NM-TX Doubles

champs Steve Mackie, Paul Carper, Steven Roybal, & Marcus Medina

        A record-setting turnout produced many terrific headlines in exciting NM-TX Conference JBT doubles action, hosted by Tenpins & More @ Rio Rancho.

        Janeyl Carper and PWBA Hall of Famer  have teamed up to make many handicap finals in their ten years of bowling this event, and this time Carper's 276 individual effort vaulted them to a scratch finals.  However, Brandon Gill watched as his dad Gary struck out for 190 in the Baker-style finals, forcing Mackie to do the same.  She struck on the first ball, but when a good second shot left a 7-pin, the Gills had the thrilling and/or heartbreaking 190-189 win.  Match number two came down to the last shot as well, but this time the Gills fell victim to bad luck, as a solid-9 on Gary's second shot left them on the short end of a 218-11 decision to West Texas A&M bowlers TJ Gaudette and Kasey Headley.    In the semifinals, Tim Crites and JBT alumni Mikey More took over for a 243-191 decision, advancing them to the title match.

        Top seeds Paul Carper and Steven Mackie made for an interesting combo.  Carper has rejuvenated his JBT career this season, while Mackie, the owner of Tenpins, may start to think about rejuvenating his own bowling- before his current career, he enjoyed many years as a world-class bowler himself, and was having a blast en route to helping his team to the top seed.   The title match came down to the tenth frame, and after a short count on the fill ball from Crites, Carper sealed the deal with a strike, giving his team the 218-203 victory and the championship.

        Derrick and Dustin McCoy  opened up the stepladder finals with a 206-153 win over Sophie Diaz and Jeremy Medina.  Medina excited the crowd earlier with a perfect 300 game, joining fellow adult Dennis Brown with the only perfectos on the day.  The McCoys then squeaked by Dillon Farfan and Dan Gutierrez 187-181.  Brandy Silva and Amber Eddington then came up with a 227-203 win over the McCoys to advance to the championship game.

        Top seeds Steven Roybal and Jeremy's dad Marcus Medina earned the top seed for the finals, but had their hands full with Brandy and Amber, looking to become the second all-female duo to win a doubles title.  After Silva filled 20 pins in her tenth, Medina needed to double to win the match.  Marcus was up to the task, throwing two perfect hits for the win, and earning a $400 scholarship for Roybal, who more than did his part with all 7 games over his average.

        Thanks as always to Steve and his crew at Tenpins for a great hob hosting this popular event, which set a record turnout with 82 first-time teams, which helped generate over $3,500 in scholarship prizes.  Want in on this fun?  Come on out to the next JBT event, it's that simple!