EIGHT PLAYERS UNDEFEATED AT 2019 USBC MASTERS

LAS VEGAS – A total of eight players remain in the winners bracket at the 2019 United States Bowling Congress Masters after the opening rounds of match play Saturday at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino.

Eight additional players still are in contention with the tournament’s double-elimination format and have the opportunity to advance to the stepladder finals and claim the $30,000 top prize and major championship on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour schedule.

The 16 players left in the field will return to Gold Coast on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern, and match play will continue until the top five players for Monday’s stepladder finals are determined. The finals will be broadcast live at 9 p.m. Eastern on FS1.

One of the eight remaining players in the winners bracket is Mykel Holliman of Collierville, Tennessee, who is making his USBC Masters debut this week.

After finishing qualifying in 12th place, the 26-year-old left-hander rolled through his three matches Saturday by averaging more than 239 in wins over Martin Larsen of Sweden (733-574), Greg Thompson Jr. of Tempe, Arizona (740-536), and Dom Barrett of England (686-575).

He’ll face Marshall Kent of Yakima, Washington, in Sunday’s opening three-game total-pinfall contest.

Holliman started his week with a strong opening block of qualifying Wednesday, which included a 299 game, but he admitted the second and third rounds didn’t go as well as he would have liked, primarily with his spare shooting.

He came in with a fresh mindset Saturday for match play and was able to minimize mistakes throughout his three victories.

“Coming into today, I told myself I needed to start over,” Holliman said. “It’s a new day and new tournament, so I wanted to come out and just make good shots and go from there. This morning, I saw a little more hook on the gutter and was able to play that a little better. I also had a few breaks in there, but I made all my spares.”

Holliman is a rookie on the PBA Tour this season, and he’s fresh off a strong showing at the PBA World Series of Bowling X. He was able to make the top 16 at the PBA Cheetah Championship and just missed advancing to the championship round, finishing in fifth place.

The World Series of Bowling and Masters had been events on Holliman’s bucket list, and he’s been able to show that he can compete with the best players in the world.

He’s ready to take the next step and now is just two wins away from securing a spot in the stepladder finals.

“This is a tournament I’ve always wanted to bowl, and it’s been a fun experience,” Holliman said. “But, it’s definitely been challenging so far. For tomorrow, I plan to come in like I did today. It’s a new day and a new tournament. I’m going to take it one shot at a time and try not to press myself too hard.”

Other matches in the winners bracket Sunday include Brad Miller of Raytown, Missouri, against Ireland’s Christopher Sloan, Jake Peters of Henderson, Nevada, taking on Jonathan Van Hees of Charlestown, Rhode Island, and Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Arizona, versus Rhino Page of Orlando, Florida.

Anthony Simonsen of Princeton, Texas, is the only remaining Masters champion in the field. The 2016 champion will face PJ Haggerty of Roseville, California, on Sunday in the elimination bracket.

The bracket at the 2019 Masters was determined by 15 qualifying games over three days at Gold Coast. The top 63 players from the 450-player field joined defending champion Andrew Anderson of Holly, Michigan, in the double-elimination bracket.

Anderson’s title defense came to an end Saturday after finishing tied for 17th place. He won his first two matches before falling to Miller, 687-605, and Kyle Sherman of O’Fallon, Missouri, 717-562.

FloBowling is providing livestream coverage of the 2019 Masters up to the stepladder finals.

For more information on the USBC Masters, visit BOWL.com/Masters.

United States Bowling Congress

The United States Bowling Congress serves as the national governing body of bowling as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). USBC conducts championship events nationwide including the largest participation sporting events in the world – the USBC Open and Women’s Championships – and professional events such as the USBC Masters and USBC Queens. 

Founded in 1895, today USBC and its 1,638 state and local associations proudly serve more than a million members. USBC is headquartered in Arlington, Texas, working toward a future for the sport. The online home for USBC is BOWL.com.

2019 USBC Masters
At Gold Coast Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas

Saturday’s Results
 

MATCH PLAY
Double elimination, three-game matches decided by total pinfall

ROUND 1
(Winners remain in winners bracket. Losers move to elimination bracket).

