SUNDAY BOWLING ON ESPN

Sunday on ESPN: Atom Splitters Begin Bid for Third Elias Cup as L.L.Bean PBA League Quarterfinal Matches Conclude at Bayside Bowl

PORTLAND, Maine – After a two-match dress rehearsal to get their vocal chords loosened up and their chants in order, the rambunctious fans at Bayside Bowl will be in peak form for the final two L.L.Bean PBA League quarterfinal round matches airing Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

Sunday’s coverage will begin with the Live + Work in Maine Silver Lake Atom Splitters, the only team to win the PBA League Elias Cup twice, facing off against the MaineQuarterly.com Brooklyn Styles. The second and final quarterfinal match will send the hometown-favorite L.L.Bean Portland Lumberjacks against the Barbasol Motown Muscle.

The Atom Splitters, managed by Mark Baker and featuring a lineup of Chris Barnes, Tom Daugherty, Jesper Svensson, Shawn Maldonado and DJ Archer, won back-to-back Elias Cups, defeating L.A. X in both 2014 and ’15. Standing in the way to a trip to the semifinal round will be the Brooklyn Styles, managed by PBA Hall of Famer Johnny Petraglia and his all-star roster of Sean Rash, PBA Hall of Famers Parker Bohn III and Walter Ray Williams Jr., Jason Sterner and Jon Van Hees.

The quarterfinals will wrap up with the Portland Lumberjacks, managed by Tim Mack and featuring Wes Malott, Ryan Ciminelli, Kyle Troup, Bryon Smith and “Lumberjill” Liz Johnson taking on manager Del Ballard Jr.’s Barbasol Motown Muscle and its youthful lineup including reigning PBA Player of the Year EJ Tackett, Anthony Simonsen, 2016 Rookie of the Year Francois Lavoie, and PBA Tour veterans Josh Blanchard and Dick Allen. Neither team has ever won the Elias Cup.

In PBA League play, the best-of-two-game Baker matches are decided by a dramatic one-ball sudden-death roll-off if the teams split their two games.

The winning teams will advance to the semifinal round, where they will meet each other in an ESPN-televised match that will air on Sunday, May 7, at 1 p.m. EDT.

Already locked into the semifinal round are the Sysco Philadelphia Hitmen (manager Jason Couch, Dom Barrett, Tom Smallwood, Chris Loschetter, Ronnie Russell and Dave Wodka) and the defending Elias Cup champion Shipyard Dallas Strikers (player-manager Norm Duke, Tommy Jones, Bill O’Neill, Rhino Page and B.J. Moore), winners of quarterfinal round matches one and two.

The Elias Cup finals will air on Sunday, May 14, at 1 p.m. All ESPN telecasts also will be streamed simultaneously on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.

