SHAKE, RATTLE, & BOWL

champs BJ Baker & Mike Kenny

BJ Baker opened the 07-08 Arizona season the way he opened the 07-08 So Cal season- with a win, while Mike Kenny tasted victory for the first time, in exciting JBT action at Cliff Castle Casino.

The scratch division finals opened with 2 time NM-TX Bowler of the Year Andy Byer defeating 6-time JBT champ Kyle King 217-190.  Byer followed with another 217, and it was good enough again, this time beating 11-time winner Theo Douthit 217-204.  Andy then amped it up, defeating Cameron Smith 228-199 to advance to the title match.

Andy has had a knack his whole career of climbing the ladder, but he faced a tough challenge in top seed Baker, who is determined to make what may be his last JBT season his best.  That's saying something given the career BJ has already had, but he showed skills that could very well make that true all day, finishing witha 237-207 win over Byer for the title.  The win was his 23rd passing Andrew Cain for second all-time on the JBT career titles list.

Jake Huff opened the handicap division of the stepladder finals with a 243-171 win over Kyle Klein.  Huff was in control in match two, but a tenth frame open stunned Huff and gave Mike Kenny a 216-211 win.  Kenny capitalized on that break with a 228-193 win over Rebeca Reguero to reach the title match.

Top seed Jon Pletcher was enjoying his best-ever JBT event, but ran into a determined customer in Kenny, who had been denied in two previous title matches.  Mike rolled his high game of the day in cruising to a 247-208 win over Pletcher, finally capturing his first career JBT title.

Big thanks to Phil Oates and everyone else at Cliff Castle for a great job hosting our Tour for what is always one of our most fun weekends of the year.   Wanna get in on the fun?  Come on down to the next JBT event, it's as simple as that!