RAILRIDERS WIN OVER SYRACUSE , 7-6

Choi Powers Victory in Syracuse

Clubs Two Homers, SWB Posts 12^th Win in 16 Games

Syracuse, N.Y. – The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) jumped out to a 6-0 lead and held on for a 7-6 win over the host Syracuse Chiefs (Washington Nationals) on Thursday night. The RailRiders (49-30) claimed both the four-game series and the season-long set over the Chiefs (27-50). The RailRiders have won 12 of their last 16 games. The Chiefs fell to 5-9 against SWB on the year with only three meetings remaining.

Ji-Man Choi launched a pair of homers to fuel the SWB offense. The first came in the opening inning, a two-run shot to right-center against starter Greg Ross (2-7). All nine RailRiders came to the plate in a three-run fourth that chased Ross. The big blow was Abiatal Avelino’s two-run single up the middle with the infield in. In the fifth, Choi smashed a solo shot off the batter’s eye in straightaway center.

Three-spots in the sixth and seventh by the Chiefs made it interesting. Neftali Soto connected on two homers of his own in that time, a two-run job in the sixth off starter Brady Lail (5-2). He snuck a three-run laser just over the right-center fence in the seventh off of reliever Joe Mantiply.

Thanks to Cito Culver’s two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh, SWB never faced a deficit in the game. It stayed that way thanks to Ben Heller. The right-hander retired the final six he faced over two scoreless innings for his fourth save.

The RailRiders’ road trip shifts to McCoy Stadium for a four-game set against the Pawtucket Red Sox (Boston Red Sox). The series opens up at 7:35 p.m. on Friday with SWB right-hander Bryan Mitchell (1-2, 4.18) facing southpaw Jalen Beeks (2-3, 3.90). The RailRiders return home on the Fourth of July to face the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) at 7:05 p.m. The contest will sport post-game fireworks courtesy of the PA Lottery. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

OFF THE RAILS:

Ji-Man Choi posted his first multi-homer game since Aug. 4, 2016 when he launched two as an Angel off of Oakland’s Jesse Hahn. He went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. He had never hit more than one homer in a minor league game. Choi has been a stateside pro since 2010. Thursday marked his 440^th career minor league game.

Donovan Solano went 2-for-5 with a double and scored twice. Since the start of June, Solano has gone 30-for-92 with seven extra-base hits, 11 RBIs and 14 runs scored, slashing .326/.360/.391/.751. That has boosted his average by over 100 points (.164-.267).

Clint Frazier singled, walked and scored, going 1-for-4. Over his last five games he has gone 7-for-21 (.333).

The RailRiders also got multi-hit showings from Cito Culver (2-for-4, 2RBIs), Abiatal Avelino (2-for-4, 2RBIs, SB) and Billy Fleming (2-for-4, SB).

The game endured a 27-minute weather delay before it got underway.

With a win on Friday night, the RailRiders would reach the 50-win mark in 80 games. The 2016 Triple-A National Championship RailRiders got their 50^th win in their 82^nd game of the season.

BINGHAMTON WINS OVER GOATS, 7-5

Fantastic Flexen Foils Yard Goats, 7-5

HARTFORD, CT – Chris Flexen racked up ten strikeouts and tossed six innings of one-run ball to power the Binghamton Rumble Ponies past the Hartford Yard Goats, 7-5, on Thursday night at Dunkin Donuts Park. Matt Oberste drove in three runs to support the pitching staff’s season-high 15-strikeout performance. Binghamton pounded out a dozen hits to secure the series split.

Flexen opened his fourth career Double-A start by striking out the side in the first. The righty retired the first 13 Yard Goats he faced, a stretch that included seven strikeouts.

The Rumble Ponies offense supported him with a five-run third inning. With two aboard, Luis Guillorme drove an RBI double off the left-field wall against starter Konner Wade. Matt Oberste followed by poking a run-producing single to right. Wade was pulled after walking David Thompson, and LJ Mazzilli greeted reliever Troy Neiman by floating a single down the right-field line. Oberste and Thompson scored on the drive before Kevin Kaczmarski scampered home when Drew Weeks’ throw from right skipped away.

Hartford snapped Flexen’s roll with one out in the fifth when Jan Vazquez hit a home run to right. Flexen shook off the long ball and put down the final five hitters he faced, capping his night with back-to-back strikeouts.

Oberste provided a pair of insurance runs down the stretch, homering in the seventh and providing an RBI single in the ninth.

