Walking into the dim, warm and musky Sandtrap bar on a Sunday afternoon, the first thing you’ll see is lit up pool tables across the room. Perhaps you’ll see scorekeepers running back and forth inquiring scores from the opposing team. This is a place where the pool player is at ease. There is a world of pool players in Bakersfield. Most people wouldn’t know that a pool team probably claims every bar in town that has a pool table. ?
“I love the game; it’s challenging and fun. I love to beat the men,” said Brandi Perrault, a member of the You Got Beat by a Girl Team. “I’m good at the game, and it gives me some self confidence.”
The Sandtrap’s home team on a Sunday is the all-women’s nine-ball team, You Got Beat by a Girl. This team is part of the APA, American Pool Players Association.
“Teams come out for a social drink and have fun,” said Linsi Luckett, the coach of You Got Beat by a Girl.
APA teams compete weekly in eight-ball or nine-ball tournaments with a division consisting of 6 to 16 teams. In the game of nine-ball, each ball is worth one point.
They must be hit in numerical order. The nine ball is worth two points, and eight-ball is played like everyone would think. There are three sessions of APA league that they play: spring, summer and fall.
Teams that compete in APA weekly league play can advance to their Local Team Championships and then to Las Vegas for the APA National Team Championships in August.
“When you play pool in leagues, you are given a ranking based on your skill level and a certain number of points,” said Luckett. “An average player is rated a four, better players are rated a five or six, and there are even some that have been rated nines here in Bakersfield.” The formation of these teams is spontaneous.
“Barbara Medina and I decided to create an all-women’s league team, so we found a place and recruited our players,” said Luckett. “Right now we have a full roster. We recruit and work off of handicaps.”
When there are too many high-rated players on a team, the team must split, and that’s when recruiting is done.
Or if you want to be recruited, a person may get lucky and a spot may open because of player’s personal reasons.
“I am constantly scouting, I’m always on the lookout,” said Luckett. “I worked at the Corner Pocket for three years, I know what to look for. That’s how Brandi got recruited for this team.”
?Even after playing pool for 13 years, Perrault still puts on her game face before every game.
“I still get nervous every time I play,” said Perrault. “I concentrate and try to tune everything out. You have to. No matter what your rating is, you can always get beat on a bad day. You have to give it your all. If the best person on the league hits one bad shot, you can lose the whole game.”
The nine-ball style that is played helps players work on their “English” because in nine-ball you have to shoot in order.
“It leaves less room for mistakes,” said Perrault. “English is using left or right on the ball so that it helps you get better control of the cue ball.”
Pool tournaments are held every day of the week. Tuesdays and Fridays are women’s eight-ball league days. Mondays and Thursdays is coed eight-ball and Wednesdays and Sundays is nine-ball coed. You can go to particular tournaments and play for money without being on a team.