BOWLING LANE CERTIFICATION TO CHANGE

LANE CERTIFICATION STUDY PROMPTS NEW SPECIFICATIONS FOR 2019
ARLINGTON, Texas – The United States Bowling Congress will implement new requirements for lane inspections and will adjust specifications for new installations for the 2019-2020 season based on recent research conducted by the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications team.
The research included analysis of the lane certification paperwork submitted by 323 centers, an examination of more than 1,000 lanes throughout the country, in which lanes were checked to determine compliance with current specifications, a study of the pin deck, and an examination of lane topography.
The studies were undertaken to determine the extent of lanes that were out of specification, which pin deck measurements have the most effect on scoring, how lane topography shifts over time, and how lane topography affects the ball path.
“The USBC team did a tremendous job in its research, looking at how lanes are inspected and how the lanes perform under current specifications,” USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy said. “The results helped us to make decisions on ways to improve the lane certification process and how installations are done. The studies and subsequent changes are important to ensuring the lanes USBC members compete on in leagues and competitions meet required standards.”
The key changes to lane certification will be the specification change for new installations, including overlays on existing lanes, the number of measurements required for each lane, and how kickbacks, the side panels of each lane in the pit area, are measured.
For new installations, including overlays on existing lanes, the specification for crowns/depressions and crosswise tilts now will be plus/minus thirty-thousandths of an inch starting Aug. 1, 2019. USBC also will require an inspection within 14 days following the completion of a new installation.
The specification change only is at the time of installation, and will minimize maintenance costs. The specification returns to plus/minus forty-thousandths for the next annual inspection.
Lane topography, which looks at contours, crowns and depressions, showed lane surfaces can change throughout the year because of environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity. If lanes start flatter, they will stay within the current specification of forty-thousandths of an inch for a longer time, prompting the specification change.
Starting with certifications for the 2018-2019 season, a new application for center certification will be available on BOWL.com that will address the number of measurements required for each lane and how kickbacks are measured.
Lane inspectors will be required to measure the lanes at five locations for crowns/depressions and crosswise title, instead of the current three locations. With many lanes using synthetic panels, and the fact it takes five synthetic panels to construct a lane, there is a need to have at least one measurement for each panel.
A pin deck area scoring study determined the most important measurement affecting percentage of strikes is the distance between the kickbacks at the back of the pin deck. Measurements now will be taken from kickback plate to kickback plate starting with the 2018-2019 season, as it simplifies the measuring process and is not a change in the specification.
Lane inspectors also will be required to submit inspection applications signed by the inspector, association manager, and center representative to USBC national headquarters.
To ensure the accuracy of the data, USBC will allow a one-year grace period for center certification. Simply having a proper inspection of the bowling center and supplying the data to USBC Headquarters will allow the center to be certified for the 2018-2019 season. The data collected during these inspections will be analyzed to determine if additional improvements to the process will be needed for the 2019-2020 season. Of course, proprietors always will be encouraged to make needed repairs to their lanes.
Go to BOWL.com/EquipAndSpecs and click on Lane-Center Certifications to view the complete Lane Certification Study.
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 2,500 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.

USBC HALL OF FAME

OZIO, SHADY INDUCTED INTO USBC HALL OF FAME
LAS VEGAS - The United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame welcomed two new members and celebrated their accomplishments Wednesday at The Orleans Hotel and Casino.

The 2017 USBC Hall of Fame Class includes David Ozio of Beaumont, Texas, in the Superior Performance category and Mike Shady of Girard, Pennsylvania, for Outstanding USBC Performance.
Ozio, 63, is an 11-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour titlist, including the 1991 PBA Tournament of Champions, part of a four-win year that ended with PBA Player of the Year honors.

He went on to find success on the PBA50 Tour, earning two victories, the first of which was the 2004 Senior U.S. Open on the way to being named PBA50 Rookie of the Year.

"The honor tonight is beyond measure," said Ozio, who was ranked 34th on the PBA's list of the 50 Greatest Players in PBA History (2009). "When you think back to the dedication and the things it took to get here, was it worth it? By all means. I would've done it again 10 times over."
Shady, 51, has experienced an unprecedented run of success at the USBC Open Championships, which includes two wins on the championship lanes - Team All-Events (2005) and Regular Team (2011) - and 13 additional top-10 finishes.
He also is the tournament's lifetime average leader for competitors with a minimum of 20 years of participation, with a mark of 222.28 in 21 appearances (189 games). He has posted an all-events score of 1,900 or better in 20 of those years.
The right-hander's resume includes first-team All-America honors while competing for Nebraska during the 1986-1987 and 1987-1988 seasons and a win at the 1985 Intercollegiate Team Championships, while bowling for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Shady went on to claim one PBA Tour title at the 1992 Earl Anthony PBA Open in Dublin, California.
"Tonight, I am truly honored and humbled to be in the same category as everybody who walked through that door earlier," Shady said. "I'm filled with gratitude and just very humbled."

Through 2017, there are 419 members of the USBC Hall of Fame - 218 in Superior Performance, 117 in Meritorious Service, 50 in Veterans, 20 in Pioneers and 14 in Outstanding USBC Performance.
The USBC Hall of Fame was created in 2005 by merging the former American Bowling Congress and Women's International Bowling Congress Halls of Fame.