After Flexen departed, the Yard Goats mounted a rally in the seventh, getting the first four aboard against Corey Taylor. Hartford pushed three runs across and cut the Ponies lead down to two. Ben Griset notched the final two outs of the seventh before fanning Max White to start the eighth.

Cory Burns took over and posted a pair of outs to preserve the lead. After the Ponies Oberste’s single in the ninth, Josh Fuentes took Burns deep to left. Burns bounced back and fanned Dillon Thomas to lock down his seventh save.

Flexen (3-1) tossed six innings in his first start back from the disabled list. He retired 18 of the 19 batters he faced and reached double digits in strikeouts for the fifth time in his career.

The Rumble Ponies (41-33) return home to start a four-game series against the Harrisburg Senators on Friday at 7:05 PM. RHP Mickey Jannis takes the mound against RHP Taylor Hill. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 6:50 PM on NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn.

POSTGAME NOTES: Chris Flexen is the first Binghamton pitcher to strike out 10 in a game since Ricky Knapp fanned ten Hartford Yard Goats on August 23, 2016…Flexen has faced 120 straight batters without issuing a walk, a stretch dating back to his time with St. Lucie (High-A)…the Rumble Ponies went 4-4 on the road trip

Tickets for Binghamton’s entire home schedule can be purchased at the NYSEG Stadium box office, online on www.bingrp.com and over the phone at (607) 722-FUNN.

PBA SPARE SHOTS

PBA Spare Shots

PBA’S INFLUENCE ON INTERNATIONAL BOWLING COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW

Bowlers from around the world have always considered the PBA as the gold standard. If you wanted to find out how good you are, you had to bowl against – and beat – the world’s best. For decades, that was a difficult decision to make because the Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs, the international governing body in the eyes of the International Olympic Committee, banned professionals from its ranks.

That policy changed in 2008, when the World Tenpin Bowling Association (WTBA) – now World Bowling – became the official governing body of tenpin bowling and opened its doors to professionals in the hopes of advancing bowling’s hope to gain Olympic acceptance, meaning that international players would no longer jeopardize eligibility to represent their national teams if the joined the PBA.

The introduction of the multi-event PBA World Series of Bowling concept a year later brought a veritable flood of international players into PBA competition. While notable players like PBA Tour champions Amleto Monacelli of Venezuela (1982), Sweden’s Mats Karlsson (1983) and Finland’s Mika Koivuniemi (1999), among a handful of others, had ventured into the PBA arena prior to 2008, the inaugural WSOB included an unprecedented 28 players from 14 different countries.

The WSOB has continued to welcome players from around the world. Since 2009, 38 different countries have been represented in the World Series, including a record 23 countries and 55 international players last year in Reno. The same sort of trend has had an impact of the recently-resurrected Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour, which has featured a strong influx of international players.

In 2017, the PBA has seen international competition grow in events not previously known for global appeal, such as the Xtra Frame PBA Tour program and, this week, the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort Oklahoma Open, which includes 16 nations and 26 international players in its field of 91.

It’s an exciting trend for bowling, especially as the sport continues to seek the attention of the IOC and bowling manufacturers continue to expand their global markets. It’s good for bowling fans around the world, who can cheer for their home-country favorites thanks to the advent of Xtra Frame, pba.com and other social media outlets with world-wide accessibility. And it’s good for competition, because the level of talent in PBA competition has never been stronger, which only adds to the prestige of winning a PBA Tour title.

XTRA FRAME SCHEDULE INCLUDES OKLAHOMA PRELIMS, PWBA ACTION

This week’s Xtra Frame’s live streaming schedule will feature qualifying round coverage of the PBA Grand Casino Hotel & Resort Oklahoma Open from FireLake Bowling Center in Shawnee, Okla., through Friday, leading up to two days of live ESPN coverage of the Oklahoma Open’s nine-player stepladder finals Saturday and Sunday, July 1-2, at 1 p.m. EDT both days. The Oklahoma Open finals also will be live streamed on ESPN and the WatchESPN app.

This week’s PWBA Tour coverage features the Orlando Open Friday and Saturday.

