So Cal Baker Shootout

champs Jimmy Hefley, Kyle King, Ken McElvaney, Matt Jones, & Darcie Staggs

        The team of Dahdoul Textiles wrapped themselves in the warm blanket of JBT victory, with a win at the So Cal JBT Baker Shootout at Canoga Park Bowl.

        The Baker format uses five players combining to form one game, which is by far the most team-oriented method of bowling, is great preparation for the college environment which uses Baker extensively, and creates a fun (and loud!) atmosphere all day long. 

        After 12 Baker games, the field was cut to the top 12 teams, with the top 4 teams enjoying a one-round bye.  Only one first round match went the 3-game distance, with #5 "Kaitlin's Team" escaping 2-1 over #12 "One Good Bowler".  In the round of 8, Kaitlin's Team found themselves in a battle again, and put #1 Dahdoul Textiles on the ropes, as Dahdoul anchor Hefley opened in the 10th frame of game 3.  However, opposing anchor Micah Kamiyama couldn't come up with the shutout mark, and thus Dahdoul survived.

        Also in the round of 8, #10 "Gary Carry" eliminated #3 "Chicken & Waffles" (these are their name, folks) 2-0, #2 JAT swept #11 "Big Red Monster" 2-0, and #9 "For The Colonel", a team with two handicap division JBT regulars, played a great team match to sweep #9 Scott's Pro Shop 2-0.      

        In the semifinals, Dahdool defeated For The Colonel 2-0, while JAT poured it on with 483 for two in sweeping Gary Carry.  This set up a title match with a ridiculous amount of talent.  The ten bowlers combine to have 59 JBT titles between them, and plenty more JAT titles as well, which JAT director David Yamauchi, a key part of his Baker Team, has personally awarded!  Appropriately enough, the teams split the first two games, setting up a deciding third for all the marbles.   In that game, Dahdoul's mid-game string helped them pull away, and the 245-208 decision earned them the victory.  It was Darcie Staggs' second JBT title (both coming in Baker), Ken McElvaney and Jimmy Hefley's third, Matt Jones' sixth, and Kyle King's 34th, second-most all-time.

        Dahdoul Textiles, in case you're wondering, is a full-service wholesale retailer of all linens, specializing in high quality bathroom and bedroom products.  Check them out online, or visit their corporate headquarters and showroom in central Los Angeles, you'll be glad you did.

        Thanks as always to the crew at Canoga for a great job hosting our event.  Over $1,400 in scholarships were awarded- want in on the fun?  Come on out to the next JBT event, it's that simple!