CLIFF CASTLE

champs Kyle King & Andrew Dorsey

        In dramatic title matches, Kyle King and Andrew Dorsey claimed JBT titles to open up the 18th season of JBT Arizona Conference action at Cliff Castle Casino.

        Ben Canfield began the scratch division stepladder finals with a 207-194 win over Cortez Schenck, who won the U15 division of Junior Gold as part of an excellent summer.  Harley Sweigart then bowled the most interesting game of the tournament, a 12-strike 269!  He went foul-spare-sheet after the front four, dispatching Canfield, who bowed out with 214.  King then stopped Sweigart 246-198, to move on to the title match.

        Top seed Jakob Butturff started the new season right where he left off the record-shattering previous one, starting the day with a big 289 game, and gaining the top seed for the finals.  However, Kyle is still the all-time king of our Tour, and seems to relish his matchups with Jakob.  Both bowlers rose to the occasion with great shots, but both also made a crucial late mistake.  For King, it was a missed 10-pin late, that left Butturff with a chance to fill 19 in his tenth to win.  Jakob got the spare, but only got 8 on the fill ball, leaving everyone stunned, and the match tied at 225.  In the ensuing one-shot rolloff, both bowlers struck in round one, but King won on the second shot 10-9, earning the 63rd title of his unparalleled JBT career.

        Bella Flowers began the 8-person handicap stepladder with a 228 game that defeated Anthony Dang (222) and Alexis Atkin (158).  Flowers kept rolling in game two, as her 218 was enough to beat Steven Acuff (178) and Ashley Lamb (201).  6 year-old Ashley had earlier fired a 203 scratch game, so her day was still a huge success!  In the semifinals, Kendra Edgett fired 221 to stop Flowers (201) and Clay Hanson (178) to reach the title game.

        Top seed Andrew Dorsey rebounded from a winter-spring slump to bowl very well here and earn the number one spot.   The match remained close all game, but Edgett still had the opportunity to win in her tenth frame.  However, she left a 2-4-10 and could not convert it, giving Dorsey the 213-203 win and his first career JBT title.

        Alexis Atkin won her first JBT Women's Series event of the season with a one pin win over Gillian Coyle.  Three wins are needed to get into the 2014 Girls TPC next summer. 

        Thanks as always to the crew at Cliff Castle for hosting our events.  Over $1,900 was awarded to all ages and averages- want in on the fun?  Come on out to our next event, it's that simple!