Heading into July, Xtra Frame’s schedule includes the Teen Masters from Richmond, Va., July 5-7; the PWBA St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open from Seminole, Fla., July 7-8; the Proprietors Cup from Beavercreek, Ohio, July 8-9; the Nationwide PWBA Rochester (N.Y.) Open, July 14-15; the PBA50 South Shore Open from Hammond, Ind., July 25-27; the XF Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles from Copperfield Bowl in Houston, Texas, July 28-30, which will award PBA and PWBA Tour titles; and the PBA50 Dave Small’s Championship Lanes Classic from Anderson, Ind., July 30-Aug. 1. For broadcast time and other details, check under the “schedules” tab on pba.com.

PBA fans also can follow real-time results for PBA50, PBA Xtra Frame Tour and all PBA Regional events by visiting the “live scoring” feature on pba.com. PWBA live scoring is available on pwba.com.

Xtra Frame subscription packages are available for three days, 30 days and a full year. To sign up, visit xtraframe.tv for details.

PBA REGIONAL UPDATE: WARREN, TANG WIN PBA50/PBA DOUBLES TITLE IN RENO

PBA50 competitor Chris Warren of Grants Pass, Ore., teamed up with Darren Tang of San Francisco to win the PBA50/PBA Sands Regency West/Northwest Doubles Open, presented by MOTIV, at High Sierra Lanes Sunday over PBA50 rookie Michael Haugen Jr. of Phoenix and Tang’s younger brother, amateur Michael Tang, 449-422.

Warren and Darren Tang took an early lead and a costly open late in the game by Michael Tang, combined with Haugen’s inability to carry pocket hits, resulted in Warren claiming his fourth PBA50 Regional title while Darren Tang picked up his second title since becoming a member a year ago.

In the single elimination match play leading up to the title match, the Warren/Tang team swept Utah amateurs Clay Rees from Riverton and Craig Harrington of Harriman, 3-0. Warren/Tang then defeated the San Jose, Calif., team of Gregory Thompson Jr. and Marty Deh in the semifinal match, 490-416, while the Haugen/Tang team survived a semifinal round shootout against PJ Haggerty from Roseville, Calif., and Las Vegan Ron Mohr, 546-545.

● PBA rookie Andrew Anderson of Holly, Mich., defeated Chandler Stevens of Archbold, Ohio, 216-177, to win his first PBA title in the PBA Pro Bowl West Central/Midwest Challenge presented by Roto Grip at Pro Bowl West on Saturday.

Challenge events are open to PBA members without a PBA title or non-members who have never won a PBA event. In addition to his first title, Anderson won $1,500.

Anderson downed Frank Snodgrass of Center Line, Mich., 228-161, in the semifinal round while Stevens topped Charlie Brown of Grandville, Mich., 208-159, to set up the championship match.

● Keith Lesko of Chicago defeated Mark Sullivan of Indianapolis, 222-202, to win the PBA50 Ultimate Inserts Midwest Open presented by Hammer at Lakeside Lanes in Davis, Ill., Sunday. 

Lesko, who led qualifying, took each of the preliminary matches to the maximum number of games.  He defeated Jeff Johnson of Freeport, Ill. 3-2, in the best-of-five-game Round of 8, and then defeated R.J. Alman of Murrysville, Pa., 2-1, in the best-of-three semifinal round. Sullivan bested his travelling partner Danny Clark of New Palestine, Ind. 3-2, before beating Dave Traber of Hebron, Ill., 2-1, in his semifinal match.

Along with his third PBA Regional title Lesko received $1,700.

● The July PBA Regional calendar begins with the PBA and PBA50 Vanessa Brown Homes West Opens, both presented by Columbia 300 at Yosemite Lanes, in Modesto, Calif.

● On the July 7-9 weekend schedule is the PBA50 Cecil Raymond Memorial presented by Columbia 300 at 30 Strikes Bowling Pub & Pizza in Stratford, N.J.

● July 14-16 weekend activity for PBA Regional players includes the Albany Strikers South Open at in Albany, Ga., and the St. Charles Lanes Midwest Open presented by Storm in St. Charles, Mo. The PBA Central Region will conduct a mid-week event, the PBA50 Fairborn Central Classic at Bowl 10 Fairborn in Fairborn, Ohio, July 18-20.

● On the busy July 21-22 PBA Regional calendar are the PBA50 Parkway Lanes Open and the PWBA/PBA Parkway Lanes Open in Elmwood Park, N.J.; the Angola Central/Midwest Open at Angola Bowl in Angola, Ind.; the PBA50 Beverly Lanes Midwest/Central Open presented by Roto Grip in Arlington Heights, Ill.; the Spring Hill South Open at Spring Hill Lanes in Spring Hill, Fla.; the Fort Sill Southwest Open at Twins Oaks Bowling Center in Fort Sill, Okla., and the Secoma Lanes Northwest/West Open, PBA50 Northwest/West Open and PWBA/PBA Open, all presented by Storm, in Federal Way, Wash.