(64) Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich., def. (1) Solomon Salama, Beverly Hills, Calif., 720-663.
(32) Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., def. (33) Dean Richards, Tacoma, Wash., 706-536.
(17) Brad Miller, Raytown, Mo., def. (48) AJ Chapman, South St. Paul, Minn., 668-557.
(16) Kenny Ryan, Farmingdale, N.J., def. (49) Zeke Bayt, Westerville, Ohio, 621-599.

(6) Christopher Sloan, Ireland, def. (56) Corey Husted, Milwaukie, Ore., 626-604.
(41) Kris Prather, Milton, Fla., def. (24) Zac Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 696-583.
(25) Wesley Low Jr., Palmdale, Calif., def. (40) Michael Tang, San Francisco, 710-664.
(57) Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., def. (8) Jalen Scott-Jones, Keene, N.H., 688-671.

(60) Justin Dunn, Deland, Fla., def. (5) Shota Kawazoe, Japan, 691-682.
(28) Dom Barrett, England, def. (37) Nick Pate, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., 647-505.
(21) Greg Thompson Jr., Tempe, Ariz., def. (44) JR Raymond, Saginaw, Mich., 616-594.
(12) Mykel Holliman, Collierville, Tenn., def. (53) Martin Larsen, Sweden, 733-574.

(13) Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., def. (52) DJ Archer, Houston, 752-542.
(45) Francois Lavoie, Wichita, Kan., def. (20) Tobias Boerding, Germany, 579-558.
(36) Alex Aguiar, Dartmouth, Mass., def. (29) Matt Dzikiewicz, Rocky Hill, Conn., 606-564.
(4) Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., def. (61) Dallas Leong, Las Vegas, 690-594.

(3) Jakob Butturff, Tempe, Ariz., def. (62) Patrick Girard, Canada, 652-646.
(35) Michael Martell, Brooklyn, N.Y., def. (30) Josh Blanchard, Mesa, Ariz., 621-599.
(46) Cortez Schenck, Phoenix, def. (19) Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Little Elm, Texas, 538-465.
(14) Andres Gomez, Hollywood, Fla., def. (51) Matt Ogle, Louisville, Ky., 608-568.

(54) PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., def. (11) Greg Ostrander, Freehold, N.J., 561-511.
(22) Corey Umbrello, Westminster, Mass., def. (43) Ryan Burks, Hammond, Ind., 656-622.
(38) Darren Tang, San Francisco, def. (27) Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 722-589.
(6) Rhino Page, Orlando, Fla., def. (59) Ian Willard, Milwaukie, Ore., 687-553.

(7) Jake Peters, Henderson, Nev., def. (58) Pascal Winternheimer, Germany, 618-552.
(39) Sam Cooley, Australia, def. (26) Zach Wilkins, Canada, 597-552.
(42) Andrew Cain, Phoenix, def. (23) Ryan Ciminelli, Williamsville, N.Y., 649-644.
(10) David Stouffer, Lehigh Acres, Fla., def. (55) Cameron Foster, Eagle Mountain, Utah, 674-584.

(15) Kyle Sherman, O’Fallon, Mo., def. (50) Matt Sanders, Evansville, Ind., 697-621.
(47) David Haynes, Las Vegas, def. (18) Anthony Simonsen, Princeton, Texas, 647-587.
(34) Mitch Hupe, Towanda, Kan., def. (31) Jared Wolf, Lowell, Ark., 661-538.
(63) Jonathan Van Hees, Charlestown, R.I., def. (2) AJ Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 635-578.

ROUND 2 - WINNERS BRACKET

Anderson def. Duke, 609-601.
Miller def. Ryan, 634-628.
Sloan def. Prather, 655-602.
Angelo def. Low, 641-597.
Barrett def. Dunn, 813-615.
Holliman def. Thompson, 740-536.
Kent def. Lavoie, 669-613.
Aguiar def. Machuga, 711-521.

Butturff def. Martell, 704-683.
Schenck def. Gomez, 690-687.
Haggerty def. Umbrello, 662-615.
Page def. D. Tang, 696-613.
Peters def. Cooley, 626-616.
Stouffer def. Cain, 670-610.
Haynes def. Sherman, 624-617.
Van Hees def. Hupe, 678-668.

