SO CAL BAKER SHOOTOUT

champs Marco Flores, Israel Ramirez, Gael Egana, Jeff Rodda, and Zach Greim in front;

runners-up Russ Oviatt, Ben Canfield, Matt Zweig, Harley Sweigart, Jacob Murray in back

        In one of the best feel-good stories of the year, a team of So Cal kids no older than 15 dispatched a team mostly made up of the nationally ranked ASU bowling team, to capture the JBT So Cal Baker Shootout held at Montclair's Bowlium.

       After 12 games of Baker qualifying, 'Team Storm' (Marco Flores, Israel Ramirez, Gael Egana, Jeffrey Rodda, Zach Greim) qualified 5th for the best 2-of-3 matchplay rounds.  Consistently bowling against teams with much higher averages (and ages), they used the teamwork and chemistry that Baker bowling tests to advance all the way to the finals.  The odds were that their fantastic run would end there, as they played Jacob Murray, just sneaking in as the required under-170 bowler, 3/5 of the starters on the ASU college team (Matt Zweig, Russ Oviatt, Harley Sweigart), and ASU alum and PBA rookie Ben Canfield. 

      Team Storm did get 32 bonus pins per game (due to extra under-170 bowlers), but to the astonishment (and delight) of most of the crowd, they didn't need them in either game, as they beat the ASU team scratch 222-180, and 221-174, to sweep the title match and win the event.  In a situation that could have been ripe for cranky college kids, the runners-up were absolute gentleman in congratulating the jubilant winners- truly a win-win for youth bowling from every perspective.

        Huge thanks to the adults who took their Saturday night to bowl with today's youth, and to the team at Bowlium for letting us bowl on a Saturday night.  Want in on the most fun around?   Just check out our website and come on down!

So Cal Baker- final results and scholarship winners
11/29/2015      
       
rank bowlers prize total
1 Zach Greim $100 $500
  Jeff Rodda $100  
  Marco Flores $100  
  Gael Egana $100  
  Israel Ramirez $100  
       
2 Russ Oviatt $117 $250
  Ben Canfield    
  Harley Sweigart $67  
  Matt Zweig $67  
  Jacob Murray $67  
       
3 Jacey Opiana $42 $125
  Daniel Giegoldt    
  Brian Lee $42  
  Ashley Wilcox $42  
  Dave Kovach    
        
4 Tyler Handa $32 $125
  John Handa    
  Jozef Corwin $32  
  Tyler Matsumura $32  
  Brandon Matsumura $32  
       
5 Dallas Leong    
  Jakob Butturff    
  Eric Hatchett    
  Anthony Cando    
  Samm Cosby    
       
6 James McGough    
  James McGough    
  Aaron Soriano    
  Caleb Rothstein    
  Carlos Perez    
       
7 Zack Long    
  Kyle Reed    
  Kyle Gilbert    
  Dante Rohe    
  Tyler Hedges    
       
8 Sergio Torres    
  Cortez Schenck    
  Joe Grondin    
  Dustin Yauney    
  Mike Calderon    
       
9 Kylie Shishima    
  Nick Pollak    
  Brandon Wanders    
  Anthony Schanen    
  Austin Wasielewski    
       
10 Correen Lieber    
  Jacob Camacho    
  Cameron Smith    
  Marguerite Evans    
  Nick Devlin    
       
11 Dawson Reese    
  Brient Killings    
  Marc Villalobos    
  Ryan Galland    
  Justin Meagher    
       
12 Amanda Atkin    
  Kirk Chui    
  Derek Acuff    
  Steven cuff    
  Leah Zweig    
       
13 Dillon O'Neil    
  Zack Velosa    
  Haylee Carlos    
  Cory Spencer    
  Darren Simmons    
       
14 Bobby Hornacek    
  Jake Hansen    
  Shane Strickland    
  Zack Jellsey    
  Oscar Chan    
       
15 Shauna Schultz    
  Austin Thompson    
  Trevor Thompson    
  Zach Martinez    
  KJ Martinez    
       
16 Clint Strawmyer    
  Eric Phillips    
  Taylor Berry    
  Mike Adelson    
  Jenna Phillips