SO CAL DOUBLES

champs James Hawkins & Riley Dempsey, and Shelby Dempsey & Marguerite Evans

        Two scratch division veterans piled on another title to their resumes, while two veteran ladies finally tasted victory with their first titles, in exciting action at the JBT So Cal Doubles Classic, hosted by Montclair's Bowlium.

        Riley Dempsey and a one-handed James Hawkins began a climb up the scratch division stepladder finals with a 181-170 win over Cortez Schenck and Derek Acuff in an alternate-frame match.  The next match was another grindout, and Riley and James snuck by Bobby Hornacek and Zack Jellsey 186-182.  They then turned it up with the high game of the finals in a 214-199 win over Eric Hatchett and Oscar Chan to advance to the title match.

        Top seeds and ASU standouts Russ Oviatt and Ben Canfield made a formidable team, taking over the lead back in game five.  However, the already challenging pattern deteriorated into sheer brutality by the end of the long day, forcing Russ to split boards and forcing everyone else to loft the gutters.  After Ben threw a clutch tenth frame double, Dempsey was forced to strike for the win.  Like he was all day, Riley came up clutch again, throwing an in-front-of-the-ball-return, sixth arrow strike for a 169-164 win.  It's the 16th win of his JBT career, while Hawkins earns an 11th title as an adult to go with his 10 junior JBT wins.

        Matthew Green and his mom Karen also made a run up the stepladder with a 213-178 handicap division win over the sister team of Amanda and Alexis Atkin.  The Greens then stopped the sibling team of Michaela and Lawrence Buhain 130-111.   They rolled on in the semifinals, beating Cameron Criss and Benjamin Byers 187-138 to advance to the title match.

        Top seeds Marguerite Evans and Shelby Dempsey have both come oh-so-close to JBT titles before, especially Evans as of late.  This match remained tight all the way, as all four bowlers came up with clutch shots late in the match.  After Shelby filled twenty in her tenth frame, it was up to Matthew to double for the title.  Green was able to get the first strike, but when a wobbly 10-pin stood up on his second shot, and elated Marguerite and Shelby finally, finally, FINALLY claimed their first JBT titles each.

        Huge thanks to all the adults that took time to bowl with today's JBT bowlers, as well as Scott and the team at Bowlium for another great job hosting our Tour!  If you missed all this fun, don't let that happen again!  Check out our schedule and get yourself to our next event!