ROUND 2 - ELIMINATION BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $2,050)

Salama def. Richards, 719-648.
Scott-Jones def. M. Tang, 718-675.
Chapman def. Bayt, 703-601.
Tackett def. Husted, 646-629.
Pate def. Kawazoe, 668-603.
Leong def. Dzikiewicz, 710-593.
Larsen def. Raymond, 745-600.
Archer def. Boerding, 616-596.

Blanchard def. Girard, 646-569.
Cunningham def. Willard, 629-620.
Ogle def. Lavery-Spahr, 692-684.
Burks def. Ostrander, 607-564.
Wilkins def. Winternheimer, 582-573.
Wolf def. Johnson, 717-600.
Foster def. Ciminelli, 712-593.
Simonsen def. Sanders, 732-637.

ROUND 3 - WINNERS BRACKET

Miller def. Anderson, 687-605.
Sloan def. Angelo, 682-511.
Holliman def. Barrett, 686-575.
Kent def. Aguiar, 768-656.

Butturff def. Schenck, 606-602.
Page def. Haggerty, 748-590.
Peters def. Stouffer, 645-618.
Van Hees def. Haynes, 663-613.

ROUND 3 - ELIMINATION BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $2,150)

Gomez def. Salama, 611-597.
Umbrello def. Scott-Jones, 660-624.
Martell def. Chapman, 655-629.
D. Tang def. Tackett, 708-573.
Cain def. Pate, 663-598.
Sherman def. Leong, 606-533.
Larsen def. Cooley, 711-670.
Hupe def. Archer, 686-672.

Ryan def. Blanchard, 657-625.
Cunningham def. Prather, 648-579.
Duke def. Ogle, 717-616.
Low def. Burks, 707-586.
Wilkins def. Thompson, 715-638.
Lavoie def. Wolf, 715-547.
Dunn def. Foster, 648-606.
Simonsen def. Machuga, 613-556.

ROUND 4 - ELIMINATION BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $2,400)

Gomez def. Umbrello, 742-558.
Martell def. D. Tang, 654-606.
Sherman def. Cain, 646-495.
Hupe def. Larsen, 711-690.

Ryan def. Cunningham, 632-616.
Duke def. Low, 669-647.
Lavoie def. Wilkins, 666-632.
Simonsen def. Dunn, 731-729.

ROUND 5 - ELIMINATION BRACKET
(Losers eliminated, earn $2,700)

Barrett def. Gomez, 658-605.
Martell def. Aguiar, 604-528.
Sherman def. Anderson, 717-562.
Hupe def. Angelo, 689-653.

Ryan def. Haynes, 676-527.
Stouffer def. Duke, 687-685.
Haggerty def. Lavoie, 687-637.
Simonsen def. Schenck, 713-660.

SOLOMON SALAMA LEADS QUALIFYING AT 2019 USBC MASTERS

LAS VEGAS – Solomon Salama, a 16-year-old two-hander, is the qualifying leader after 15 games at the 2019 United States Bowling Congress Masters.

Salama, from Beverly Hills, California, led a field of 450 of the top bowlers in the world at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, finishing qualifying with a 3,492 total, a 232.8 average.

AJ Johnson of Oswego, Illinois, finished qualifying in second place with 3,423, Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Arizona, is third with 3,362, Michael Machuga of Erie, Pennsylvania, is fourth with 3,335 and Japan’s Shota Kawazoe rounds out the top five with 3,329.

“It feels pretty good,” Salama said. “I felt like I matched up really well this week. I executed the way I wanted to and made some really good ball changes when I needed to."

The 2019 event now will transition to match play starting Saturday at 1 p.m. Eastern. A total of 64 players advanced to the tournament’s double-elimination bracket.

The final spots in match play went to Jonathan Van Hees of Charlestown, Rhode Island, and Canada’s Patrick Girard, who finished qualifying tied for 62nd place with a 3,069 total, a 204.6 average.

Van Hees rolled 206 in his final game to move into the cut, while Girard was able to hold on after finishing qualifying with 139.

Defending champion Andrew Anderson of Holly, Michigan, finished qualifying in a tie for 153rd place with 2,944, but he was guaranteed the No. 64 spot in the bracket if he was unable to improve his seeding through qualifying.

Salama, who attacks the lanes from the left-side, will face off against Anderson, a 23-year-old right-hander, in Saturday’s first round.

Salama also was the leader after Wednesday’s opening round of competition and reclaimed the top spot after games of 250, 178, 258, 213 and 279 on Friday for a 1,178 set.

