Perhaps the most obvious answer isn't the correct one? I would not be surprised if this has nothing to do with balls now.
If you put the poles vertically, you could easily hang a ringer or something on the end of the lexan. You could even mount it in a way that the lexan is tipped upward slightly to prevent it sliding. I think the game object will dangle from the tongue.
Can someone tell me what things can fit in or around that tongue easily? Handles for things, maybe? My suitcase I tredged through airports is the first thing that comes to mind, but probably not
Approximately how wide is the tongue?