In what is becoming a very common theme in the Alro Steel – Michigan Junior Masters Association, Adam Jablonski (Sterling Hts, MI) wins another tournament in the 2008-09 season. This win was Jablonski’s fourth title in eleven events and stretched his lead on the rest of the boys’ field for bowler of the year award.

Jablonski sat on top of the hill after the match play portion of the event but there was still plenty of things to be decided before Jablonski got the chance to bowl for the title. Travis Hardesty (Zanesville, OH) made his very first appearance in the step-ladder finals and faced two-time champion Jon Schiller (Milford, MI) in the first match. Schiller started strong opening with the first 6 strikes and put the pressure on Hardesty right away. Hardesty answered the call though as he was clean through the eighth fram, however a ninth frame open created all the room Schiller would need and he advanced to the next round with a 246-194 win.

Schiller continued his climb against another newcomer Tyler Houser (Mattawan, MI) who was also making his first ever step-ladder final appearance. Schiller again put the pressure on early by striking in six of the first seven frames but again Houser made things close and had a chance to win with a double in the tenth but it was not to be as Schiller advanced to the semi-final in a 218-201 vistory.

Bobby Bures (Mentor, OH) was awaiting Schiller and this match started off with both players throwing doubles and a spare through three frames. Bures opened in the fourth frame and from there had a hard time carrying the pocket while Schiller continued to fill frames and advance to the finals match 201-164. Jablonski was waiting and both bowlers kept things clean through the first five frames but Schiller showed a slight kink in the armour with an open in the sixth frame but Jablonski also opened in the sixth and at that point it was anyone’s match. From there Jablonski found a double in the 8th and 9th frame while Schiller opened in the 9th with a split and that paved the way for Jablonski and his 4th Alro Steel – MJMA title, 200-177.

The ladies proved to be just as exciting as Aleksandra Hudak (Taylor, MI) continued her recent dominance on the ladies side as she led the way into the step-ladder finals but, before we could get to the step-ladders, some business needed to be finished. Samantha Hesley (Wellington, FL) and Samantha Johnson (Wyoming, MI) tied for the fourth and final spot in the step-ladder finals. In a one-game roll off Johnson pulled the strikes she needed and advanced to the step-ladders with a 220-177 win.

In the step-ladders Johnson faced the third place qualifier Kara Richard (Tecumseh, MI). Richard took control early but when she flagged ten pins in both the 7th and 9th frame it gave Johnson the chance to pull the match out in the tenth frame with a double but a seven count on the first ball sealed the deal and Richard moved on to the semi-finals in a 182-159 win.

Richard then faced Sarah Lokker (New Baltimore, MI) and Lokker started fast with a double but back-to-back splits in the 5th and 6th frames and a four-bagger by Richard put Lokker in a hole she could not recover from. Richard closed out the game and advanced to the finals with a 200-182 visctory.

Hudak was waiting for Richard and this championship final did not disappoint anyone. In a very close match, Richard opened in the tenth frame and gave Hudak the chance to win with a strike on the first ball in the tenth but a stubborn 6 pin stopped the celebration early and when Hudak followed the spare with a strike, we had a 181-181 tie. In our standard format, a one-ball sudden death roll-off ensued. Richard went first and knocked down eight but Hudak follwed with a nine count to end the match and win her secong Alro Steel – MJMA title in the last three events.

Junior Gold spots were also awarded to Amber Kwiecien (Lansing, MI), Tyler Houser (Mattawan, MI) and Bryan Eaton (Wyoming, MI) and they will represent Alro Steel – MJMA in Indianapolis in July for the National Tournament.

This leaves just one regular season event left before the Championship event at the Monroe Sport Center in June. The next event is a one-day event at Spectrum Lanes in Wyoming, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, Michigan on Saturday, May 9th, 2009. Bowling will begin at 11:00AM with the eight-game qualifier. We will then cut the field to the top qualifiers and bowl PBA style match play until we have a winner about 7:30PM that same night.

Entries will need to be in as soon as possible since this is a double points event and part of the qualifying requirement for the championship event is bowling 2 of the last 3 events. There are a number of bowlers who could join the 58 bowlers already qualified for the championship just by bowling in Grand Rapids and a number more could qualify by bowling and making the cut to the match play portion.

In any case this will be a very exciting event and I am sure that Mike Eaton and the staff at Spectrum Lanes will have some fun lane conditions waiting for our competitors. For more information please review the event page or contact Jerry Tarabek.

We look forward to seeing everyone in Grand Rapids on May 9th, 2009!