SO CAL BAKER TEAM EVENT

champs Miguel Garcia, Josh Tajiiri, DeeRonn Booker, Heather Morkes, and Kevin Jones

        They didn't have the resume on paper of some of the other teams, but they had the winning combo on the lanes, as 'Tajiri's Garage' captured the So Cal Baker Team title at Canoga Park Bowl.

        5-person teams rolled 12 qualifying games on the super-challenging WTBA Sydney pattern, where a 165 average turned out to be enough to make the cut to the top 12.  Teams then competed in best 2-of-3 matchplay, in one of our most competitive- and noisy- events of the year.

        Top seeds fared well after their one-round bye, with all four advancing to the semifinals.  The 'Dahdoul Textiles' team, surprisingly, was not one of them, as the four-time defending champions bowed out with the first cut.

        In the semifinal matches, Tajiri's team, the number 4 seed, came back from a first game loss to oust top seed 'Blue Balls Beezy' 2-1.  The other semi went three games as well, with #2 'Throwin' It Good' beat #3 'Red Hots' in a close finish.  This set up a title match where Kevin Jones had the lone previous title on his team, while their opponents had a combined 21, including quite a few in the last months.  With their backs against the wall after a first game loss, Tajiri's team caught fire, rolling 213 (a huge score for this day) to win game two, and then stringing the last six to win the deciding game 222-201 for the exciting win.

       Jimmy Hefley earned a $50 bonus for winning the '9 or better' side event, beating out an outstanding effort from Secilia Kalvelage in a protracted rolloff.

        Thanks to all the adults and alumni who bowled with today's JBT stars in one of our most fun events annually.  Want your share of the excitement?  Check out our schedule and come on out to the next event!