Barna/Runk & Strauss/Blair Capture 1st Doubles Titles of the Year

The PJBT continued its 17th Season with our first 21 & Under Doubles Event of the Season.  Our doubles events are always a popular tournament, being our events are open to bowlers age 21 and under.  Any two bowlers can team up to make a doubles team.  This year’s event was no exception to past years.  A sellout event was 64 teams or 128 bowlers.  This year, same as last year, saw 63 teams….or 126 bowlers….take to the lanes in the doubles event.  We had 33 teams (66 bowlers) in Scratch and 30 teams (60 bowlers) in Handicap.  The format was for all bowlers to bowl 5 games.  After 5 games, the top 12 teams in each division advanced to Round 2.  Round 2 was 3 additional games of qualifying with the scores carrying forward.  After 8 games, the top 5 teams advanced to our baker format stepladder final.

In Scratch, Amanda Barna & Brandon Runk brought home the title.  Amanda made PJBT history becoming the youngest female bowler to win a Scratch Event in our history.  Barna/Runk  started out slow shooting team games of 358 and 365.  However, Game 3 they turned it on and never looked back.  They shot team games of 442, 448, and 469 to finish out qualifying.  In Round 2, they shot 503, 464, and 427 to propel themselves into 2nd place entering the baker format stepladder final.  In the semi-final stepladder match, Barna/Runk took on 5th seed Alex Bortz & Austin Kerper.  Bortz & Kerper had won their 2 previous matches in the final.  They defeated #4 seed Tristan Leyen/Brian Kennedy 212-204 and #3 seed Connor Kolessides/Jarrett DeFalco 223-212.  This match was shot for shot until the end when Barna/Runk pulled away and took the victory over Bortz/Kerper 192-169.  This advanced Barna/Runk into the title match vs tournament leaders Kurtis Stidd & Thomas Mattaini.  This match was another exciting one until the end but Barna/Runk outlasted Stidd/Mattaini 217-196 to take the title.  Barna/Runk each received a $250 top prize scholarship and awards for the doubles title.

In Handicap, Kieona Strauss & Tommy Blair brought home their 1st PJBT titles.  Strauss & Blair put on a dominant performance on this day.  They captured the lead early and never looked back.  Strauss & Blair had a 327 average and received 65 handicap pins per game.  They shot scratch games in qualifying of 329, 360, 395, 368, and 346.  These games put them in the lead heading into Round 2.  In Round 2, they shot games of 325, 349, and 391 scratch to have a 170 pin lead on the field at +173 (3373) for 8 games.  In the final match, Strauss/Blair took on 2nd seed Casey Schaffer/Kellie Frain.  Strauss/Blair got off to good start and never looked back.  They defeated Schaffer/Frain in the title match 204-163 to take the title.  Strauss & Blair each won a $250 top scholarship prize and awards from Crown Trophy.

There were no honor scores bowled on this day so we saw the 300 Pot reach the $300+ plateau and carry over to next week.