Chesterfield father-son duo head to Virginia State Pinball Championship
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- A Chesterfield County father and son will compete against top pinball players at the Virginia State Pinball Championship in Vienna this weekend. "We're going to go up to Northern Virginia, play against 22 other folks and try to take home the title," said father Dale Schiltz, grinning. Thirty-eight-year-old Dale Schiltz and his son, 13-year-old Stoller Schiltz, share a passion for the classic arcade game. Dale picked up pinball again two years ago and Stoller quickly followed in his footsteps. “He started playing one year ago and he's already ranked higher than me,” Dale said. Stoller, an 8th grader at Robious Middle School, is making a name for himself in the pinball world. He's currently ranked 40th in the world for under-18 players – a remarkable achievement considering how long he's been playing. "They call me 'Steamroller' because it sounds like Stoller -- and then someone else calls me 'Stoller Express,' sometimes," Stoller said. Their dedication to the sport has paid off. After competing in over 30 tournaments throughout 2024, both father and son have qualified for the state championship, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18. Stoller is seeded 21st, while his father is seeded 24th. "I couldn't be prouder," Dale said. "I was all resigned to the fact that I was going to drive 2 hours to the finals to watch him play and not be in it. So to get the last spot in was just icing on the cake." The Richmond Pinball Collective on Midlothian Turnpike has become the home base for this dynamic duo. "We get to get up here and play all the time," Dale said. "They do tournaments. They do a league every other Monday. So a lot of people get together and play ... some of us play competitively, others just play for fun and socialization, and we all have a great time. Pinball is a game of skill, strategy and a bit of luck -- navigating the flippers, aiming for ramps, and hoping the ball doesn't drain. But, for the Schiltzes, it's about more than just the game: it's about creating lasting memories. Dale recently started a pinball club at Robious Middle School, hoping to inspire other students to join the competitive circuit. The duo has no plans on slowing down anytime soon. They're already gearing up for another big tournament in Girard, Ohio, in April. “We're just going to keep going,” Dale said.
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- A Chesterfield County father and son will compete against top pinball players at the Virginia State Pinball Championship in Vienna this weekend.
"We're going to go up to Northern Virginia, play against 22 other folks and try to take home the title," said father Dale Schiltz, grinning.
Thirty-eight-year-old Dale Schiltz and his son, 13-year-old Stoller Schiltz, share a passion for the classic arcade game. Dale picked up pinball again two years ago and Stoller quickly followed in his footsteps.
“He started playing one year ago and he's already ranked higher than me,” Dale said.
Stoller, an 8th grader at Robious Middle School, is making a name for himself in the pinball world. He's currently ranked 40th in the world for under-18 players – a remarkable achievement considering how long he's been playing.
"They call me 'Steamroller' because it sounds like Stoller -- and then someone else calls me 'Stoller Express,' sometimes," Stoller said.
Their dedication to the sport has paid off. After competing in over 30 tournaments throughout 2024, both father and son have qualified for the state championship, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18.
Stoller is seeded 21st, while his father is seeded 24th.
"I couldn't be prouder," Dale said. "I was all resigned to the fact that I was going to drive 2 hours to the finals to watch him play and not be in it. So to get the last spot in was just icing on the cake."
The Richmond Pinball Collective on Midlothian Turnpike has become the home base for this dynamic duo.
"We get to get up here and play all the time," Dale said. "They do tournaments. They do a league every other Monday. So a lot of people get together and play ... some of us play competitively, others just play for fun and socialization, and we all have a great time.
Pinball is a game of skill, strategy and a bit of luck -- navigating the flippers, aiming for ramps, and hoping the ball doesn't drain. But, for the Schiltzes, it's about more than just the game: it's about creating lasting memories.
Dale recently started a pinball club at Robious Middle School, hoping to inspire other students to join the competitive circuit.
The duo has no plans on slowing down anytime soon. They're already gearing up for another big tournament in Girard, Ohio, in April.
“We're just going to keep going,” Dale said.