The two-time Junior Gold Championships winner recently competed for Junior Team USA at the World Bowling Junior Championships in Paris, winning a silver medal in doubles with Anthony Neuer of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and he showed total command of his game on this week’s 39-foot oil pattern.

“My strategy won’t change heading into match play," said Salama, who also is part of Team USA after earning a spot at the 2019 USBC Team USA Trials, which also was held at Gold Coast. "I’m going to execute and try to keep it all left. It doesn’t really matter who I bowl, I just need to focus on my game.”

Qualifying consisted of 15 games over three days to determine the 63 bowlers joining Anderson in the bracket.

Bracket matches will be three-game total-pinfall contests to determine which players advance.

Match play will continue Sunday until the top five players are determined for Monday’s stepladder finals, which will be broadcast live at 9 p.m. Eastern on FS1.

FloBowling is providing livestream coverage of the 2019 Masters up to the stepladder finals.

For more information on the USBC Masters, visit BOWL.com/Masters.

United States Bowling Congress

The United States Bowling Congress serves as the national governing body of bowling as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). USBC conducts championship events nationwide including the largest participation sporting events in the world – the USBC Open and Women’s Championships – and professional events such as the USBC Masters and USBC Queens. 

Founded in 1895, today USBC and its 1,638 state and local associations proudly serve more than a million members. USBC is headquartered in Arlington, Texas, working toward a future for the sport. The online home for USBC is BOWL.com.

2019 USBC Masters
At Gold Coast Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas

Friday’s Results

QUALIFYING – ROUND 3
(All cashers; 15 games)

For seeding purposes, ties are broken by high block.

For complete standings and the double-elimination bracket, visit BOWL.com/Masters.

      1, Solomon Salama (a), Beverly Hills, Calif., 3,492. 2, AJ Johnson, Oswego, Ill., 3,423. 3, Jakob Butturff, Tempe, Ariz., 3,362. 4, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 3,335. 5, Shota Kawazoe, Japan, 3,329. 6, Rhino Page, Orlando, Fla., 3,320.

      7, Jake Peters, Henderson, Nev., 3,312. 8, Jalen Scott-Jones (a), Keene, N.H., 3,298. 9, Christopher Sloan, Ireland, 3,270. 10, David Stouffer (a), Lehigh Acres, Fla., 3,224. 11, Greg Ostrander, Freehold, N.J., 3,221. 12, Mykel Holliman, Collierville, Tenn., 3,216.

      13, Marshall Kent, Yakima, Wash., 3,215. 14, Andres Gomez, Hollywood, Fla., 3,214. 15, Kyle Sherman, O'Fallon, Mo., 3,205. 16, Kenneth Ryan (a), Farmingdale, N.J., 3,200. 17, Brad Miller, Raytown, Mo., 3,199. 18, Anthony Simonsen, Princeton, Texas, 3,191.

      19, Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Little Elm, Texas, 3,189. 20, Tobias Boerding, Germany, 3,188. 21, Greg Thompson Jr. (a), Tempe, Ariz., 3,186. 22, Corey Umbrello (a), Westminster, Mass., 3,185. 23, Ryan Ciminelli, Williamsville, N.Y., 3,183. 24, Zac Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 3,177.

      25, Wesley Low (a), Palmdale, Calif., 3,162. 26, Zach Wilkins, Canada, 3,159. 27, Brett Cunningham (a), Clay, N.Y., 3,152. 28, Dominic Barrett, England, 3,147. 29(tie), Matt Dzikiewicz (a), Rocky Hill, Conn., and Josh Blanchard, Mesa, Ariz., 3,146.

      31, Jared Wolf (a), Lowell, Ark., 3,129. 32, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 3,116. 33(tie), Mitch Hupe, Towanda, Kan., and Dean Richards, Tacoma, Wash., 3,115. 35(tie), Michael Martell, Brooklyn, N.Y., and Alex Aguiar (a), Dartmouth, Mass., 3,114.

      37, Nicholas Pate, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., 3,111. 38, Darren Tang, San Francisco, 3,110. 39(tie), Sam Cooley, Australia, and Michael Tang, San Francisco, 3,109. 41, Kristopher Prather, Milton, Fla., 3,108. 42, Andrew Cain, Phoenix, 3,107.

