The twelfth and final regular season event of the Alro Steel – Michigan Junior Masters Association was completed this past weekend at Spectrum Lanes in Wyoming, Michigan. A field of 104 bowlers competed for the nearly $3,500.00 in scholarships and the chance to earn a champions banner. In the end it was Michael Erlingis (Westland, MI) and Megan Seavey (Fenton, MI) standing on top of the mountain to both claim their very first Alro Steel – MJMA titles.

Erlingis was making only his third match play appearance and did not have an easy road as the twelfth seed in the field of sixteen in match play. In round one Erlingis took out the number five seed Jerome Penxa II (Romeo, MI) in three games, 2-1 while shooting a 605 series for the set. In round two, Erlingis was matched up against Nic Sutherland (Grand Blanc, MI) who was the thirteenth seed. Erlingis again went the three game maximum distance to win again 2-1 and continued to bowl well shooting 656 for the set.

The semi-finals were next and in the one-game elimination match Erlingis was facing the number one seed Bobby Bures (Mentor, OH). Bures, who led qualifying with a 207 average on the very demanding pattern, was matching Erlingis all through the match and in the tenth Bures doubled to make Erlingis throw a strike on the first ball in the tenth to win the match. Erlingis caught a bit of a break as the shot went high but carried all ten pins and then filled the frame for a 203-195 win and advance to his very first Alro Steel – MMA final.

Waiting for Erlingis in the finals was four-time champion Adam Jablonski (Sterling Heights, MI) who was making some noise of his own in the match play portion. Jablonski was seeded as the number two qualifier and was averaging 220 for his five games in the first two rounds. That alone was Impressive enough but he really turned up the heat after game two in match play when, after shooting 175 to barely win a game, he averaged 243.3 for the next three games.

Erlingis was able to throw a few early strikes in the match to gain an edge but in the tenth he threw a 7-10 split on the first ball and failed to convert either pin. This gave Jablonski a chance at winning the title with a 20 pin count in the tenth. Jablonski left a 3-10 split and converted it to set up the last shot. Needing 10 to win he threw nine and we headed for a sudden death one-ball roll-off for the title.

Jablonski chose to throw first and got eight pins, Erlingis, after a false start on the wrong lane, stepped up and got a strike to win the match and his first Alro Steel – MJMA title and the $425.00 scholarship that went with it.

The ladies were just as exciting with their match play portion. Newcomer Brittney Rocha (Wyoming, MI) was the seventh seed and she promptly took care of business and took out the number two seed Kayla Blanchard (Livonia, MI) 2-1 to advance to the semi-finals. Kristy Kerr (Bay City, MI) the fifth seed took out the number four seed Felicia Goll (St Clair Shores, MI) in three games as well. Kerr was bowling her final Alro Steel – MJMA tournament this weekend as age finally has caught up to her. After nine years as an association member Kerr was leaving with her seven titles, most among active members, and heading to the adult ranks.

Joining Kerr and Rocha in the finals was number one seed Seavey and number three seed Sarah Lokker (New Baltimore, MI). Seavey faced Kerr and in a very tough match Seavey sent Kerr home winning 189-168 while Lokker, a three time champion, took the newcomer out winning 178-139. In the finals, you had a great match that went back and forth the whole time but in the end it was Seavey standing alone with a 175-171 win and her first Alro Steel – MJMA title.

Our final event of the season is the Daniel Ottman Memorial Championships which are held each year at the Monroe Sport Center in Monroe, Michigan, This year’s event will be on June 12, 13 and 14th and will pit 70 of the top Alro Steel – MJMA members competing against the tough lane conditions and each other for the coveted title and their share of nearly $25,000.00 in scholarships that will be awarded that weekend.

Those bowlers who have qualified for the event will be receiving their entries in the mail in the coming week. Entries must be mailed back no later than June 10th, 2009 in order to be eligible for the event. The weekend will kick off on Friday evening at 6PM with the traditional opening ceremonies followed by the first six game qualifying block at 7:00PM. Two more qualifying rounds will be held Saturday starting at 9:00AM followed by the first match play round of the tournament beginning at 7:00PM that night. Sunday morning at 9:00AM bowlers will be back in the center for the final match play round and the cut to the top four girls and top five guys who will be bowling for the championship.

More information on the Alro Steel – Michigan Junior Masters Association, can be found here on our website or you can contact Jerry Tarabek by email or phone (616-780-2095). We look forward to seeing everyone in Monroe on June 12, 13 and 14.

For information on our presenting sponsor, Alro Steel, please see their website.