RUMBLE PONIES TAKE RUBBER GAME 4-1

Rumble Ponies Run Away with Rubber Game, 4-1

AKRON, OH – The Binghamton Rumble Ponies stole a season-high five bases, including three from Champ Stuart, and sped past the Akron RubberDucks, 4-1, on Wednesday night at Canal Park. Corey Oswalt struck out a season-best seven to guide the Rumble Ponies to their second straight series victory.
The Rumble Ponies ran wild on the bases to generate three runs against Akron starter Nick Pasquale. Stuart, Luis Guillorme and Patrick Biondi combined to swipe five bags in the first three innings. Stuart, hitting leadoff for the first time since April 8, opened the game with a bunt single, stole second and scored on a groundout. In the third, a double steal by Stuart and Guillorme set the table for a two-run inning.
David Thompson hammered a solo home run to center to start the fourth inning. Thompson’s line-drive blast off the batter’s eye, his first career Double-A home run, gave the Rumble Ponies a three-run advantage.
Oswalt made the lead stick over six strong innings despite a challenging start. Akron pushed a run across versus the righty in the first inning, but failed to get any offense rolling after their quick strike.
Oswalt (2-2) struck out six of the first ten batters he faced en route to his second straight win. The righty stranded runners at the corners twice and mowed down the final seven hitters before handing off to the bullpen.
Kyle Regnault tossed two scoreless innings to set up Tim Peterson in the ninth. Peterson stepped around a single to earn his first save of the season.
Pasquale (1-1) allowed four runs on four hits over six innings in his first loss.
The Rumble Ponies (9-8) open a three-game series at home against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Friday at 7:05 PM. RHP Casey Delgado takes the hill against LHP Shane Dawson. The Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show can be heard starting a 6:50 PM on NewsRadio 1290 AM WNBF and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies channel on TuneIn.
POSTGAME NOTES: Binghamton’s five stolen bases were their highest total in a single game since they swiped the same number on May 18, 2013 against the Portland Sea Dogs…Champ Stuart’s three stolen bases matched a career high…Kevin Taylor went 0-for-4 and had his 11-game hitting streak snapped
Rumble Ponies fans can purchase tickets for any remaining home game at the NYSEG Stadium box office, online www.bingrp.com and over the phone at (607) 722-FUNN.

RAILRIDERS RALLY

Luis Cessa Sparkles and RailRiders Rally Past Bats

Tyler Wade Singles Home Go-Ahead Run in Seventh

Moosic, Pa. – Right-hander Luis Cessa weaved together 6.2 innings of one-run baseball and the SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/ New York Yankees) rallied past the Louisville Bats 4-1 on Wednesday night at PNC Field. The win boosted the RailRiders to 9-9 on the year and a 3-2 season series edge against the Bats (8-11).

The Bats’ only run against Cessa came in the fifth on a run-producing triple by Juan Perez. The right-hander scattered nine hits over his outing and struck out one without allowing a walk. Tyler Webb (2-0) took home the win after retiring the only batter he faced. Ernesto Frieri fired a perfect ninth for his third save.

SWB took control against reliever Alejandro Chacin (0-2) in the seventh. Ruben Tejada blooped a single to right that scored Ji-Man Choi from third and Tyler Wade followed with what proved to be the game-winning hit. The shortstop lined a single to center that plated Mason Williams.

Williams would score a second time in the eighth, crossing with Rob Refsnyder on a double to left-center by Mark Payton that capped the scoring.

The 2016 Gildan Triple-A National Champion RailRiders conclude their series with the Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds) at PNC Field on Thursday night. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Chad Green (2-0, 2.00) is scheduled to pitch against right-hander Lisalverto Bonilla (2-0, 5.56). Every Thursday home game at PNC Field is Thirsty Thursday with $1 Bud Lights and Pepsi products. Also, as part of “College Night,” tickets are just $5 with a valid college I.D. presented at the Box Office. For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.

