CANTON — Jordan Norris and Chase Barstow knew what they were facing during Saturday’s College Bowl Tournaments doubles event at Eastbury Bowling Center.
After rallying to capture the No. 1 seed entering the four-team match-play rounds, the two Walsh University students had to take on “veterans” J.D. Jones and Scott Vandegrift in hopes of gaining their first doubles title.
Jones, a 28-year-old Massillon right-hander, and Vandegrift, a 35-year-old Perry Township right-hander have won three of the tournament group’s doubles events, finished second in two others and missed the cut to the top four only once.
“When you’ve won it three or four times, you kind of have a reputation that you’re going to win it automatically,” said Barstow, a 20-year-old Louisville two-hander majoring in accounting and finance who will graduate in December 2024.
“Regardless of how it came out, it was going to be our best finish ever.”
This time, youth won out as the two right-handed two-handers stopped the veterans 471-423 to claim the title.
It was only the second adult title for both. Norris, a 2020 Green High School graduate, had his first adult win last season in Parkersburg, W.Va., while Barstow, a 2021 Louisville graduate, had his during the Hall of Fame Summer Series in June 2022 at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes.
“It was about our fourth or fifth time teaming up,” said Norris, a 21-year-old Plain Township resident, who will graduate in December with a degree in elementary education. “It was our best finish by far. We’ve never made the top four before together.”
After the pair stood second after Game 1 of the four-game qualifier with 512, they had tumbled to seventh going into Game 4 despite shooting 467 in Game 3.
“I’ll admit we were surprised that we dropped two spots after going plus-69 the third game,” Norris said. “But the scores were high.”
Facing a must-game to advance, the two combined for the second highest game of the day (529), with Norris shooting 279 and Barstow adding 250 to earn the No. 1 seed by just four pins over Eric Randazzo and Jim Fellows.
“We threw it good all day,” said Barstow, who finished with 976 during qualifying, “as long as we didn’t miss in. We struck a lot.”
“We discussed things a lot and when we needed to make changes, we made the right changes,” said Norris, who finished with 961 despite a 180 in Game 2. “We just really got into a good zone. As two-handers, we were always left of everybody and we didn’t have to make any crazy moves.”
The pair opened match play with a 452-413 win over fourth-seeded Jason Gribble and Matt Frock as Norris led the way with a 257.
THREE-TIME CHAMPS FALL SHORT
Meanwhile, Jones and Vandegrift stopped No. 2 seed Eric Randazzo and Jim Fellows 465-424 as the former shot 230 and the latter added 235. But Jones admitted his partner keyed their run, with the pair sitting sixth after Game 1.
“He struck all day … I was just watching,” said Jones, who shot 891 during qualifying to Vandegrift’s tourney-high 1,031. “I wasn’t feeling the best today. I missed a lot of easy spares. But other than that, I did all right and held up what I could. He did most of the carrying.”
But in the title match, Vandegrift’s carry ceased after opening with three strikes. He struck only two times the rest of the way en route to a clean 214.
“Carry and some fundamental things … that was pretty much what it was,” Vandegrift said. “But hats off to those guys; they’re good, and you can’t beat someone when they’re on like that.”
Jones also left a 4-6-7-9-10 split in the eight frame after striking on four of his first five shots en route to 209.
“I was slowing it down on that pair just to keep it from facing up,” Jones said “On the split, it was the same thing, but it read the lane quickly and that’s what happens.”
Why has the pair meshed so well?
“We pick either other up. We play the lanes a little different … obviously he has more revs than I do,” Jones said. “And we play different parts of the lane. But he sees things that I don’t and I see things with him.
“We know each other’s arsenal and each others’ bowling. It’s hands down a good combo and the way we cover each other works real well.”
It also works well for the former Walsh bowling teammates. Norris was an all G-MAC performer this season and American Heartland Bowling Association player of the year in his final collegiate bowling season while Barstow chose to take this season off.
Norris struck on five of his first six shots in the title match before leaving a 3-4-6-7 split in the seventh. He then covered it thanks to deflection off of the back wall before striking on his next four shots en route to 258. Barstow had a pair of splits also en route to 213.
“We just discuss things and communicate well,” Barstow said.
And they will continue to do it as they transition into more adult competition.
NOTEBOOK: The event drew 20 teams and was the final regular-season event on the College Bowl Tournaments schedule. The end-of-the-season event is set for May 13 at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes and is open only to players who participated in at least four of the group’s nine events. … Richard Elliott had the day’s high game of 287. … Alex and Brett McCourry recorded the day’s high doubles game of 547 in Game 1 en route to the lead. They finished eighth overall. … The cut to the top four was at 1,906, with the cut for the final cash spot being 1,896. Gribble and Frock shot 503 in Game 4 to edge Adam Kutz and Alex Lincoln for the final match-play spot by seven pins. … Kevin Schott and Elliott led after Games 2 and 3, but stumbled in Game 4 to earn the last cash spot by shooting just 411. … First place was worth $780.
COLLEGE BOWL TOURNAMENTS DOUBLES
(Saturday at Eastbury Bowling Center)
Semifinals (losing teams win $225): Jordan Norris (257)-Chase Barstow (195) def. Jason Gribble (220)-Matt Frock (193) 452-413; Scott Vandegrift (235)-J.D. Jones (230) d. Jim Fellows (234)-Eric Randazzo (190) 465-424.
Championship: Norris (258)-Barstow (213) def. Jones (209)-Vandegrift (214) 471-423. Norris-Barstow win $780; Jones-Vandegrift win $450.
Other cashers
(Based on four-game pinfalls)
5, Adam Kutz-Alex Lincoln 1,899, $120; 6, Kevin Schott-Richard Elliott 1,896, $120.
