BIG ROCK CASINO

champs Ryan Scheer & Joey Balistreri

            In the highest scoring event of the NM-TX Conference season, Ryan Scheer and Joey Balistreri outscored and outlasted them all, capturing JBT titles in exciting action at Big Rock Casino.

            Our survivor format features low-bowler-out matchplay after the cut to the top half, creating do-or-die situations all throughout the center.   In the handicap division, the survivors were whittled down to six, and in that round, Sophie Diaz eliminated Seth Jaramillo 251-211, Balistreri beat Ben Stedman 247-234, and Jacob Valdez edged Josh Helmick 241-221.  Helmick had a fine day, though, firing 299 during qualifying, one of four 290+ games on the day (Marcos Armijo, also bowling handicap, shot 295, William Entsminger fired 299, and the fourth one... I'll mention below).

            In the three-way semifinal that followed, Diaz (217) and Balistreri (224) advanced, while Valdez bowed out in third with 176.  In the title match, 12 year-old Joey showed no fear against Sophie, a former JBT champ at Big Rock.  In the end, he cruised to a 234-215 win and the first title of his JBT career.

            Scratch division semifinalists were also eventually carved down to the last six, and in those games Scheer ousted Entsminger 237-226, Nick Lee got by Tim Crites 264-222, and Matt Helmick and Danny Cobine played yet another thriller, with Helmick finally getting the better of him in a 193-192 squeaker. 

            In the three-way semifinal game, all three bowlers could have wound up in a tie, but Helmick's 236 edged Scheer's 234.  That left Lee, who could strike out to tie at 234, but a ringing 10-pin on the second shot relegated him to 224 and a third place finish.  That only added to Helmick's excitement for the day- his little brother's earlier 299 must have motivated him, as he fired a perfect 300 earlier in survivor, the first of his JBT career and the only one of the weekend.

            The title match was of course important to both bowlers, but it was Scheer with more on the line, as Jess Gagliardi had beaten him for a title the day before.  Helmick struggled with carry mid-game, and Ryan came through under that extra pressure with a 227-213 win and the fifth title of his JBT career, matching Jess' win and keeping the Go Wireless Bowler of the Year race absolutely intriguing with just two NM-TX events left.

        Thanks to everyone at Big Rock for hosting our Tour!  Want in on all the fun?  Check out our schedule and come on out to the next JBT event, it's really that simple!