● Also in July are the PBA Japan Region’s first events of 2017, the PBA Chameleon Open on July 23 followed by the Women’s Chameleon Championship on July 30, both at Shinsayama Grand Bowl in Sayama.

● For complete PBA Regional schedules, rules and entry information, visit pba.com, open the “schedules” tab and click on PBA Regional Tours to find the event(s) in your area.

QUICK NOTES:

● Chris Paul’s blockbuster trade to the Houston Rockets this week also means the annual CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational will move to Houston in 2018. Details will be announced later.

● PBA West/Northwest Region manager Gary Mage was inducted into the Washington State USBC Hall of Fame Saturday at the Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel in Rochester, Wash.

● Now available in the PBA Store (http://pba.firelakedesigns.com/), the Marshall Holman t-shirt and polo joins the Signature Collection which already includes Earl Anthony, Mark Roth and Dick Weber signature apparel.

#  #  #

PBA FAN EXPERIENCE PACKAGES

PBA Announces Ultimate Fan Experience Packages for GEICO WSOB IX

Reservations now available for WSOB players at Silver Legacy, Eldorado and Circus Circus properties

RENO, Nev. (June 29, 2017) – The Professional Bowlers Association has announced new Ultimate WSOB Fan Experience Packages for fans who would like to watch the world’s greatest bowlers compete for nationally-televised titles in the sport’s premier showcase, the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling IX Nov. 17-19 at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno.

In addition to the special packages for fans, PBA and the Eldorado Resorts Reno Properties’ three properties – Silver Legacy, Eldorado and Circus Circus – have announced reservations are now being accepted for WSOB IX competitors.

The Ultimate Fan Experience Packages include a two-night “Strike” package and a three-night “300 Game” package. Prices depend on the accommodations each fan prefers, but the basics of each package include the following:

STRIKE PACKAGE (starting at $200)

● Two (2) nights’ accommodation at Silver Legacy Resort & Casino.

● Two VIP tickets to all ESPN shows including the PBA World Championship.

● Round trip transportation to and from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and Silver Legacy.

300 GAME PACKAGE (starting at $340)

● Three (3) nights’ accommodation at Silver Legacy Resort & Casino.

● Two VIP tickets to all ESPN shows including the PBA World Championship.

● Behind the scenes tour of PBA Player Services Trucks and ESPN Production Truck.

● Official autographed PBA Tour bowling pin.

● Official WSOB t-shirt.

● Round trip transportation to and from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and Silver Legacy.

GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling Ultimate Experience Fan packages are available at www.pba.com/tickets.

PBA members and others attending the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling IX Nov. 7-19 can now make standard room reservations at their choice of any of the three Eldorado Resorts Reno properties. Special room rates also are available not only to players, but to news media representatives, family members, fans, manufacturers and any other interested parties. Room rates, reservation code and telephone/online reservation contacts for each property are listed below.

Silver Legacy: Room rates: $50 Sunday–Thursday, $70 Friday & Saturday. Silver Legacy code ISPBA17. Reservations phone number: 800-687-8733. Online reservations: https://silverlegacyreno.reztrip.com/ext/promoRate?property=1080&mode=b&pm=true&sr=242404&vr=3&accessCode=ISPBA17

Eldorado: Room rates $50 Sunday–Thursday; $80 Friday & Saturday. Eldorado code IEPBA17. Reservations phone number: 800-879-8879. Online reservations:https://eldoradoreno.reztrip.com/ext/promoRate?property=1079&mode=b&pm=true&sr=242406&vr=3&accessCode=IEPBA17

Circus Circus: Room rates: $38 Sunday–Thursday; $60 Friday & Saturday. Circus Circus code ICPBA17. Reservations phone number: 800-648-5010. Online reservations:https://circusreno.reztrip.com/ext/promoRate?property=1081&mode=b&pm=true&sr=242416&vr=3&accessCode=ICPBA17

Entries into the World Series, which are  available exclusively to PBA Members, will be accepted beginning July 10. Players will be asked to confirm their hotel reservations at the time of entry.

