ALLIANCE — It was simply look at second arrow, throw as hard as he could as close to the gutter as he could.
That was left-hander Roger Adams’ game plan during Sunday’s stepladder finals of the Ted Nagle Memorial Tournament at Christopher Columbus Lanes.
Although it was nip-and-tuck during the 35-year-old Newark resident’s first two matches of the championship round. things came together during the final two as he emerged with the title in his first trip to the Alliance center.
“It was just a spur of the moment thing. We were looking online and found this tournament,” said Adams, the No, 4 seed who after his two-hour drive stopped No. 1 seed Matt Bertollette 244-201 to take the title.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been here … I didn’t even know this place existed. I like going to different centers and playing different shots.”
Adams topped three opponents en route to the title match, stopping a pair of Walsh University players — No. 5 seed and freshman Chase Barstow and No. 2 seed and sophomore Jordan Norris — 193-179 and 258-201, respectively.
His second match was a 204-195 win over Alliance 55-year-old PBA50 Regional Tour pro Brian Buehler.
“it was really tricky out there. I was just looking at 10 (board) and getting it as close to the gutter as I could,” said Adams, who won $500. “I was probably up around 30 (mph). I’m really wore out.”
In his first match, Adams had an open in the first frame, chopping a 2-4-7 spare. He also whiffed on a 4-7 spare in the fourth frame.
But the lefty put together three strikes in a row from the ninth into the 10th to stop Barstow, a 19-year-old Alliance two-hander and former Louisville High School standout. Barstow also had open frames in the fourth and ninth frames and finished with just five strikes, including a double in the 10th frame.
Against Buehler, Adams stayed clean until the ninth frame when he misfired on a 1-3-4-6-7 washout. But Buehler had a 4-6 split in the first frame and chopped a 6-10 spare in the third. A double in the 10th frame was enough to give Smith the win.
Then, the lefty found his stride.
“I really don’t know what happened. It’s usually a big struggle for me early in match play. It takes me a couple of games to get settled down,” Adams said. “It was very confusing. I just calmed down and started making good shots … just trying to execute.”
Against Norris, a 20-year-old Plain Township two-hander, Adams started with the first six strikes before leaving a 6-pin en route to the win. Norris struck on his first two shots, but had only four more the rest of the way, missing a 4-pin spare in the third frame.
The title match was more of the same for Adams, who started with the first five strikes before leaving another 6-pin in the sixth. He did miss a 3-9 spare in eighth.
Bertollette, who earned the No. 1 seed by 164 pins over Norris, didn’t strike until the fifth frame, including leaving a 4-6-7-10 split in the third. Bertolette did manage to strike on four of his next five shots, but it was too late.
“Those four games on that pair took their toll,” said Bertollette, a 36-year-old Columbiana right-hander, who finished third in this event a year ago. “I just moved a couple of boards left. I knew it was going to come back from outside right no matter what, but I didn’t want to throw urethane.
“I just tried to fight it, got in deep and found something, but it was too late. A typical game of bowling, but I have nothing to complain about.”
Adams couldn’t remember running up the ladder during a finals before.
“I think it’s an advantage. I really wanted to start it off and keep bowling to keep the momentum going,” Smith said. “I like it when I can keep the pace going.”
And the pace of his bowling ball did the rest.
NOTES: The tourney drew a 44-player field to the 12-lane center. The entire field hit every pair in the center during the six-game qualifier. … Bertolette led the field with 1,511 total pinfall and had the high game with 279 in Game 5. … It took a mark of 1,321 (220.1 average) to reach the championship round, and total pinfall of 1,284 (214.0) to cash. Barstow earned the final stepladder spot by just 13 pins over Canton left-hander Jason Gribble. Chris Sommers and Frank Testa tied for the final cash spot. … This marked the seventh year the tournament was held at “The Christopher,” with previous sites at Super Bowl of Alliance and Parkway Lanes, both now closed. It was moved from its traditional Christmas Eve date five years ago, according to tournament director Chris Miller.
FINAL RESULTS
Championship round
Match 1: Roger Adams (Newark) d. Chase Barstow (Alliance) 193-179; Barstow wins $210.
Match 2: Adams d. Brian Buehler (Alliance) 204-195; Buehler wins $240.
Match 3: Adams d. Jordan Norris (Plain Township) 258-207; Norris wins $280.
Championship: Adams d. Jeff Bertolette 244-201; Adams wins $500; Bertolette wins $350.
Other cashers
(with six-game qualifying pinfall)
6, Jason Gribble 1,308, $130; 7, Mike Adams 1,305, $115; 8, Richard Stoffer 1,295, $105; 9, Brett McCourry 1,293, $95; 10, (tie) Chris Sommers and Frank Testa, 1,284, $87.