, Full Throttle Pickleball, Joola, Meat my Buns, and Atlas Brew Works.
At the conclusion of each bracket’s tournament play, podium winners were announced and presented their respective medals. It was an exciting and memorable experience for all who participated. Eastport Pickleball and the Greater Annapolis Pickleball community were instrumental in making this inaugural event a success. Additionally, this inaugural event would not have been possible without our generous sponsors: The Old Brick Inn, Beth Rossman, Luminis Health, Compass Wealth Strategies, Pioneer, and The Stretch Zone.
The Brick Companies Foundation proudly generated over $12,000 in proceeds to benefit the efforts of CRAB – Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating. CRAB is an amazing organization within our Annapolis community that provides the therapeutic benefits of sailing to people with disabilities, recovering warriors, and youth from underserved communities.
Revisit the day's excitement through our photo gallery: https://www.thebrickcompanies.com/2023-summer-slam-photos
Looking ahead to 2024, The Brick Companies is excited to continue the Summer Slam tournament and its successful charitable contributions.