      43, Ryan Burks (a), Hammond, Ind., 3,104. 44, JR Raymond, Saginaw, Mich., 3,102. 45, Francois Lavoie, Wichita, Kan., 3,101. 46, Cortez Schenck (a), Phoenix, 3,100. 47, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 3,096. 48, AJ Chapman, St. Paul, Minn., 3,095.

      49, Zeke Bayt, Westerville, Ohio, 3,094. 50, Matthew Sanders, Evansville, Ind., 3,093. 51, Matt Ogle, Louisville, Ky., 3,087. 52(tie), DJ Archer, Houston, and Martin Larsen, Sweden, 3,084. 54, PJ Haggerty, Roseville, Calif., 3,083.

      55, Cameron Foster (a), Eagle Mountain, Utah, 3,082. 56(tie), Brad Angelo, Lockport, N.Y., and Corey Husted (a), Milwaukie, Ore., 3,079. 58(tie), Pascal Winternheimer, Germany, and Ian Willard (a), Milwaukie, Ore., 3,078. 60, Justin Dunn (a), Deland, Fla., 3,072.

      61, Dallas Leong (a), Las Vegas, 3,070. 62(tie), Jonathan Van Hees, Charlestown, R.I., and Patrick Girard, Canada, 3,069. 64, Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich., 2,944 (defending champion).

DID NOT ADVANCE

      65, Adam Barta, Girard, Ohio, 3,068, $1,900. 66, Richard Teece, England, 3,067, $1,850. 67, William Moore, Greensburg, Pa., 3,066, $1,835.

      68(tie), Alexander Hoskins (a), Perry, Utah, Leonard Ruiz (a), Los Alamitos, Calif., and Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 3,065, $1,805. 71, (tie) Oscar Rodriguez (a), Colombia, and Pontus Andersson, Sweden, 3,059, $1,765. 73(tie) Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., Michael Davidson, Versailles, Ohio, and Steve Smith, San Diego, 3,058, $1,738.33.     

      76, Jonathan Schalow (a), Evansville, Wis., 3,057, $1,700. 77, Matthew McNiel, Minneapolis, 3,055, $1,675. 78, Evan Nash, Kennewick, Wash., 3,052, $1,650. 79, Chris Castle (a), Australia, 3,048, $1,625.

      80, Alfredo Quintana (a), Colombia, 3,047, $1,600. 81(tie), Jean Perez, Greenwood, Ind., and Brady Stearns (a), St. Augusta, Minn., 3,045, $1,562.50. 83, EJ Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 3,042, $1,525. 84(tie), Walter Ray Williams Jr, Oxford, Fla., and Alex Scott Martin (a), Kennesaw, Ga., 3,041, $1,490.

      86(tie), Cody Caldwell (a), Laramie, Wyo., Jimmy Cook (a), Indianapolis, and Jason Carrillo (a), Montebello, Calif., 3,035, $1,451.66. 89(tie), Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, and Ryan Zagar, Racine, Wis., 3,034, $1,432.50. 91, Brandon Novak, Chillicothe, Ohio, 3,033, $1,425.

      92, Nick Kruml, Downers Grove, Ill., 3,032, $1,420. 93, Jeffrey Campbell, Clearwater, Fla., 3,031, $1,415. 94(tie), Perry Crowell IV (a), Hoquiam, Wash., Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, and Steve Novak (a), Louisville, Ky., 3,029, $1,400. 97, Bryan Hahlen (a), Greenwood, S.C., 3,024, $1,380.

      98, Cotie Holbek (a), Burlington, Wis., 3,022, $1,375. 99, Missy Parkin, Laguna Hills, Calif., 3,021, $1,370. 100, Chad Kloss (a), Muskego, Wis., 3,019, $1,360. 101, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 3,018, $1,355. 102, Liz Johnson, Palatine, Ill., 3,016, $1,350. 103, Derrick Matson (a), Winfield, Mo., 3,014, $1,345.

      104, Mike Wolfe, Floyd Knobs, Ind., 3,011, $1,340. 105(tie), Osku Palermaa, Finland, and Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 3,009, $1,302.50. 107(tie), Thomas Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., and Chris Via, Springfield, Ohio, 3,007, $1,282.50. 109, Chad Nelson (a), Owatonna, Minn., 3,003, $1,275.

