With a simple flick of his right wrist, Don Davis makes it look easy.

But horseshoe pitching isn’t as simple as it appears.

Such repetition – about 200 horseshoe tosses a day at his home practice court – keeps an efficient Davis loose and ready for all challengers. Such devotion to his careful, rhythmic delivery is necessary

to allow the 47-year-old fleet mechanic from Auburn to stay fit and focused at what’s at stake.

In this sport, the stake happens to be a challenging target, 40 feet away and about a foot above the ground in a clay pit.

“I love the game and I like the competition,” Davis said between tosses at his home that sits on one acre and in the shadows of evergreen trees. “I enjoy the sport, but I really enjoy the people you’re with.”

Passionate about the sport, Davis has emerged in such a short period of time to be considered one of the best throwers around the region – a venerable Cy Young who throws dead-soft steel ’shoes, not tightly seamed baseballs.

“To be the best, I play against the best pitchers,” said the affable Davis, the reigning Washington State Horseshoe Pitching Association men’s championship class winner and two-time state Horseshoe Pitcher of the Year. “What’s gratifying is pitching well.

“It’s a focus sport. It’s just you and the stake,” he added. “You’re pitching against yourself. …

I don’t worry about you. I throw my ’shoe, my game.”

Such an approach usually brings out the best in Davis, who patterns his game after the influential person who introduced him to the sport many years ago. Davis’ great uncle, the late Ed Fishel, was a two-time state champion and a legendary personality in the close-knit, specialized sport.

Davis employs a similar grip, release and methodical delivery, a high toss of the same ’shoe his classy uncle threw to prominence in the late 1950s and early ’60s – a 2.8-pound Ted Allen steel special. The ’shoe rotates for one turn and a quarter before landing open-face first when it impacts the stake.

With a careful stride and slow-moving windup, it is a fluid style and one Davis consistently has taken to high scores. Davis is in the top 100 nationally for the men’s 40-foot class by percentage of stakes hit. For every 100 pitches, Davis places an average of 60 ’shoes around the stake for “ringers.”

Davis’ best day at the pit was when he hit 22 of 24 ringers in a game against Ron McLaughlin at a state competition.

Elite pitchers regularly throw 60 percent or better.

“I hope to be in the high-70s, but I don’t know how realistic it is,” said Davis, a husband and father of two who enjoys the travel and camaraderie associated with the family sport. “I know I’m struggling to find it, but hopefully I think it will come.”

In time, Davis hopes his natural ability is good enough to match his uncle with his second state title. Until then, there is much more to learn from the competition, especially when many of his friendly rivals happen to be significantly older and more knowledgeable than him.

Davis didn’t begin to compete regularly until three years ago. He has been active ever since, assuming the role as president of the WSHPA. He played in 37 sanctioned tournaments and won close to 20 events in difficult fields this past year, more than anyone in the state.

He also has participated on the world stage three times, finishing a career-best 24th at the 2007 tournament in Ardmore, Okla.

Horseshoes is a sanctioned sport that offers little money, but much in terms of sportsmanship, friendships and prestige.

“You’re not going to meet any nicer people,” said Rhonda Davis, Don’s wife and biggest supporter who also volunteers as a scorekeeper at tournaments.

As Davis adds: “The horseshoe pitcher isn’t the guy who cuts you off to get to the next exit.”

Horseshoe pitching isn’t the only game for the Davis clan that includes son Doug, 18, and daughter Jenni, 15. They enjoy riding quads, motorcycles and snowmobiles, golfing and attending Seahawk games.

The family also enjoys the outdoors. They often take their camper to regional tournaments.

Always bantering with other players and comfortable wearing his durable pitching gloves, Davis welcomes the chance to play and learn from the best. He also welcomes others to pitch a ’shoe.

“If you have the itch to pitch … come give it a try,” Davis said.

“It’s the best sportsmanship game going,” he added. “I never had so much fun beating someone or losing to someone.

“It’s about etiquette, for the most part. It’s a gentleman’s game because there is no judge.

“The gratification is pitching well against the best.”

To learn more, please visit www.wshpa.com