PONIES LOSE TO HARTFORD 7-1

Almonte & Yard Goats Chomp Ponies, 7-1

HARTFORD, CT – Hartford starter Yency Almonte tossed seven innings of one-run ball to lead the Yard Goats past the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, 7-1, on Wednesday night at Dunkin Donuts Park. Ponies starter Marcos Molina struck out seven, but took the loss.

Almonte was given early run support. With two aboard in the first, Dom Nunez blasted Molina’s 1-1 pitch down the right-field line for his eighth home run of the season. The long ball, which came within feet of leaving Dunkin Donuts Park, put Hartford up by three.

The Rumble Ponies made Almonte pay for issuing a two-out walk to Molina in the third. Champ Stuart scorched a triple into the left-field corner, plating the Ponies pitcher with Binghamton’s first run.

Stuart’s three-bagger proved to be Binghamton’s only tally against Almonte (3-3). The righty wrapped up his second start against the Rumble Ponies with four scoreless innings, capping the night by retiring the final four batters he faced. He surrendered just four hits over seven innings to earn his first win since April 28. Matt Pierpont closed the game with two blank innings of relief.

Molina (0-3) shook off the first-inning homer and capped his night with five scoreless innings. The righty allowed seven hits, but struck out seven in the defeat.

Hartford salted the game away by hanging four runs on the Ponies bullpen over the final two innings. Omar Carrizales laced a home run off Luis Mateo in the eight before Kelly Secrest surrendered a pair of RBI singles in the ninth.

The Rumble Ponies (40-33) conclude their only regular season visit to Hartford on Thursday at 7:05 PM. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 6:50 PM on NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn.

POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton did not commit an error in their ninth straight game, their longest streak since August 2014…Binghamton’s scoreless streak from relievers was snapped at 17.1 innings…Luis Guillorme had his 14-game road hitting streak, the longest active stretch in the league, snapped with an 0-for-4 game

Tickets for Binghamton’s entire home schedule can be purchased at the NYSEG Stadium box office, online on www.bingrp.com and over the phone at (607) 722-FUNN.

RAILRIDERS TAKE TWO FROM CHIEFS

RailRiders Take Two from Chiefs

Streaking SWB Claims 11^th Win in 15 Games

Syracuse, N.Y. – The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/New York Yankees) took both ends of an impromptu doubleheader from the host Syracuse Chiefs (Washington Nationals) on Wednesday night. They claimed the conclusion of Tuesday’s suspended action, 7-6, and proved victorious in the seven-inning nightcap, 3-1. The RailRiders (48-30) have won 11 of their last 15 games. The Chiefs (27-49) fell to 5-8 against SWB on the year.

The opener swung in the sixth inning. Down 5-4, SWB took the lead for good on Ji-Man Choi’s three-run homer to right-center off MLB rehabber Sammy Solis (0-1). Working technically in relief, southpaw Caleb Smith (7-0) tied for the IL lead in wins with six innings of work. He allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits and four walks while whiffing eight. J.P. Feyereisen posted his first Triple-A save with two frames of one-run ball.

The originally-scheduled affair/nightcap saw NEPA’s own Matt Wotherspoon twirl three perfect innings in a spot start for the bullpen game. Tyler Jones (6-2) followed with 2.2 scoreless innings and Tommy Layne logged 1.1 frames of one-run ball for the save. The SWB runs came on Abiatal Avelino’s two-out, two-run single to left in the second and when Clint Frazier stormed home standing on a wild pitch in the third. Former RailRider Jaron Long (1-2) authored a quality start for Syracuse, but took the loss.

The four-game set wraps up at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday evening. SWB southpaw Daniel Camarena (4-2, 3.00) is scheduled to face right-hander Greg Ross (2-6, 6.25). The RailRiders return home on the Fourth of July to face the Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays) at 7:05 p.m. The contest will sport post-game fireworks courtesy of the PA Lottery. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

OFF THE RAILS:

Mason Williams went 2-for-4 in each game as the leadoff man. The opener saw him homer for the first time at Triple-A, a solo shot to right-center. It marked just his second home run since 2014. The other came in his MLB debut on June 12, 2015 at Baltimore.

Jake Cave walked twice in the opener, but went 0-for-3 as his 10-game hitting streak came to a close. He had hit safely in each of his first 10 Triple-A games of the season, going 15-for-35 with seven extra-base hits (four homers) and six RBIs, slashing .429/.459/.886/1.345.

