Jack Celmer Wins Epic Match to Become 3rd All-Time Winner in PJBT History while Mitchell-Epperson Earns his 1st at Strike Zone

The PJBT continued its 19th Season with a trip to Strike Zone Alleys in Pottsville PA.  This trip to Strike Zone was our first ever event when it was not New Year’s Eve Day!  In the past, we made our only trip to Pottsville before the big night and turning of the calendar.  This year was the first year we were able to add an additional event at Strike Zone.

This event saw 48 competitors take to the lanes on the Bourbon Street Kegel Recreational Pattern.  We had 23 in Scratch and 25 in Handicap.  Format was our normal singles format with 5 games qualifying, top 40% bowling 3 games of match play….and our top 5 remaining compete in a stepladder final.

Jack Celmer of Wernersville PA won his 2nd title of the year….but most importantly his 19th career PJBT title.  His win put him now 3rd all-time by himself in PJBT History.  He now only trails his older brother Travis Celmer (24) and Kevin Beers (20).  The win came about in an amazing and epic title match that came down to the final shot.  He began qualifying bowling a solid block of 1032 or +32 for 5.  He was seeded 5th out of 10 bowlers making match play.  Despite being in 5th, he only trailed the leader by 48 pins…..10th place first cut was -20 for 5.  Celmer turned it on in match play.  He went 3-0 with games of 286, 258, and 232.  These wins propelled Celmer into the lead entering the stepladder final.  In the epic title match, Celmer took on #2 Sam Bortnick.  This match was extremely close throughout.  It came down to the 10th frame.  Celmer finished first and shot 224.  Bortnick needed to spare/strike to win.  Spare/9 was a tie and anything less than 9 on the fill ball was a loss.  Bortnick left a single pin spare and converted it.  So it was down to the fill shot.  Strike to win/9 to force a tie/8 or less to lose.  Bortnick threw a decent shot but it came in a bit high in the pocket and he left a 6-7 split….8 count.  Celmer won the match by 1 pin 224-223!  Celmer’s win earned him a $200 scholarship and plaque for his 19th Career Win.

In Handicap, first-time bowler Tyler Mitchell-Epperson got his first ever PJBT title.  Mitchell-Epperson entered the event with a 144 average and 50 pins handicap.  He shot qualifying scratch games of 139, 154, 202, 208, and 165.  He stood at +118 and was seeded 2nd entering match play.  He only trailed tournament leader Corey Rinda by 22 pins.  1st cut for 10th place was -13.  In Match Play, Mitchell-Epperson went 2-1 with games of 183, 163, and 192.  This record kept Tyler in 2nd place entering the finals.  At this point, he only trailed tournament leader Parker Laubach.  Mitchell-Epperson entered the finals in Game 3 where he took on #5 seed Desiree Dent.  He won this match convincingly 209-146.  That advanced Tyler to the title match vs Parker Laubach.  This match for the win was close, but in the end, Tyler Mitchell-Epperson outlasted Parker Laubach 163-143 to take home the title.  Tyler won a $200 scholarship and plaque for his win.

No honor scores on this day were bowled….we have an $81 carry over to next week.

Next weekend:  PJBT has two events.  Saturday is our first ever PJBT Women’s Only Tournament at ABC West Lanes in Mechanisburg, PA – 2:30pm start.  On Sunday, we will conduct our first adult-junior event of the season at Chacko’s Family Bowl at 10:30am.  Hope to see everyone at one or both events!!