BORESCH WINS SUN BOWL TITLE

Lennie Boresch Jr. Goes Wire-to-Wire to Win

                                  PBA50 UnitedHealthcare Sun Bowl In the Villages For Third Career Title

                                                            Boresch defeats Bob Learn Jr. 264-213 in title match

THE VILLAGES, Fla. – In a wire-to-wire victory, Lennie Boresch Jr. of Kenosha, Wis., won the PBA50 UnitedHealthcare Sun Bowl In The Villages presented by Radical Tuesday for his third career PBA50 Tour title.

Boresch, who led all four rounds in qualifying and match play to enter the stepladder finals as the top qualifier, defeated Bob Learn Jr. of Erie, Pa., 264-213, in the title match at Spanish Springs Lanes.

“It’s a relief because even though I’ve been bowling pretty well you really never know when the opportunity will come again,” said Boresch, who averaged 245 for the tournament. “I just focused and stayed with what got me here.”

Boresch, who won the 2012 Sun Bowl In the Villages in his PBA50 Tour debut, started with a strike and spare in the title match and then threw eight consecutive strikes to clinch the win. Learn, a three-time PBA50 Tour and five-time PBA Tour titlist, opened in the first frame and couldn’t keep pace with Boresch for the rest of the match.

Learn, who qualified fifth for the finals, dominated the first three stepladder matches winning the opening match by beating Darin Hays of Wesley Chapel, Fla., 199-173, before defeating Sam Maccarone of Blackwood, N.J., 278-185, and then PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III of Jackson, N.J., 279-245, in the semi-final match.

“The way he (Learn) was bowling I thought I might be in trouble,” said Boresch, who compiled a 13-3 record in match play. “Ironically, I bowled my lowest games of the tournament on the championship pair.  All I knew was I was going to have to strike because he was lined up.”

Boresch’s last win came in the 2013 Miller High Life Classic. Since then, the USBC Hall of Famer has had four runner-up finishes including two in 2016.

The final day of competition of the Sun Bowl In The Villages will be available on PBA’s online bowling channel Xtra Frame beginning Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET.  Visit www.xtraframe.tv for schedule and subscription information.

The PBA50 Tour travels to George Pappas’ Victory Lanes in Mooresville, N.C., for the PBA50 Race City Open presented by Columbia 300 April 30-May 3.

PBA50 SUN BOWL IN THE VILLAGES PRESENTED BY RADICAL   

Spanish Springs Lanes, The Villages, Fla., Tuesday

Final Standings:

1,  Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis. $7,500.

2,  Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., $4,000.

3,  Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., $3,000.

4,  Sam Maccarone, Blackwood, N.J., $2,000.

5,  Darin Hays, Wesley Chapel, Fla., $1,750. 

Stepladder Results:

Match One – Learn def. Hays, 199-173.

Match Two – Learn def. Maccarone, 278-185.

Semifinal Match – Learn def. Bohn, 279-245.

Championship – Boresch def. Learn, 264-213.

FOURTH ROUND

(Top five advanced to stepladder finals. Includes match play record and 32-game pinfall total including bonus)

1, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 13-3, 8,222.
2, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 13-3, 8,087.
3, Sam Maccarone, Blackwood, N.J., 10-5-1, 7,815.
4, Darin Hays, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 9-7, 7,795.
5, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 8-7-1, 7,787.
6, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 9-6-1, 7,771, $1,700.
7, Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., 9-7, 7,768, $1,600.
8, Peter Knopp, Germany, 8-8, 7,707, $1,550.
9, Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 10-6, 7,702, $1,500.
10, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 7-8-1, 7,692, $1,475.
11, Danny Clark, New Palestine, Ind., 9-6-1, 7,665, $1,450.
12, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 7-8-1, 7,658, $1,425.
13, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 8-8, 7,597, $1,400.
14, Jerry Brunette Jr., Rochester, N.Y., 10-6, 7,576, $1,380.
15, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 9-6-1, 7,557, $1,360.
16, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 7-9, 7,392, $1,350.

