PBA Announces Multi-Year Agreement to Add USBC Masters, U.S. Open

to PBA on FOX Schedule

ARLINGTON, Texas (Jan. 15, 2019) – The Professional Bowlers Association, United States Bowling Congress and Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America today announced a multi-year agreement to include the USBC Masters and U.S. Open as major events on the Go Bowling! PBA Tour television package on FOX Sports.

FOX Sports will televise the U.S. Open live on FOX from 2020 through 2022 and the USBC Masters live on FS1 from 2019 through 2022. The announcement was made today at the BPAA Mid-Winter Summit in New Orleans.

“The PBA is thrilled to have these two major professional events as part of the PBA Tour television package on FOX Sports for years to come,” PBA CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark said. “It is terrific for the bowling industry to rally behind the PBA Tour on FOX Sports and collaborate on a long-term commitment for these major events.”

As a result of the agreement, the 2020 U.S. Open will move up in the calendar with the televised finals set for Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. The current U.S. Open format will continue, with a host venue for the 2020 event to be announced later.

The USBC Masters will continue to be conducted in its traditional time window in conjunction with the USBC Open Championships.

“The PBA Tour move to FOX Sports is fantastic for bowling and everyone associated with the U.S. Open and USBC Masters is excited to be part of it,” USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy said. “The media attention and investment in competitive bowling keeps growing and this partnership is another great win-win for the sport.”

Known as the BPAA All-Star from 1941-1970, the U.S. Open now is a collaborative effort of the BPAA and USBC.

“Elevating the U.S. Open to FOX provides a new level of exposure for a tournament with a rich BPAA history,” BPAA Executive Director Frank DeSocio said. “The launch of the PBA Tour on FOX has been extremely impressive and we are proud to be involved.”

Score big with RailRiders Football Squares promo

Football squares promotion upgrades fans at the end of each quarter and with the final score

MOOSIC, PA (January 11, 2019) – With Super Bowl LIII only weeks away, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are bringing back a great ticket promotion with the chance to win ticket upgrades and prizes.  Fans can now purchase mini-plans and get involved in the RailRiders Football Squares promotion to win on February 3.

With the purchase of a Five-Game Plan, you will receive one random square.  If you purchase the Bobblehead Package, you will receive two random squares.  Chances to win occur with the score at the end of each quarter and at the end of the game.  The scores will reward you with free upgrades for packages purchased.  Squares correspond with the number of packages purchased, so buy multiple Five-Game Plans or Bobblehead Packages for more chances to win!

Winning Outcomes:

            *  Match the score at the end of the first quarter and receive ten undated ticket vouchers to be used for any 2019 regular season game plus receive the chance to throw out a first pitch before a 2019 RailRiders game

            *  Match the score at the end of the second quarter and get 20 undated ticket vouchers to be used for any 2019 regular season game plus two bobbleheads from our Mystery Bobblehead vault

            *  Match the score at the end of the third quarter and receive 30 undated ticket vouchers to be used for any 2019 regular season game and receive a game-worn 2018 RailRiders jersey

            *  Match the score at the end of the fourth and 40 undated ticket vouchers  to be used for any 2019 regular season game, four tickets to a New York Yankees game and a Jose Canseco autographed baseball

            *  Should the game go to overtime and you match the final score after OT, you will win 50 undated ticket vouchers to be used for any 2019 regular season game, a $50.00 gift card to the team store (or that can be used at any Legend’s concession stand during the 2019 season), four tickets to a New York Yankees game and a Jose Canseco autographed baseball 

Tickets packages for the 2019 season, both full season and mini-plans, are available now and Football Squares are on a limited, first-come, first-serve basis.  Squares will be assigned at random.  For more information, please visit swbrailriders.com or contact a ticket sales representative at (570) 969-BALL.

Jakob Butturff Ends Top Qualifier Slump to Win

PBA Oklahoma Open for Fifth Career Tour Title

SHAWNEE, Okla. (Jan. 13, 2019) – Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Ariz., finally closed the deal by winning the PBA Oklahoma Open as the stepladder finals top qualifier to capture his fifth career tour title Sunday at the FireLake Bowling Center.

