SHAKE, RATTLE, & BOWL

champs Jakob Butturff & Kristen Lee

        Jakob Butturrff and Kristen Lee ended long journeys to finally capture their first career JBT titles each in exciting Arizona Conference action at Cliff Castle Casino's Shake, Rattle, and Bowl.

        The popular survivor format, combined with a demanding lane condition, created do-or-die matches throughout the center for a breathtaking few hours.  Eventually 24 survivors in scratch were cut down to eight, and in that round, Ryan Klumpers doubled to beat Aaron Foshie 177-171, Butturff cruised by Peter DiPasquale 186-146, New Mexico's Aaron Raymond upset Lanndyn Carnate 201-180, and Chelsea Zemelka, who has enjoyed a lot of success at Cliff Castle, eliminated previous day's champion Ben Canfield 191-178.

        In the final four, Klumpers stopped Zemelka 225-170, while Butturff edged Raymond 213-204 when Aaron failed to double in the tenth.  Ryan and Jakob were both JBT non-winners, but that's where the similarities end, as Ryan was bowling in only his 2nd JBT event, while Jakob has made nothing but top 5s since May when his incredible current run started.   Jakob had a comfortable lead in the final until a tenth frame washout gave Klumpers new hope, but when Ryan didn't strike on his first shot, a completely relieved Buttuff claimed a 204-197 win and finally tasted victory for the first time.

        The handicap division saw a wild survivor segment with plenty of less than 10, and even 1-pin decisions throughout the center.   In the round of 8, Andrew Dorsey secured back-to back top-5 finishes with a 215-202 win over Stan Bunce, Devin Callahan did the same with a 196-184 victory over Amanda Ely, Kristen Lee stopped the fine run of 8 year-old Jacob DiGiacomo 209-181, and 6 year-old (and former TPC champion) continued to amaze the spectators with a 235-174 win over Shauna Schultz.

        In the final four, Lee had a fairly easy time with Callahan 214-190, but meanwhile Dorsey and Lamb were clashing in one of the more memorable matches in recent JBT history.  Both were well over average, and about as physically contrasting as possible.  After Andrew's 19 fill in the tenth, Lamb's 6-2 count in her tenth (nearly making the big four) was enough for a 215-214 one pin win- only in bowling are such matchups possible, and Andrew is to be commended for handling the heartbreaking loss in a very sportsmanlike fashion- that's what we like to see!

        This created yet a another great storyline, as Kristen has come so close over the years to victory.  She again had to give a ton of pins (47 this time, after giving 70 to Jacob), and chipped away at that handicap differential with good spare shooting all game long.  Stacey was just an inch away from a bunch more marks on numerous occasions, and eventually this gave Lee (who had Stacey's younger sister Ashley on her lap between shots) the margin she needed for a 204-188 win and that long-awaited championship.

        Zemelka avenged her loss in the main tournament with a 184-166 win over Jory Koizumi to capture the day's Women's Series event, the first of three she'll need to qualify for the 2012 Girls All-Conference Championship.  

        Thanks as always to the staff at Cliff Castle (and Johnny Rocket's) for hosting this terrific weekend.  Almost $2,000 in scholarships were awarded on the day- if you're under 21 and want to get in on all this fun, just check out our schedule and come on down

my new Staff In Training