BEST IN THE WEST

champs Eric Hatchett & Alexis Atkin

        In dramatic finishes to each stepladder final, Eric Hatchett and Alexis Atkin claimed JBT major titles at the 2012 Best In The West tournament at BRC Zone Mesa. 

        After nine rounds of 3-game eliminator brackets over two days, where bowlers earned points based on how long they survived instead of keeping score by pinfall, the top six point totals in each division advanced to the finals.  In round one of the scratch finals, Danny Varholdt blasted a 264 to advance.  Ben Canfield's 233 was also good enough to move on, while Cameron Smith (218) Riley Dempsey (186) bowed out in fifth and sixth.  In the semifinals, the top two seeds came in and showed why they earned those positions, with Lanndyn Carnate firing the tournament's high game of 278 and Eric Hatchett rolling 215 to advance over Varholdt (211) and Canfield (169).

        Eric and Lanndyn both tamed a very challenging Viper pattern by moving to the extreme outside, and both made it look easy to start the title match, with four and five baggers respectively.  However, the tide turned when Carnate missed a 7-pin in the late frames, and Eric never let him back in, winning the match 235-223 for the 7th title of his JBT career, and first career JBT 'Major' win.  We don't know why he held the plaque upside down.

        Kayla Goad (236) and Michelle Jenkins (225) advanced to the handicap division semifinal round with big games that eliminated Megan Carlson (177) and Alex Pellegrino (200), who was making his third straight finals.  The top two seeds then came in did their job as well, with Jared Boscarino (238) and top seed Alexis Atkin (230) advancing over Goad (189) and Michelle Jenkins (177).

        Atkin had maintained the lead she earned after Saturday's qualifying, but had her hands full with Boscarino, who is a big fan of this format, having been runner-up here in 2010.  Jared bowled a strong game, finishing at 234 and forcing Alexis to double in the tenth for the win.  Atkin was more than up for the daunting task, throwing the clutch strikes for a 238-234 win, her fourth JBT title, and first career Major.

        Thanks as always to the staff at Zone Mesa for a great job hosting our Tour.  Just shy of $3,000 was awarded to bowlers of all ages and averages.  Want in on the fun?  Check out our schedule and come on down to the next JBT event!