      110(tie), Christian Azcona, Lake Wales, Fla., and Nick Borgaro (a), Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 2,999, $1,272.50. 112, Joseph Colcord (a), Portland, Maine, 2,998, $1,270. 113(tie), Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, and Joshua Jones (a), Lewisport, Ky., 2,995, $1,260.     

Syracuse Mets Announce 2019 Opening Day Roster for Inaugural Season

Tim Tebow, Carlos Gómez, and Rajai Davis headline experienced 2019 Syracuse roster

SYRACUSE, NY – With the start of the 2019 season less than a week away, the Syracuse Mets are excited to announce their roster for Opening Day. The Mets begin their inaugural season at home on Thursday, April 4th against the Pawtucket Red Sox at NBT Bank Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

Tim Tebow comes to Syracuse as one of the most highly-anticipated names on the Syracuse Mets’ Opening Day roster. The outfielder is in his third season in the Mets’ organization and his first with Syracuse. The 31-year-old was named an Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star last season with Double-A Binghamton. Tebow’s 2018 season was cut short because of an injury, but he hit .273 in 84 games last year with six home runs. The former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner is a two-time College Football National Champion with the Florida Gators and is a college football analyst on ESPN.

Led by manager Tony DeFrancesco, who has 24 years of managerial experience, including 15 seasons at the Triple-A level, the Syracuse Mets will have one of the most experienced teams in all of baseball. Of the 25 players on Syracuse’s Opening Day roster, 21 of them have played in the majors, combining for a total of 7,006 regular-season Major League games played in.

In the outfield, Syracuse has two-time All-Star Carlos Gómez, World Series runner-up Rajai Davis, and two-time World Series Champion Grégor Blanco. Gómez (1,427 games), Davis (1,419), and Blanco (1,060) have played more Major League games than anyone else on the roster. Rymer Liriano (59 games) and Tebow round out the Mets’ outfielders.

Four of the five Mets infielders on the Opening Day roster have MLB experience, led by Danny Espinosa (872 games), who played with Syracuse in 2010 and 2013 as a member of the Washington Nationals’ organization. Adeiny Hechavarría (811), Dilson Herrera (102), and Travis Taijeron (26) are the other infielders with experience in the majors, while David Thompson is in his fifth professional season and his second at the Triple-A level.

Behind the plate, catcher René Rivera (506 games) brings a wealth of experience. Rivera has played with eight MLB teams over parts of ten seasons, including with the New York Mets in 2016 and 2017. Colton Plaia joins Rivera as a Syracuse catcher. The 28-year-old was drafted by the Mets in 2013 and has moved up New York’s minor-league system, now entering his second season in Triple-A.

The Mets’ pitching staff features eight players on New York’s 40-man roster and 12 players with experience pitching in the majors. 2015 American League All-StarHéctor Santiago leads the way with 238 regular-season MLB appearances and 887 innings pitched.

The eight 40-man pitchers are: Tyler Bashlor, Chris Flexon, Drew Gagnon, Eric Hanhold, Corey Oswalt, Jacob Rhame, Paul Sewald, and Daniel Zamora. All eight pitchers on the New York Mets’ 40-man roster have also thrown in the majors. The other four pitchers for Syracuse with MLB appearances are Arquimedes Caminero, Casey Coleman, Ryan O’Rourke, and Santiago. Corey Taylor has not pitched in the majors, but the 26-year-old is in just his fifth professional season and his second year in Triple-A. In total, the 13-member pitching staff has 724 regular-season MLB appearances and has thrown 1,604 innings in the majors.

Tickets for 2019 Opening Day, as well as the other 69 home games at NBT Bank Stadium, are available for purchase at the Onondaga Coach Ticket Office at NBT Bank Stadium, over the phone during regular office hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or online anytime at syracusemets.com.

PBA Spare Shots

BRAD MILLER WINS WORLD SERIES “CARANO AWARD” AS MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

Brad Miller of Lees Summit, Mo., earned the 2019 PBA Don Carano Award as the most improved player in PBA World Series of Bowling X compared to his performance in WSOB IX in Reno in 2017.

