Pickleball is currently one of the fastest growing sports in the nation, and has become enormously popular in retirement communities such as Sun City Mesquite and Sun River in St. George.

Invented more than 20 years ago, the game is a combination of tennis, ping pong, and badminton, played on a hard surface with a tennis net and wooden paddles.

Jim Eggenberger, an avid Pickleball player and regular participant in the sport who introduced the game to residents of Sun City Mesquite in 2009, has been tapped by Pati to be the organizer of the event for the Mesquite Senior Games.

"There will be men's and women's singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles," Eggenberger said.

There will be several divisions in the Senior Games event, including ages 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and higher age brackets depending on participation.

"There will be divisions of five-year age brackets so you will be competing with people of your age," Eggenberger added.

The venue for Pickleball in the 2010 Mesquite Senior Games will be the courts at Del Webb's Sun City Mesquite, where six courts have been set aside for the event, with the possibility of an additional four courts to be added if participation warrants.

The three-day event, which begins on April 5, will be part of the month-long lineup of sports to be played as part of the Mesquite Senior Games.

To sign up for the Pickleball event, or for more information on the sport, contact Jim Eggenberger at eggy1@bajabb.com or call (702) 613-4244.