In what is proving to be a very interesting start to the 2006-07 Alro Steel / MJMA season, the rookies showed their prowess on the conditions at Eastland Bowl in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A total of eight (8) bowlers bowled in their first or second match play ever. Of those eight, two advanced on to the step ladder finals with one, Chris Creeks (Zelienople, PA), winning the boy’s side of the tournament.

Creeks was the tournament leader on the guys’ side after the twenty (20) games of qualifying and match play but had to sit and wait while the other four qualifiers faced each other for the chance to bowl Creeks for the title. In those step ladder matches, it was Andy Toole (Lawton, MI) stealing the show as he moved from fifth place to the championship game by running the ladder and winning the first three games. Toole, who was bowling in his first stepladder final in his 4 year MJMA stint, put on an exhibition as he averaged 217 in the step ladders and worked his Mom’s nerves to a frazzle as he moved up the board.

Toole first met newcomer Josh Powers (Portage, MI) who had finished 4th in his first event this year. In a very tight match and thanks to an inopportune split in the tenth frame by Powers, Toole pulled out a 215-199 win to advance to the next match. Junior Team USA member Tim Pfeifer (Cranberry Twp., PA) was next to face Toole and in another close match it was another tenth frame split by Pfeifer that allowed Toole to advance to the semi-final match with a 195-187 win. The semi-final match was the highest scoring match of the day as Toole and Jesse Hojnacki (port Huron, MI) combined for a 499 total with Toole wining the match 265-234. In the finals, Toole finally met his match as he had a couple of early opens and Creeks added a very well placed four bagger to take the match and the title 214-192.

The girl’s side was just as exciting as four title holders faced off in the step ladder finals. Christine Bator (Warren, MI) led the field after the 14 game qualifying with Jennifer Churchill (Windsor, Ont.) in second, Bethan McGeary (New Kensington, PA) in third and Sara Litteral (Chesterfield, MI) in fourth. In the first match it was McGeary making a few more spares than Litteral as she went on to win 176-157 to advance to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, it all came down to the tenth frame as McGeary needed a strike on the first ball to lock up the match but a spare, follow by a count tied the match at 173-173. In the one-ball roll off format it was McGeary throwing a strike with Churchill getting seven to allow McGeary to move on to the finals against Bator. In the finals match Bator was bowling well and needed a mark in the tenth to win her 6th title but a chopped 2-4-5-7 spare gave the win to McGeary 192-182.
A total of $3,300.00 was handed out in scholarships in this event thanks to the large turnout of 104 bowlers along with the generosity of those who participated in the bowling ball and 50-50 raffles. This allowed us to pay everyone who made match play a minimum of $50.00 per bowler for this event. Congratulations to all of our scholarship winners along with the Junior Gold qualifiers from this event, Andy Toole and Jennifer Churchill.

Our next event will be on November 18th and 19th at Airport Lanes in Jackson, Michigan. Last year the shot changes to a very different pattern than what our bowlers were used to having. In a change from the “Great Western Shoot-out” to a very challenging pattern the scores were challenged and the competition was very tight. We are anticipating more of the same this year. We also look forward to another large group of bowlers for this event as we have been averaging over 100 entrants per event this season.

Also, our cookie dough fundraiser will be wrapping up as orders are due in at the event. We are hoping for another successful year as we did last season with over 1200 tubs of cookie dough being ordered and delivered at the December event in Sterling Heights at Sunnybrook Lanes. If you would like more information on this fund raiser pleas contact Jerry Tarabek at 616-780-2095.