In a Pickle: The Port Orange Country Club Melee That Shocked the Senior Circuit

The morning of Sunday, February 8, 2026, began like any other at the Spruce Creek Country Club in Port Orange, Florida. The sun was out, the humidity was manageable, and the rhythmic “pop-pop” of plastic balls against paddles filled the air. But by 11:00 AM, the serene atmosphere of one of Volusia County’s premier gated communities had shattered into a scene of chaos, blood, and felony arrests. What started as a standard weekend match descended into what locals are now calling the “Pickleball Melee”—a violent confrontation involving upwards of 20 people that has left the local community reeling and the sports world questioning the hidden intensities of the nation’s fastest-growing hobby.

The Spark in the Kitchen

The conflict began on a single court during a doubles match between two married couples. According to Volusia County Sheriff’s Office affidavits, the tension started with a common technicality: a “kitchen” violation. In pickleball, the kitchen (officially the non-volley zone) is the seven-foot area on either side of the net where players are prohibited from hitting the ball out of the air.

Anthony Sapienza, 63, and his wife, Julianne, 51, were facing off against another couple when Anthony began vocally accusing his opponents of stepping into the kitchen during play. While rule disputes are common in recreational sports, witnesses say this one bypassed civil disagreement and headed straight for a collision course. Verbal insults were exchanged online, and the atmosphere grew increasingly toxic as the match concluded.

Watch WKMG Coverage HERE

As the players walked off the court to clear the way for the next group, the situation reached a breaking point. Witnesses reported that Anthony Sapienza directed a particularly vulgar, misogynistic slur at the wife of his opponent. When the woman’s husband turned to confront Sapienza about the insult, the “pickleball etiquette” manual was officially thrown out the window.

From Insults to Aggravated Battery

The verbal altercation rapidly turned physical. Police reports state that Anthony Sapienza approached his opponent and punched him squarely on the left side of the face. However, it wasn’t just a fistfight. In a move that escalated the encounter into the realm of felony assault, Sapienza allegedly used his pickleball paddle as a weapon, striking the man in the head.

The force of the blow caused “significant bleeding” and left a deep laceration above the victim’s left eye. As the victim’s wife rushed over to assist her bleeding husband, the affidavit claims Anthony Sapienza forcefully pushed her to the ground.

By this point, the commotion had drawn the attention of nearly two dozen people from the surrounding courts. Instead of calming the crowd, the crowd became a catalyst for a larger melee. As onlookers attempted to intervene, Julianne Sapienza allegedly joined the fray. Reports indicate that when a 70-year-old bystander tried to separate the fighting men, Anthony punched him in the nose, causing it to bleed profusely, while Julianne was accused of striking another participant.

A Scene of Chaos

When Volusia County deputies arrived at Spruce Creek, they found a scene more reminiscent of a barroom brawl than a country club Sunday. Approximately 20 people were involved in the shouting and shoving match that followed the initial assault. Emergency medical services and the fire department were called to the scene to treat multiple injuries.

The primary victim was transported to an area hospital, where he was treated for swelling and a laceration that authorities say may result in “permanent scarring.” The Sapienzas, however, were no longer on the scene when police arrived. Following the altercation, the couple reportedly fled the country club and returned to their home in nearby Ponce Inlet.

The Legal Aftermath

The escape was short-lived. Deputies tracked the couple to their residence later that afternoon. Anthony Sapienza was taken into custody and charged with two counts of battery on a person 65 or older and one count of aggravated battery causing bodily harm—a charge intensified by the use of the paddle as a “deadly weapon.” Julianne Sapienza was charged with one count of battery on a person 65 or older.

Both were booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail. Records show that Julianne was released on $5,000 bond, while Anthony was released after posting $4,500. They are scheduled for a court hearing on March 3, 2026.

A Community in Shock

The Port Orange melee has sparked a heated debate regarding the culture of pickleball. Once seen as a low-impact, social game for retirees, the sport has seen a massive surge in competitiveness that occasionally boils over.

“We come here for the exercise and the community,” said one club member who requested anonymity. “To see people in their 50s and 60s throwing punches over a line violation is heartbreaking and frankly embarrassing for the neighborhood.”

Legal experts suggest that the Sapienzas face significant peril. In Florida, battery on a person 65 or older is a third-degree felony, which can carry a sentence of up to five years in prison. The aggravated battery charge against Anthony could carry an even steeper penalty of up to 15 years.

As the legal process moves forward, the “kitchen” at Spruce Creek Country Club remains open, but the atmosphere is decidedly different. For now, the pop of the ball is accompanied by a new sense of caution, as a community learns that even the friendliest of sports can have a very sharp edge.

Sources and Links

• WFTV 9 News: Pickleball brawl: Florida couple arrested after game gets out of hand
• The Independent: Florida couple arrested after country club pickleball brawl involving 20 people
• The Guardian: In a pickle: couple charged with felony battery after pickleball brawl
• ClickOrlando (WKMG): Couple faces charges in Port Orange pickleball brawl
• The Dink Pickleball: Kitchen Violation Sparks Violent Pickleball Brawl in Florida
• 93Q Country News: Florida Couple Charged After Violent Pickleball Court Altercation