After losing last week’s 2019 season-opening PBA Hall of Fame Classic and the 2018 season-ending U.S. Open title match as top qualifier, the 24-year-old left-hander finally broke the slump by defeating left-handed two-hander Jesper Svensson of Sweden 267-201, in the title match of the second stop of the 2019 Go Bowling! PBA Tour season televised live by FS1.

In the title match it looked like missing easy spares might again prove to be Butturff’s undoing when he missed a seven pin in the second frame.  As it turned out, he wouldn’t need to attempt a spare again in the match, throwing the next nine strikes to seal the win against Svensson who couldn’t mount a challenge to Butturff’s strike barrage.

“I did have flashbacks from last week, but I got over it quickly and was able to get back in the mindset of letting that go and start fresh with the next shot,” Butturff said. “I decided to make a ball change to improve pin carry at that point and fortunately started striking again.”

Butturff joined Hall of Famers Earl Anthony, Johnny Petraglia and Walter Ray Williams Jr. as the only players to earn a top seed for the stepladder finals in three consecutive PBA Tour telecasts. Had he lost, he would have become the first player to lose three consecutive tournaments from the top qualifier position.

Butturff missed two easy spares in his loss to Bill O’Neill in the Hall of Fame Classic title match which ended up costing him the win.

“I knew I would break through with a win sooner or later because I’ve had experience winning out here (on tour),” Butturff said. “I feel like I’m in good company when you think of the greats in the game who were in a similar position that have had their share of second-place finishes.

“I will say that I think after all I’ve been through recently, this is probably my most satisfying win so far,” he added.

Svensson, who qualified third for the finals and was trying for his eighth tour title, advanced to the championship match by beating No. 2 qualifier Patrick Girard of Canada, 239-218, in the semifinal. Girard was trying for his first PBA Tour title and to become only the third Canadian to win on tour.

In the opening stepladder match, No. 4 qualifier, seven-time tour winner Dom Barrett of England, beat No. 5 qualifier, two-time Tour winner Tom Daugherty of Riverview, Fla., 245-162, to advance to the second match against Svensson. Svensson then beat Barrett in the second match, 267-231, to advance to the semifinal.

The next stop for the Go Bowling! PBA Tour will be the PBA Lubbock Sports Open Jan. 22-27 at South Plains Lanes. The finals will be televised live by FS1 at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 27.

PBA OKLAHOMA OPEN

FireLake Bowling Center, Shawnee, Okla., Sunday

Final Standings

1, Jakob Butturff, Tempe, Ariz., $25,000.

2, Jesper Svensson, Sweden, $13,000.

3, Patrick Girard, Canada, $9,000.

4, Dom Barrett, England, $7,000.

5, Tom Daugherty, Riverview, Fla., $6,000.

Playoff Results: 
Match One: Barrett def. Daugherty, 245-162.
Match Two: Svensson def. Barrett, 267-231.

Semifinal Match: Svensson def. Girard, 239-218.

Championship: Butturff def. Svensson, 267-201.

Jakob Butturff in Familiar Territory as

PBA Oklahoma Open Finals Top Qualifier

Patrick Girard, Jesper Svensson, Dom Barrett and Tom Daugherty will join

Butturff in Sunday’s stepladder finals telecast on FS1

SHAWNEE, Okla. (Jan. 11, 2019) – For the second consecutive tournament of the season, four-time PBA Tour winner Jakob Butturff of Tempe, Ariz., captured the top qualifying position for a Go Bowling! PBA Tour stepladder final and will lead a five-player field for the PBA Oklahoma Open finals telecast which will air live on FS1 this Sunday at 11 a.m. ET from the FireLake Bowling Center.

It is actually the third consecutive PBA Tour event that Butturff has earned the top qualifying spot for the finals dating back to the season-ending 2018 U.S. Open in October where he finished second to England’s Dom Barrett, losing 207-206 in the title match.

Butturff, who finished second in last week’s PBA Hall of Fame Classic, posted a 10-6 overall record in match play and finished with a 9,362 37-game pinfall total (including match play bonus pins) to take the top qualifying position. 