Clint Frazier went 3-for-5 in the opener with a double, an RBI and a run scored. He finished the nightcap 1-for-3 with a run scored.

The first game saw the RailRiders improve to 13-2 when Caleb Smith pitches and 14-5 when Wilkin Castillo catches.

Alejandro De Aza’s two-out single off Tommy Layne in the seventh and final frame of game two marked the first IL hit allowed this year by Layne. The league had been 0-for-16 against Layne before the left-handed hitter singled to left.

In the opener, SWB tied its biggest come-from-behind win of the season, rallying from down as many as three (5-2). The team also turned the trick on April 28 versus Indianapolis.

- SWB RailRiders Baseball – The Place to Be! -

5 RUMBLE PONIES TO ALL-STAR CLASSIC

Rumble Ponies to Send Five to All-Star Classic

BINGHAMTON, NY – PJ Conlon, Luis Guillorme, Tomas Nido, Corey Oswalt and Kevin Taylor will represent the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at the 2017 Eastern League All-Star Classic on July 11 & 12 at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester, NH. The group, comprised of players all in their first seasons at Double-A, represents the first class of Mid-Season All-Stars in team history.

Conlon, the Rumble Ponies lone left-handed starting pitcher, earns his second straight Mid-Season All-Star nod. The southpaw ranks second in the league in strikeouts (71) and innings pitched (89.0). In a span of four starts, Conlon tossed two seven-inning shutouts, including a one-hitter against New Hampshire on May 6.

Guillorme will play in his first professional All-Star game. The slick-fielding middle infielder has backed up his highly-regarded glove with offense as a Rumble Pony. Guillorme is hitting .293, the second-best among qualifiers on the Rumble Pony roster. His 13 doubles, put him on pace for a career-high in extra-base hits.

Nido is a Mid-Season All-Star for the third straight season. The Rumble Ponies catcher was an All-Star with Savannah (Low-A) in 2015 and St. Lucie (High-A) in 2016. Nido has hit .283 since May 4. His five home runs are two shy of a career high.

Oswalt has shined in his first season in the Rumble Ponies rotation. In a dozen starts, the righty has compiled a 2.13 ERA, the second-lowest in the league. He ranks fourth in both WHIP (1.15) and opponent batting average (.231). Oswalt is a Mid-Season All-Star for the first time since 2014, when he received the honor with Brooklyn (SS-A).

Taylor is heading to his first professional All-Star Game after a long journey to Binghamton. The Ponies outfielder spent three years in the Dodgers organization before playing two seasons of independent baseball. Now in his second season as a Mets farmhand, Taylor ranks 10^th in the league with a .308 batting average. His .401 on-base percentage puts him second in the league.

The Rumble Ponies (40-32) continue their only regular season series in Hartford on Wednesday at 7:05 PM. RHP Marcos Molina takes the mound against RHP Yency Almonte. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting at 6:50 PM on NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn.

  Great Food At Yanni's Gyro Express

  I met Dimitris Vernezos some 10 years ago at a popular Monticello Restaurant where he was working and then followed his business career as he ventured out trying to find his niche in the restaurant  community.
  In May of 2010 he opened the doors to Yanni's Gyro Express Cafe located at 28 Pleasant Street in Monticello and both the locals and tourist travelers have responded as the word spread of their great food and friendly service.
  Their loyal customers have helped Dimitris double the original size of his small restaurant which was remodeled and expanded in 2014.
  Dimitris' wife, Paula has also been an active partner in the business and she now is expanding their restaurant enterprise with the opening of a restaurant in Wurtsboro which will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  Paula and Dimitris have made Sullivan County their home since 1991. They have been married for 22 years and have two growing boys, Christos (12) and Yanni (10).
  But Yanni's is a super cute place and they also have a soft ice cream stand located outside just to the left side of the cafe. This place boasts friendliness which can easily be called a very busy Greek gem.
  This place features some  of the best Greek food I have ever eaten and there are many other tasty dishes featuring a menu that includes appetizers, crepes, soup, wraps, gyro's, salads, kabobs, solivlaki, premium angus steak burgers, greek specialties, paninis, American classics, salitees and pasta and great desserts. 
  Dimitris offers up excellent affordable Greek food and you will always find good service and super tasty food and the owner is always there and makes sure he greets everyone.
  Simple clean, casual ambiance, with really tasty fresh and affordable food. 
  Definitely worth a visit. 
                                               

Dimitris Vernezos at his Yanni's Gyro Express Cafe in Monticello. 

