Pat Stumpf has proven to be a force to reckon with when pitching horseshoes. With 40 years of experience under her belt, the Pierz woman has pitched in 19 state championships in women’s Class A, the highest level for women competition in the National Horseshoe Pitching Association (NHPA).
She earned her second consecutive state victory in Genola during the Labor Day weekend Aug. 24-25. Between playing in Minnesota and South Dakota, she has five first place finishes in state tournaments, competing in women’s Class A. Not only was she glad about her achievement, but she also hadn’t realized how far she’s come.
“Where has the time gone?” Pat said. “On the way over (to this interview) I heard the song (by) Elton John, “I’m still standing” I was playing and I thought ‘that’s appropriate.’”
At the tournament, She only lost a close game against her friend Janet Larson from Evansville. Stumpf pitched a 63% ringer percentage while Larson earned a 67%. Stumpf said despite losing, the toe-to-toe battle was worth it.
“I’d rather have a competitive game and lose it than to win an easy game,” Pat said. “I mean everyone likes to win. Don’t get me wrong there,” said Pat. “It’s when you get those close games where you’re neck and neck and you got to concentrate and you got to think and you realize ‘if I don’t put this shoe on, I’m going to lose this game.’”
At the end of the tournament, there was a tie between three competitors: Stumpf, Larson and Michelle Foard from Blaine. Since Stumpf was pitching a higher ringer percentage of 62.50 in the tournament and other two were less than 50%, Foard and Larson took each other on to see who would play in the final game.
Foard won the match, leading her to play against Stumpf. In a 40-horseshoe game, Stumpf beat Foard 40-13 and a ringer percentage of 71.05 to seal her state victory. Foard had a ringer percentage of 47.37. It was a well-earned win and a little nerve wrecking compared to last year when Stumpf won all seven of the games she played in the tournament. She said anything can happen in the sport, no matter how well a player is performing.
“I never take anyone for granted, Stumpf said. “Just because somebody has a lower average than you, that doesn’t mean they can’t have a hot game.”
Pat first got into pitching horseshoes after by her dad, Bob Bayerl started the family tradition in 1981. After a while of watching her dad and brother compete, along with being encouraged by her sister Cindy, Stumpf decided to join the Morrison County Horseshoe League in 1984. After the two competed with each other into the 1990’s, Cindy had won one world tournament at that point and decided to call it a career. Pat, on the other hand, was far from being done.
“I couldn’t quit. I was hooked,” said Pat.
Another achievement Stumpf made this year was being named Morrison County Horseshoe League champion after having the best ringer percentage, 30 years after her father won the same title.
Besides competing locally and around the state, Pat also competed in the world championships in Wisconsin, Michigan, Utah and South Dakota. She also competed in three Team World Tournaments as well as several state doubles tournaments. Not only has she pitched against different people nationwide, she’s made many relationships along the way.
“Everyone is so helpful and friendly and I’ve made life-time friends doing this,” said Pat.
According to NHPA, Pat is ranked 18th out of 100 in her class, with an overall ringer percentage of 68.53. There are 54 self-governing charters around the country, some states having more than one.
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