In what turned out to be a disappointing runner-up finish in the Hall of Fame Classic title match to Bill O’Neill because of two missed spares, the 24-year-old Butturff is more than prepared to break his string of runner-up finishes from the top qualifying spot.

“Failure doesn’t mean give up – it means stay patient,” said the left-hander. “I’ve had to work hard on my mental game strength and it’s been put to the test recently. You need a lot of mental strength to rebound from disappointment. I’m learning from my past mistakes and believe that just makes you stronger.”

Canadian Patrick Girard posted an 8-0 record in Friday’s match play round (12-4 overall) and averaged 257 to move from ninth heading into the round to finish second for the finals with a 9,251 pinfall.

Girard will be trying for his first PBA Tour title with previous best finishes of fourth twice in 2005 and a fifth-place finish in the 2018 PBA Players Championship.

Also making his second consecutive championship round appearance of the young season was Sweden’s Jesper Svensson who qualified third for the finals with a 9-7 overall match play record and 9,214 pinfall.

The 23-year-old left-handed two-hander who owns seven PBA Tour titles, finished fourth in the Hall of Fame Classic.

Despite winning only two matches in the final round of match play, Barrett, also a seven-time tour winner, hung on to qualify fourth for the finals finishing with an 8-8 match play record and 9,187 pinfall.

In a dramatic position round match, two-time tour winner Tom Daugherty of Riverview, Fla., defeated four-time PBA Player of the Year and 18-time tour winner Jason Belmonte of Australia, 279-269, to surge from eighth place to take the fifth and final stepladder spot.

The 43-year-old Daugherty went 11-5 in match play and finished with a 9,146 overall pinfall total to edge out Belmonte, who finished sixth with a 7-9 record and 9,133 pinfall.        

PBA competition continues this evening from the FireLake Bowling Center beginning at 6 p.m. CT with the first Baker match play round of the Mark Roth-Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship. After tonight’s round the 12 doubles teams will return Saturday at 10 a.m. for the final Baker round which will determine the top five teams for the taped FS1 telecast at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.  The Doubles Championship will air on FS1 Sunday, Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. ET (noon CT).

PBA OKLAHOMA OPEN

FireLake Bowling Center, Shawnee, Okla., Friday

Fifth Round Standings (after 37 games. Top five advance to Sunday’s stepladder finals on FS1. Includes match play record and total pinfall including bonus pins)

1, Jakob Butturff, Tempe, Ariz., 10-6-0, 9,362.
2, Patrick Girard, Canada, 12-4-0, 9,251.
3, Jesper Svensson, Sweden, 9-7-0, 9,214
4, Dom Barrett, England, 8-8-0, 9,187.
5, Tom Daugherty, Riverview, Fla., 11-5-0, 9,146.
6, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 7-9-0, 9,133, $4,500.
7, EJ Tackett, Bluffton, Ind., 12-3-1, 9,098, $4,000.
8, Anthony Lavery-Spahr, Pasadena, Texas, 8-8-0, 9,073, $3,500.
9, Nicholas Pate, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., 9-7-0, 9,053, $3,600.
10, Kristopher Prather, Plainfield, Ill., 8-7-1, 9,052, $3,100.
11, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 8-8-0, 8,917, $3,100.
12, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 7-9-0, 8,862, $2,900.
13, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 5-11-0, 8,852, $2,800.
14, Patrick Hanrahan, Wichita, Kan., 5-11-0, 8,666, $2,700.
15, Zacharay Wilkins, Canada, 4-12-0, 8,526, $2,700.
16, Jake Rollins, Glen Rock, N.J., 4-12-0, 8,479, $2,500.

300 games – Ildemaro Ruiz

Score big with RailRiders Football Squares promo

Football squares promotion upgrades fans at the end of each quarter and with the final score

MOOSIC, PA (January 11, 2019) – With Super Bowl LIII only weeks away, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are bringing back a great ticket promotion with the chance to win ticket upgrades and prizes.  Fans can now purchase mini-plans and get involved in the RailRiders Football Squares promotion to win on February 3.

