Share and Follow
A Florida couple has found themselves in quite a predicament after their pickleball match at a country club descended into chaos.
Anthony and Julianne Sapienza are now facing charges of battery following what has been described as a “heated” pickleball game at the Spruce Creek Country Club in Port Orange. The altercation allegedly escalated into a physical confrontation involving “over 20 individuals,” according to an arrest affidavit sourced by Oxygen. Both Anthony and Julianne Sapienza have entered pleas of not guilty to the charges.
Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene at approximately 11:10 a.m. on February 8 after a witness called 911 to report a “physical fight in progress.”
A couple present during the incident informed deputies that they had been playing against the Sapienzas when Anthony accused the male player of stepping into the “kitchen.” This term refers to a designated area extending seven feet from the net to the sidelines, which is meant to prevent players from making downward smashes, as noted in the affidavit.
The argument quickly escalated from verbal insults to physical confrontation. As the match concluded and the opposing couple began to leave the court, Anthony allegedly shouted a derogatory remark, calling the other man’s wife a vulgar term.
The male opponent tried to defend his wife, telling Anthony “not to speak about her that way,” but Anthony allegedly “lunged” at him. Anthony then allegedly punched him in the left side of the face and struck him with a pickleball paddle, causing “significant bleeding,” according to the arrest records.
When the victim’s wife tried to run to his aid, a 70-year-old male witness reported seeing Anthony “forcefully” push the woman to the ground.
That witness then tried to intervene, attempting to pull Anthony away, but he told authorities that Anthony punched him in the face, “causing his nose to bleed profusely,” and knocked him to the ground. That’s when the man said Julianne came running onto the court “yelled in his face and punched him” too.
When authorities arrived, according to the arrest affidavit, the man had blood coming from his nose and scratches on his forehead.
By that time, Anthony and Julianne had already left the scene, but the couple was located at their Ponce Inlet home.
Julianne was arrested for felony battery on a person 65 years of age or older, while her husband was arrested for two counts of battery on a person 65 years of age or older and one count of aggravated battery causing bodily harm.
According to a spokesperson for the Office of State Attorney R.J. Larizza, Florida’s Seventh Judicial Circuit, the couple’s first court appearance was on Feb. 9. They have each entered not guilty pleas to the charges against them, per court records.
Oxygen’s attempts to reach their attorneys for additional comment on the allegations were not immediately returned.