SO CAL DOUBLES

champs Scott and Brandon Kraye, Taylor King, and Matt Herbert

     The father-and-son team of Brandon and Scott Kraye dominated their stepladder, while Taylor King and Matt Herbert both ended long victory droughts, with wins at the JBT So Cal Doubles Classic, hosted by Canoga Park Bowl.

     After sneaking into the #5 spot, the Krayes won four matches in the baker-style stepladder finals to become the first father-son team to win one of our scratch Doubles events.  They began with a 217-203 win over Devin Bidwell and JBT alumni Mason Sherman.  They then got by the junior duo of Cameron Smith and Justin Lou 202-164, and followed with a 230-159 win over Arizonans Greg Geering and Rebeca Reguero to reach the title match.

     Nobody who follows our Tour was surprised to see Kyle King and Kris George as the top seeds.  Both are having fine seasons this year, and combined they have over 40 JBT titles and over $40,000 in JBT scholarship earnings.  However, the Krayes are impressive bowlers themselves, and appeared to make a much better set of adjustments on the inevitably drying out lane conditions after a long day of play.  Each using plastic balls, they cruised to a 234-181 victory and their first JBT titles.

    The handicap division stepladder finals opened up with the junior-junior team of David Fritz and Brad Hansen edging the adult-junior entry of Alex Van Es and Mike Brown 160-155.  Fritz and Hansen then beat the team of Justin and John Villa 177-173, setting up an interesting match against Jeremy Davis and Brad's brother Dan.  In another squeaker, the result was again heartbreak for Brad but especially for Fritz, who has come so close to a win this year, as Jeremy and Dan won the game 188-181 to reach the title match.

   Davis was looking to help Dan Hansen win back-to-back titles, but top seeds Taylor King and Matt Herbert had other ideas.  The Arizona team had bowled great all day, and continued the fine work in the title match, stopping Hansen and Davis 212-179 for the win.  It was Taylor's 4th win and Matt's second, but it had been a loooong time for each, with Taylor's last win in 2005, and Matt's last title way back in 2004.

   A very large turnout helped boost the scholarships awarded to over $3,500 at this terrific event, made even better by the very hospitable hosting job of the whole crew at Canoga.  Want in on the fun?  Get thee to a JBT event in the near future, that's all there is to it!