With the purchase of a Five-Game Plan, you will receive one random square.  If you purchase the Bobblehead Package, you will receive two random squares.  Chances to win occur with the score at the end of each quarter and at the end of the game.  The scores will reward you with free upgrades for packages purchased.  Squares correspond with the number of packages purchased, so buy multiple Five-Game Plans or Bobblehead Packages for more chances to win!

Winning Outcomes:

            *  Match the score at the end of the first quarter and receive ten undated ticket vouchers to be used for any 2019 regular season game plus receive the chance to throw out a first pitch before a 2019 RailRiders game

            *  Match the score at the end of the second quarter and get 20 undated ticket vouchers to be used for any 2019 regular season game plus two bobbleheads from our Mystery Bobblehead vault

            *  Match the score at the end of the third quarter and receive 30 undated ticket vouchers to be used for any 2019 regular season game and receive a game-worn 2018 RailRiders jersey

            *  Match the score at the end of the fourth and 40 undated ticket vouchers  to be used for any 2019 regular season game, four tickets to a New York Yankees game and a Jose Canseco autographed baseball

            *  Should the game go to overtime and you match the final score after OT, you will win 50 undated ticket vouchers to be used for any 2019 regular season game, a $50.00 gift card to the team store (or that can be used at any Legend’s concession stand during the 2019 season), four tickets to a New York Yankees game and a Jose Canseco autographed baseball 

Tickets packages for the 2019 season, both full season and mini-plans, are available now and Football Squares are on a limited, first-come, first-serve basis.  Squares will be assigned at random.  For more information, please visit swbrailriders.com or contact a ticket sales representative at (570) 969-BALL.

SWB RailRiders seeking images from 30 years of NEPA professional baseball

Pictures to be utilized during anniversary season celebration in 2019

MOOSIC, PA (January 7, 2018) – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders will spend the 2019 season honoring 30 years of professional baseball in Northeast Pennsylvania.  During January, the club is seeking help to begin the celebration.  Until January 25, the RailRiders are asking fans to find their favorite photographs and contribute them to the club’s archives. 

“We know how important this team has been to the community since its inception,” said Josh Olerud, RailRiders Team President and General Manager.  “We want to see those images from across the years.  A first game or a birthday party or a date night.  No matter what version of the team- Red Barons, Yankees or RailRiders- and no matter what version of the ballpark.  Please contribute your favorite pictures to help us remember 30 great years.”

Fans are asked to search their own photobooks for those memorable images from games or events in Moosic dating back to 1989.  Digital pictures can be emailed to info@swbrailriders.com.  Fans are also encouraged to stop by PNC Field during regular business hours to have their favorite prints scanned.

These images could be used throughout the course of the season in a variety of ways including stadium signage, in the GuideRail and on the video board. 

“Professional baseball and our games have impacted so many people in Northeast Pennsylvania over the years,” Olerud continued.  “We really hope to find those pictures that stand out because of the joy that baseball has brought.”

The 2019 season begins on April 4 at Buffalo with PNC Field opener set for April 11.  Season Tickets and mini-plans, like the nine game All-Time SWB Team Bobblehead Package, are available now online at

swbrailriders.com or by calling (570) 969-BALL.

SWB RailRiders accepting resumes for 2019 internship program

Interns required in a variety of areas within the club’s front office operation

MOOSIC, PA (January 3, 2018) – The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders are now accepting resumes for their 2019 internship program.  The club is seeking interns in a variety of areas and will offer both paid and for-credit positions.

The RailRiders will have 2019 internships in the following areas/ fields: Box Office, Client/Corporate Services, Community Relations,  Game Operations, Marketing, Media Relations/ Broadcasting, Social Media and Ticket Sales. 

All resumes can be emailed to Amy Miller, the RailRiders Business Operations Manager, at amiller@swbrailriders.com.  Please note in the subject line which internship you are interested in.  Resumes will be forwarded on to the appropriate department for further review.  Interviews will be set by each department head at their own discretion.

The team is holding job fairs on January 12 and 16 for seasonal employment.  Internship interviews will not be conducted during these job fairs.