MIRA MESA BOWL

champs Ronnie Fujita (with the 'rally cuff') and Glenn Alan Teal

        Ronnie Fujita summoned the 'rally cuff', while Glenn Alan Teal had to rally back from injuries, and both ended up winners in exciting JBT Southern California Conference action at San Diego's Mira Mesa Bowl.   

        In our March Madness format, the top 16 bowlers in each division after five games advanced to matchplay, starting of course with the 'sweet sixteen' round.  The highest ranked players on a season-long basis, not on the day's totals, received the highest seed, meaning the 'all-stars' weren't scheduled to meet up until the end.  As often happens, though, the other bowlers had a lot to say about that, as none of the #1 seeds reached the final four.  Instead, three #2 seeds joined #3 DeeRonn Booker in the last four.  In those semifinal games, Fujita beat 'dirty' Dan Hansen 197-181, while Booker was truly dealt the dirty break, leaving a brutal solid-8 to lose to Manier 170-169, advancing Steven to the title match.

       Fujita is having a great JBT season despite the tough travel from Northern California to bowl our events, while Steven has long been one of our best 'under the radar' bowlers, with a ton of talent but not a ton of titles.  When in doubt, Fujita goes to the 'rally cuff' (pictured above), and it didn't let him down this time, as he rolled to a 204-183 win, good for the second title of his JBT career.

        #1 overall handicap seed Alexis Atkin avoided the top seed jinx by winning two games to reach the final four, but there she fell to #4 Kylie Shishima in a grindout 174-165, sending Kylie, the almost-birthday girl, to the final game.  In the other semifinal, two #4 seeds faced off, and the result was a big 234-178 win for Glenn alan Teal over Jenny Phandanouvong, advancing Glenn to the title match.

        Teal had banged up his chin and ankle in accidents earlier in the day, but once he recovered he seemed to be better than ever, and the 9 year-old remained unstoppable in the title match, making a bunch of spares to cruise to a 218-183 win and the first title of his JBT career.

    Savannah Carr defeated top seed Megan Carlson 188-169 to win the day's Impact Bowling JBT Women's Series event, the second of three wins Carr needs to qualify for the Girls TPC this July!

    Thanks as always to the crew at Mira Mesa for hosting our events.  Over $1,600 in scholarships were earned by bowlers of all ages and averages- want in on the fun?  Come on down to the next JBT event, it's that simple!