Sullivan/Bean & Honish/Updike Capture First Titles in Doubles

The PJBT held its final 21 & Under Doubles Event on Sunday, April 26th, 2015 at Hiester Lanes in Reading, PA.  This event, which virtually sells out every year, did not disappoint again this year.  The event saw 57 teams or 114 bowlers compete for scholarships and prizes.  27 Scratch Teams and 30 Handicap Teams.  The format was 5 games qualifying, top 40% of teams bowled 3 more games, and top 5 teams advanced to our baker format stepladder final.  The top 6 teams in each division cashed on this day.  The event was conducted on the USBC Blue #3 Pattern….which played as one of the hardest USBC Patterns to date.  Scores were lower and spares were so important!

We saw one theme of the 2014-2015 season continue.  All First-Time Winners!

In Scratch, Kasey Sullivan & Dylan Bean each captured their 1st PJBT titles.  Sullivan & Bean did it the hard way.  They came from the bottom of the ladder and won every match to win.  Sullivan & Bean were seeded 4th of the 5 teams entering the finals.  They trailed #3 seed Christian Francis/Brian Kennedy, #2 seed Conrad Chapple/Zachary Dragovits and #1 seed Layne Sandt/Bradley Crouse.  Sandt/Crouse had put on a dominant performance and led the scratch field for the entire day.  Entering the finals, Sandt/Crouse had a 130 pin lead on the field at +196 for 8 games.  In the finals, Sullivan/Bean defeated #5 seed Tyler Dautrich/Jack Celmer 257-221.  They then defeated #3 Francis/Kennedy 225-144.  In the semi-final, they defeated Chapple/Dragovits in a close match 217-211.  In the final, Sullivan/Bean stayed hot and completed the walk to the top….defeating Sandt/Crouse 235-203.  Their team won a $400 top scholarship prize and plaques.

In Handicap, The Keglers Pro Shop team of Joshua Honish & Brandon Updike captured their 1st PJBT titles.  Honish/Updike were near the top the leaderboard all day but made their big move in Game 8 of qualifying.  As the leaders of the handicap division were minus pins on this pattern….cuts were very low.  One big game and you could drop from bottom to top.  That is what Honish/Updike did.  In Game 8 of qualifying, they shot 413 scratch / 456 handicap.  This was the highest game bowled in Round 2 of all our 12 teams competing.  The game boosted them into the lead of the event heading into the baker stepladder.  In the title match, Honish/Updike took on #2 seed Sam Zwiebel & Joey Ocello.  This match was exciting and came down to the late frames.  In the end, Honish/Updike outlasted Zwiebel/Ocello 203-176 for the title.  Honish/Updike won the $400 top scholarship prize and awards.

In all, we gave out over $2,000 in scholarships to 24 bowlers on this day.

No honor scores were rolled…advancing our new 300 Pot to $124 for next week in Maryland.