THIRD ROUND

(Top 16 advanced to fourth round. Includes match play record and 24-game total pinfall including bonus)

1, Lennie Boresch Jr., Kenosha, Wis., 6-2, 6,017.
2, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 7-1, 5,951.
3, Darin Hays, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 5-3, 5,880.
4, Hugh Miller, Mercer Island, Wash., 6-2, 5,866.
5, Bob Learn Jr., Erie, Pa., 4-4, 5,815.
6, Mike Dias, Lafayette, Colo., 7-1, 5,812.
7, Peter Knopp, Germany, 5-3, 5,794.
8, Sam Maccarone, Blackwood, N.J., 5-3, 5,791.
9, Ron Mohr, Las Vegas, 7-1, 5,771.
10, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Oxford, Fla., 4-4, 5,762.
11, Jerry Brunette Jr., Rochester, N.Y., 6-2, 5,709.
12, Bryan Goebel, Shawnee, Kan., 4-4, 5,685.
13, Michael Haugen Jr., Phoenix, 5-3, 5,681.
14, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 4-4, 5,661.
15, Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., 5-3, 5,649.
16, Danny Clark, New Palestine, Ind., 5-2-1, 5,618.

Did not advance:

17, David Williams Jr., Omaha, Neb., 2-6, 5,613, $1,200.
18, Sammy Ventura, Syracuse, N.Y., 4-4, 5,601, $1,190.
19, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 4-4, 5,600, $1,180.
20, Wayne Bolin, Lumberton, N.C., 3-5, 5,596, $1,170.
21, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 4-4, 5,539, $1,160.
22, Tony Adkins, Port Orange, Fla., 5-3, 5,537, $1,150.
23, James Hansen, Anchorage, Alaska, 4-4, 5,528, $1,145.
24, Mark Sullivan, Indianapolis, 2-6, 5,511, $1,140.
25, Paul McCordic, Sugar Land, Texas, 2-6, 5,461, $1,135.
26, n-John Hough, Naples, Fla., 4-4, 5,455, $1,130.
27, Eddie Graham, Centerville, Ohio, 3-5, 5,359, $1,125.
28, Ralph Brunt Jr., Jensen Beach, Fla., 1-6-1, 5,321, $1,120.
29, Scott Greiner, Platte City, Mo., 2-6, 5,304, $1,115.
30, Darryl Dempsey, Pinellas Park, Fla., 1-7, 5,281, $1,110.
31, Joe Fulner III, Belleview, Fla., 0-8, 5,220, $1,105.
32, Pete Thomas, Oklahoma City, Okla., 1-7-0, 5,137, $1,100.

RAILRIDERS LOSE 6-2 TO LOUISVILLE

Caleb Smith Shines in RailRiders Loss

Southpaw Weaves 5.2 Scoreless Innings

Moosic, Pa. – The SWB RailRiders (Triple-A/ New York Yankees) received a great start from left-hander Caleb Smith, but ultimately fell to the Louisville Bats 6-2 on Tuesday night at PNC Field. The Bats (8-10) evened the season set with the RailRiders (8-9) at 2-2.

Smith fired 5.2 innings of one-hit baseball. He struck out one and retired 15 consecutive hitters at one point. The RailRiders grabbed the first lead of the game in the sixth inning on a two-out single by Donovan Solano.

Louisville used three hits and a pair of walks to rally for five runs in the seventh against reliever Ben Heller (0-3). Bats starter Jackson Stephens (2-1) took the win after holding SWB to a one run despite seven hits over six innings. Kevin Shackelford recorded the final four outs for his second save.

Ji-Man Choi crushed his first homer as a RailRider out to left-center in the eighth for the team’s second tally.

The 2016 Gildan Triple-A National Champion RailRiders continue their series with the Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds) at PNC Field on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Luis Cessa (1-2, 1.62) is scheduled to pitch against right-hander Sal Romano (0-0, 1.59). It’s Wine and Dine Wednesday at PNC Field with a one-hour, pre-game wine tasting and win specials throughout the night for those 21 years and older! For tickets or more information, please call 570-969-BALL (2255) or visit swbrailriders.com.