Strike Zone at Sunset Station

champs Joe Lewandowski & Gabriella Weis

    Joe Lewandowski and Gabriella Weis each picked up JBT victories in exciting Mojave Conference action at Strike Zone in Henderson.

    Teddy Lucente opened up the scratch division stepladder finals with a 206-187 win over all-conference points leader Riley Dempsey.  Eric Hatchett, fresh off of lots of TV time at the T of C, then edged Lucente 221-213.  Lewandowski then turned the tables on Eric, winning by a 204-201 margin to advance to the title match.

     Top seed Zack Hattori took the lead away from Joe, who had dominated the day, with a big 748 semifinal set which included the front nine twice.  Lewandowski has also been admittedly shaky in some of the more pressure situations so far in his JBT career.  All that seemed to add up to a perfect situation for Zack, but that proved to not be the case this time, as it was Hattori who struggled, while Lewandowski made enough excellent shots on a tricky Boardwalk pattern that forced most bowlers to the edge of the lane that a late gutterball was inconsequential.  The 204-181 final score was good for the second title of Joe's JBT career, while Hattori was denied in his quest to join the elite 10+ titles club.

    Lindsey Ailport, who qualified for the finals by just one pin, opened up the handicap stepladder with a 203-167 win over first-time finalist Michael Liebenow.  Randi Speiler then edged Ailport in a thriller, 187-186.  Brooke Martinez left no doubt as to the semifinal winner, smashing a 242 scratch game in a 268-172 win over Speiler to reach the title match.

    Top seed Gabriella Weis was leading a JBT event for the first time, looking to join her big brother as JBT champs.  After a good start, both bowlers began to struggle in the later frames, and in the end Weis had enough left for a 204-181 win and the first title of her JBT career.

    Thanks as always to the crew at Strike Zone for hosting our Tour.  Over $1,400 in scholarships were awarded to bowlers of all averages.  Want in on the fun?  Come on out to the next JBT event, it's really that easy!