Miller, a 29-year-old seven-year PBA member, finished 41st in the 135-player field at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., moving up 99 places compared to 2017. He won the honor by a single place in the standings over Brian Robinson of Morgantown, W.Va., who finished 43rd on the overall standings after the Cheetah, Chameleon and Scorpion Championship qualifying rounds, 98 places better than his 141st place in 2017. Coincidentally, Miller and Robinson were the only two players in the 2019 field who posted higher averages than they did in the 2017 qualifying rounds. Miller averaged 209.63 for his three animal pattern events in 2019 – up 1.36 pins over 2017 – while Robinson averaged 209.33 this year compared to 208.25 – a 1.08-pin improvement over 2017.

"A lot of great things are happening this year and this just solidifies it,” Miller said, referring in part to his second-place finish in the Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship earlier in the season with partner Kyle Sherman. “From year to year I worked on my balance. Before, I didn't have a lot of leverage, so I got lower to ground and got my hand under the ball, and it's changed everything."

(As a side note, Miller and Sherman have created a popular YouTube channel they are using to chronicle their PBA Tour life this year. It already has nearly 25,000 subscribers. To check it out their inside look at life on the PBA Tour, click here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=brad+and+kyle.)

As the winner of the second Carano award, Miller will receive a premium bottle of Ferrari Carano wine from the Carano family winery, dinner for two at Carano’s La Strada Ristorante and complimentary luxury accommodations at Eldorado or Silver Legacy Resort Casino.

Germany’s Tobias Börding won the inaugural PBA Don Carano Award in 2017, honoring the patriarch of the Carano family that was integral in the building of the National Bowling Stadium and the development of Reno’s Tri-Properties. Carano died on Oct. 3, 2017, at age 85.

TROUP, RASH, BARNES RECEIVE DHC PBA JAPAN INVITATIONS

The PBA field for the 2019 DHC PBA Japan Invitational is set with the additions of Kyle Troup, Sean Rash and Chris Barnes as team captain as invitees by the tournament sponsor. Also joining the international field of 16 will be PBA Japan Region champion Yuka Tsuchiya and a Korea PBA player to be named later.

PBA members who had previously qualified for invitations based on competition points are 2018 PBA Player of the Year Andrew Anderson, Anthony Simonsen, EJ Tackett, Kris Prather, Stuart Williams, Jason Belmonte, Marshall Kent, Bill O’Neill and Jakob Butturff. Defending DHC Japan champion Dom Barrett also will return when the 2019 event is held April 27-29 at Tokyo Port Bowl.

The international players will be joined by 16 Japanese bowlers who will qualify during a pre-tournament qualifier a week ahead of the main event. The tournament offers an estimated $35,000 first prize plus a PBA Tour title. PBA’s official live streaming partner, FloBowling, will cover the event in its entirety.

PBA REGIONAL UPDATE: O’GRADY WINS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE HUBBARD OPEN TITLE

Matt O’Grady of Rahway, N.J. defeated Patrick Dombrowski of Parma, Ohio, 215-209, to win the PBA Hubbard Central Open presented by Brunswick at Bell-Wick Bowl in Hubbard, Ohio, on Sunday for the fourth consecutive year.

O’ Grady, who won his first and only PBA Tour title in the 2018 PBA Tournament of Champions, earned his sixth career PBA Regional title and the $2,500 first prize.

Dombrowski defeated Chris Via of Springfield, Ohio, 202-187, to advance to the championship match after downing Graham Fach of Urbana, Ohio, 235-222, in the first stepladder match.

• Ray Edwards of Middle Island, N.Y., defeated Mike Hastings of Millsboro, Del., 237-216, to win $3,200 and his 22nd overall PBA Regional title in the PBA50 Rossi Lanes Eastern Open at Rossi Lanes in Elmira, N.Y., Sunday. 

Edwards, a three-time East Region Player of the Year and a two-time East Region Senior Player of the Year, qualified fifth, earning a bye for the first round of Sunday’s finals. He defeated 2013 champion John Conroy of Mahopac, N.Y., 2-0, in the best-of-three-game Round of 12 and Don Herrington of Ballston Lake, N.Y. 2-0 before eliminating 2016 winner Brian Boghosian of Springfield, Mass., 225-212, in the semifinal round.

Hastings, who also had a one round bye, defeated Larry Woomer of State College, Pa., 2-0 in the Round of 12; Sammy Ventura of Norwich, N.Y. 2-0 in the Round of 8, and two-time Rossi Lanes champ Jeff Zaffino of Warren, Pa., 206-178, in his semifinal round match.

