NEW PHILADELPHIA — When it was over, Jean Perez glanced over at partner Jalen Mosley and simply said, “he did all the work.”
Mosely politely disagreed with the older Professional Bowlers Association member, but there was no denying what the pair was able to do together during Saturday’s PBA Wabash Lanes Member-Non-member Doubles Central Open.
Mosely, a 21-year-old right-handed non-member, came out smoking with 838 over his first three games — including the tourney’s lone 300 in Game 3. Perez shot 263 in the final game as the pair combined for 3,759 total pinfall to top the eight-game qualifier in the 32-team field at Wabash Lanes.
Mosely finished with 1,956 to top the field individually by 96 pins —despite a 189 in Game 8. Perez was seventh overall with 1,803.
“I think our first two or three pairs, we didn’t see anyone throwing urethane, which made the right side a little easier,” Mosely said. “Later in the block, when we started catching pairs with urethane on the right side, Jean did what he always does when he needs to do it.”
Perez, a 43-year-old left-hander who is a native of Puerto Rico and an Indianapolis resident, said his side was hooking a little more at the start than normal for the pattern used.
“The first few games, it was just easier,” Perez said. “The last few games, the left side was getting a little harder. So I had to move right and get the ball further out on the lane and play the hook spot.”
Justin Knowles and Andre Gonzales stand second with 3,619, followed by A squad leaders Dave Wodka and Frank Testa with 3,613. Only three teams off of the early squad reached the final eight for today’s Baker System match-play rounds.
“I wasn’t here for A squad, but I think on this shift there was a lot of players with a higher rev rate” Mosely said. “It broke the pattern down quicker.”
Brian Hatcher and Kyle Cook earned the final match-play spot with 3,502, 21 pins ahead of 2021 champion Bailey Mavrick and his new partner Nicholas Graveel (3,481). Maverick and Michael Schlabach could not repeat since the latter now is a member.
Schlabach finished 21st with non-member T.J. Schmidt.
Wodka, who stayed around to watch, was not surprised by B squad’s performance.
“Better field, better rev rates on that squad,” Wodka said.
But today brings “a whole new game plan … one frame at a time,” Perez said.
The final eight will battle in best-of-seven Baker System matches before the field is cut to four and then ultimately to the final two for the championship.
“Whether our lead holds or not, all the pins drop tomorrow. It’s Baker games and it’s head-to-head,” said Wodka, who finished fifth overall individually with 1,809 as Testa added 1,804 to finish sixth.
“Whoever has the better look will probably bowl the fifth and 10th frames.”
Mosely, who has recent college experience, prefers the Baker System style.
“I just think it’s more fun. You have to put faith and trust in your partner and work together a little more,” Mosely said.
“I think it’s easier because there are less frames and bowlers … the lanes won’t change as quickly,” Perez added.
But the caliber of players remains strong.
“it doesn’t matter which bowler bowls in the anchor spot when you bowl with better players. No one cares about stepping up in the 10th frame,” Wodka said. “Most of us thrive in that situation. Most of us want to be in that situation.
“If you don’t want to be, you shouldn’t be bowling.”
NOTEBOOK: No doubles team on the B squad averaged less than 200 per man. The low team was at 3,246. … The last nine teams in the 32-team field all were off of A squad, with seven being minus. … The oil pattern was the PBA Scorpion 42. … Also making the cut in fourth were Patrick Dombrowski and Dan Higgins Jr. with 3,527. … Member Kyle Bigelow threw four strikes in a row at the end of Game 8 to get himself and Chris Loschetter into the sixth spot with 3,507, just one pin ahead of PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III and his son, Justin Bohn (3,506). Parker Bohn and Wodka are the lone senior players to make the cut among four in the field. … Mavrick and Graveel along with Jordan Gray and Matt Sanders earned cash spots by finishing ninth and 10th, respectively. … Among other area players on B squad, Jonathan Kleer and Ryan Liederbach finished 12th with 3,441; Tyler Meredith and Brandon Novak were 17th with 3,332; and Tyron McKinney and Zeke Bayt were 18th with 3,299. … Graham Fach, who owns five regional titles this season, finished 15th with partner Brett Spangler at 3,355.
See complete standings and updates here: