STRIKE ZONE at Sunset Station

champs Brandon Rother & Charlie Katz

              Brandon Rother and Charlie Katz remained on a roll, capturing JBT titles at the Mojave Conference regular season finale at Sunset Station’s Strike Zone.

               Rother began a climb up the scratch division stepladder final with a 234-208 win over Jon Abigania.  Brandon then kept up the strikes on a tough pattern with a 231-190 win over Gage Baker.  Top seed Ezekiel Trejo had been absolutely brilliant all day, getting off to a hot start on the tricky short pattern and leading after every round.  However, he got off to a slow start in the title match, and ran out of frames to recover.  Rother remained solid and claimed his second title in a row and 21^st overall career JBT title with a 215-168 win over Zeke.

               Charlie Katz was meanwhile pulling off a parallel ladder climb, beginning with a round one 197-192 handicap win over James Olsen.  Katz then snuck past Gia Ullio 217-204 to advance to the final.  Rookie Kaimi Nations-Manibog was also impressive all day, but like Trejo struggled in the title match.  Katz, conversely, stayed solid for a 213-180 win and the title.  It’s her second, with the previous one also coming at Strike Zone, in last season’s TPC.

               Trejo did get a win on the day, defeating Baker in an earlier match to win the day’s U17 event.  Katelyn Abigania made the most of another guest appearance, beating Jessica Read to win Girls Scratch.  Huge thanks as always to Jerry and the team at Strike Zone for their impeccable hosting job.  Top season long performers now move on to the Mojave Invitational, with $1,000 top scholarship prizes up for grabs!

Date: Saturday May 30, 2026  (This is ONE tournament that is one day long, open to anyone age 21 & under as of 8/1/25). 

Start Time: Bowling begins at 10 AM.  Check-in no later than 30 minutes before squad time.  Check-in is usually open 90 minutes to 2 hours before start time.

Re-entries?:  There's only one qualifying squad, so there are no re-entries this event..

Reservations:  Please email director@bowljbt.com to reserve a spot.  In your email, please give us your name, which event(s) you are signing up for, and which division you are planning to bowl (scratch or handicap; you can change this later).    You can prepay (not required) at the 'Prepaying' section of this website.  Reservations (paid or unpaid) must check in no later than 15 minutes before start time.  At that time, all bowlers will be taken on a first come, first serve basis until the field is full.

Format: Qualifying round is 5 games.  40% of each division advance to a three game semifinals, with the top 4 then bowling a stepladder finals.

Divisions/ Averages:  Scratch or handicap.  It is the bowlers' choice of division.  Also, everyone age 16 or under as of 8/1/25 is automatically entered in the U-17 side event.   Also, every female is automatically entered in the Girls Scratch side event.   If this is your first JBT event (and choose to bowl handicap), we will be asking for average info.  In most cases, your highest average from any current form of organized competition of at least 15 games is what we need.  If you bowl in multiple leagues / clubs, bring everything and we'll sort it out for you.  If you don't have 15+ games in any organized competition this season, we need your finishing 24-25 average(s), and any 2025 summer averages.  After your first JBT event, your average is re-rated before every JBT event according to JBT rules.  Please see JBT Rule 13 for complete details.

Points:  This event counts for Mojave and All-Conference points.  Points qualify you for the big money season-ending Invitationals and Touring Players Championship, so get all you can.  Visit the 'statistics' section of the website to check on your points.  At the end of the season, the top 40 in Mojave points, plus anyone who had TWO top-5 finishes in Mojave events this season, advance to their respective Invitationals.

Entry fee: $60, $62 if paid on-site by credit card.  Scholarship brackets are available for $2 each.  Raffle tickets for bowling balls from the brands of Brunswick, and our PowerBowl and 'perfect 30' jackpots, are available on-site. 

Sponsor Incentive bonuses:  1) IAM Bowling: Bowlers making the final match of an event (scratch or handicap) wearing an IAM patch (good), any IAM shirt (better), or an IAM JBT shirt (best) earn point bonuses towards an IAM incentive jackpot.  (The IAM patch is requested to be worn by all bowlers).   2) Virtue Bowling: Bowlers making the final match of an event (scratch or handicap, win or lose), using a Virtue Bowling shirt or patch, and a Virtue drilled ball, earn a $25 Virtue gift card.  (These sponsorships are pending final renewal for the new season.)

Scholarships: 1:6 in each division earn scholarships, scratch and handicap.  Minimum prizes are $300, $150, $100, $60.  Bowlers must finish in the top 5 twice this season in that conference to qualify for that conference's Invitational, which features $1,000 for first place.  Bowlers who finish in the top 20 in a conference's points race, or the top 120 in all-conference points, qualify for the Touring Players Championship, featuring $3,000 for first.

Lane conditions: conditions vary from event to event, and are not posted prior to the event (unless otherwise announced).  Some events do not post the pattern until after qualifying, or even at all.  Be ready for anything- it makes you a better bowler!  Check out previous patterns and corresponding cut scores at the 'lane conditions' section of this website to get a good idea of what you might expect.

Dress code:  Anything goes EXCEPT tank tops, gym shorts, clothing promoting alcohol, drugs, or firearms, or excessively ripped or short clothing, subject solely to the director's discretion.  However, bowlers wearing slacks or dress shorts/skirts, and a 'name shirt' or PBA-style 'dye-sub' shirt, or college or high school team shirt, earn an extra 10 points on their season-long points total.  If you're not sure about dress code, check with us.  If you're new to us, the vast majority of the bowlers do dress in the 'bonus' dress code, and those points become very important, so plan accordingly.

RESERVED BOWLERS:

This reservation is an expectation that you will be bowling.  PLEASE do not forget to contact us if you need to cancel or adjust your reservation.  Repeated 'no-shows' may result in you not being able to reserve a spot.  This list may not be updated after the Friday of the event as we travel, etc.  However, walk-ins / late entries are still gladly accepted as space permits.