• Jeff Bellinger of Columbia, S.C., defeated Brett Caramagno of Goose Creek, S.C., 252-206, to win $2,000 and his 15th overall PBA Regional title in the PBA50 UltraStar at Harrahs Cherokee Resort South Open at UltraStar Lanes in Cherokee, N.C., Sunday.

Bellinger started of the championship match with a four bagger and never looked back as Caramagno had some early opens. It was Caramagno’s second event as a senior.

In the semifinal round, Bellinger defeated Aaron White of Cleveland, Tenn., 198-183, while Caramagno disposed of PBA50 rookie Mitch Beasley of Clarksville, Tenn., 243-231.

• John Marsala of St. Louis defeated Harry Sullins of Chesterfield, Township, Mich. by 149 pins to win the PBA50 Monte Skeels Allstate Midwest/Central Open presented by Ebonite at Liberty Lanes in Carpentersville, Ill., Saturday.

Marsala, who won a national title in the 2018 PBA50 Dave Small’s Championship Lanes Classic in Anderson, Ind., finished with a 5-3 match play record and a total of 3,914 pins for 15 games, including match play bonus pins, to win his first PBA50 Regional title. He also earned $1,500. The one day-reduced entry fee event drew 57 entries.

• Dean Richards of Tacoma, Wash., defeated non-PBA member Robert Harmon of Jackson, Calif., 251-230, to win his fifth PBA Regional title and $2,000 in the DV8 Northwest/West Open at Caveman Bowl in Grants Pass, Ore., Sunday.

Harmon defeated Bob Rosenau of Redding, Calif., 215-204, in the semifinal match, after Warren Crawford of McKinleyville defeated Mark Mazzulla of Brentwood, Calif., in the opening match of the stepladder finals, 209-203. Harmon then eliminated Crawford, 257-233.

• April arrives with a full schedule of PBA Regional activity beginning over the April 5-7 weekend with the Grand Casino Resort Southwest Open presented by Brunswick at FireLake Bowling Center in Shawnee, Okla.

• Headlining the April 12-14 PBA Regional schedule will be the Bowlers Discount Pro Shop Open presented by DV8 at AMF Towson Lanes in Towson, Md.; the Debbie and Leo Nunan Memorial Central Open presented by Track at AMF Stardust Lanes in Grove City, Ohio; the Jac’s Lanes Valdosta South Open presented by DV8 in Valdosta, Ga., and the PBA and PBA50 Earl Anthony West/Northwest Memorial doubleheader at Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl in Dublin, Calif.

• The only event heading into the Easter weekend is the PBA50 Sarasota Ford South Open April 18-20 at Sarasota Lanes in Florida.

• Closing the April PBA Regional calendar over the April 26-28 weekend will be the Houston Copperfield Southwest Challenge for non-title winners, presented by Global 900; the Brighton Construction Myrtle Beach South Open at Myrtle Beach Bowl in South Carolina; the Oklahoma City Southwest Open presented by Roto Grip at Planet Bowl in Oklahoma; the PBA/PBA50 Tumwater Lanes Doubles event presented by MOTIV in Tumwater, Wash., and the Greater Richmond Central Open at Richmond 40 Bowl in Richmond, Ind.

● 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…and remember, you can follow “live scoring” for all PBA Regional events on pba.com (easily accessible for Apple and Android device users using the PBA app).

QUICK NOTES:

• The BJI Cyber Report notes the iconic National Bowling Stadium in Reno, a long-time host to many prestigious PBA events on national and regional levels, turns 25 next year. To celebrate the facility’s 25th anniversary, an expansive remodeling job is underway that will result in expanded room, revamped bleachers, a completely new air conditioning system and more. Listen to BJI Editor Gianmarc Manzione’s podcast with USBC Open Championships tournament director Duane Hagen to learn more about the changes:http://www.bowlersjournal.com/podcast-duane-hagen-on-the-national-bowling-stadiums-25th-anniversary/

• Jason Belmonte’s record 11th PBA major title, won in the PBA World Championship during PBA WSOB X at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich., on March 21, will earn him recognition in the 2020 edition of the Guinness Book of Records.