EJ TACKETT WINS MAIN EVENT

Indiana’s EJ Tackett Wins Inaugural Main Event PBA Tour Finals Title

PBA’s reigning Player of the Year defeats Australia’s Jason Belmonte for third 2017 title

ORLANDO, Fla. – After winning his first GEICO Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year Award in 2016 at age 24, EJ Tackett of Huntington, Ind., has indicated he’s not ready to relinquish his role as the Professional Bowlers Association’s premier player.

Tackett became the 2017 season’s first three-time title winner when he defeated Australia’s Jason Belmonte, 666-628, in the three-game total pinfall title match in the inaugural Main Event PBA Tour Finals at Main Event Entertainment.

The finals aired Tuesday on CBS Sports Network. Tackett earned $30,000 (along with his eighth career PBA Tour title) which will go toward his two-year earnings total in his ongoing bid for a return trip to the 2018 Main Event PBA Tour Finals.

Tackett won his berth in the title match as winner of the Group Two preliminary rounds, topping 18-time PBA Tour champion Tommy Jones of Simpsonville, S.C.; Dom Barrett of England, and Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y. Belmonte had an uphill battle in his four-player pod, but led Group One over competitors Jesper Svensson of Sweden; Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., and Anthony Simonsen of Austin, Texas.

In the title match against Belmonte, who had held the PBA Player of the Year title for three years in a row before Tackett overtook him in 2016, Belmonte took a one-pin lead after the first game, 225-224. Tackett then took charge, winning game two, 222-191, when Belmonte failed to convert two difficult splits. The young Indiana high-rev player kept Belmonte at bay throughout game three, winning again, 220-212, for a 38-pin margin of victory.

“The lanes were a little weird at times,” Tackett said of the title match. “I don’t know if it was from Tommy (Jones) or Belmo, or a little of both of them moving the oil around. But I threw a couple of shots that I thought were really, really good, and I had a solid 10 pin on one and a stone 9 pin on the other that I didn’t see coming at all. I really thought I had struck.

“I also threw a couple of bad shots that shouldn’t have struck, and did, so it all evens out,” he added. “It was back and forth, not only with pin carry but bad shot making. I missed a couple of spares; he missed a couple. I had chances to take the lead in both 10th frames in the first two games but didn’t. In the second game I could have taken a huge lead but left that stone 9 pin. That’s stuff you can’t control.

“The last game I threw a couple of bad shots, but down the stretch I threw probably my best two shots of the tournament in the eighth and ninth frames,” Tackett continued. “I knew getting those two strikes would force (Belmonte) to strike out to force me to spare, so they were very important.”

The win was Tackett’s first against Belmonte after losses in 2014 title matches in the USBC Masters and the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort Oklahoma Open, so a fledgling rivalry has taken root.

“I beat (Belmonte) in the Detroit King of the Swing, but that doesn’t count,” Tackett said of the 2016 non-title special event, “so now I’m 1-2 against him. We’ll have to meet more and see where the record goes.”

In the preliminary match to decide third  and fourth places, Jones started with five strikes, but Svensson started with six and never slowed down in winning 267-224.

Going into the Main Event title match, Tackett had won 2017 titles in the DHC PBA Japan Invitational and the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions. Belmonte also had won two titles in 2017, both majors – the USBC Masters and the Barbasol PBA Players Championship – setting the stage for an exciting PBA Player of the Year race as the PBA Tour heads into the second half of season.

Next up is the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort Oklahoma Open at FireLake Bowling Center in Shawnee, Okla., which will conclude Saturday and Sunday with a unique nine-player, two-day live ESPN stepladder finals from a special installation in Grand Casino’s Event Center. Both telecasts, which will be live streamed simultaneously on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app, begin Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT.

MAIN EVENT PBA TOUR FINALS

Main Event, Orlando, Fla., (aired Tuesday on CBS Sports Network)

Final Standings:

1, EJ Tackett, Huntington, Ind., $30,000.

2, Jason Belmonte, Australia, $18,000

3, Jesper Svensson, Sweden, $10,000.

4, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., $5,000.

Stepladder Results:

Third-Place Match: Svensson def. Jones, 267-224.

Championship (three games, total pinfall): Tackett (224-222-220) def. Belmonte (225-191-212), 666-628.