By BILL SNIER
COLDWATER — Zeke Bayt, a 31-year-old Westerville right-hander, earned his first regional title by topping the field Sunday during the PBA bowlestore.com Central Classic at Pla-Mor Lanes.
Bayt, the No. 1 seed entering the four bowler stepladder finals, defeated former Team USA member and PBA champion AJ Johnson 189-176 to claim the win and the $10,000 top prize in the 96-player field.
Bayt sat eighth after the eight-game qualifying round, averaging 208.50 on the PBA Johnson 40 oil pattern.
After the field was cut to the top 30 for the first advancers’ round, Jonson jumped to the lead after 12 games by averaging 217.33, just ahead of Bayt. The same two led after the second three-game advancers’ round and after the final two-game round prior to the stepladder finals.
“This means a lot to me, to get my first title in this building,” Bayt told pressprosmagazine.com. “It’s tough, it’s a challenge, and I’m going to remember this day because of that.
“And the people in Coldwater treat us so well. That makes winning here even more special.”
Johnson, a 31-tear-old Oswego, Ill., right-hander, stopped defending PBA Player of the Year EJ Tackett 235-204 in the semifinal match to set up the final vs. Bayt. Tackett had won the opening stepladder match 208-199 over Bailey Mavrick.
The qualifying cut for the advancers’ round was 1,559 for eight games.
Doylestown’s Joe Bailey finished ninth overall, averaging 206.67 for 17 games, and Parma’s Patrick Dombrowski was 10th, averaging 206.33.
Bayt had the tourney’s only 300 in Game 1 of qualifying.
Northfield two-handed lefty Ryan Liederbach, going for his fourth regional title in a row, finished 25th, averaging 196.75.
“There’s probably not too many that know about me, because I haven’t won. But that’s fine. You have to win to be known,” Bayt said. “But I’m not in this game to have people know me. I just love the sport…very much.
“Hopefully, this is just one on a long road of many.”
The Central Region pros return to action Aug. 16-17 for a one-day event in Grove City.
See complete results below:
PBA50 REGIONAL
Estero, Fla., right-hander Jon Rakoski, who earned his first PBA50 major title earlier this season in the U.S. Senior Masters, topped the field during Sunday’s PBA50 Ruth Froberg Memorial-Brunswick Central-Midwest Open at Striker’s Bowl in St. Joseph, Mich.
Rakoski went 6-0 during match play, stopping Hall of Famer Chris Barnes 215-202 in the title match in a field of 65 players.
Charles (Butch) Ferrell of Painsville Township., led qualifying by averaging 238.43 over seven games, 65 pins ahead of Brad Angelo. Rakoski was 10th after qualifying, averaging 214.29.
But in match play, Rakoski defeated John Shreve Jr. (2-0) and Angelo (2-0) in best-of-three matchups before stopping Tom Adcock 245-215 in the semifinals.
Barnes advanced with a 2-1 win over Peter Doohan Jr. (which included the tourney’s lone 300) and a 2-1 win over Ferrell, winning Game 3 215-187. He then topped Randy Weiss 204-199 in the semifinals.
The next PBA50 regional event is Aug. 23-25 in Charleston, W.Va.
See complete results here:
BARTA TOPS MEGA
Adam Barta topped a 162-player to take home the $6,000 top prize in the MEGA in the Ville event at Executive Strike and Spare in Louisville, Ky.
Others in the top five included Billy Hubbard, JT Cherpeski, Aaron Ruiz and Bobby Rice.
Thirty-three players made it to the second day for the five-game cashers’ round in the field, with the cut being at 3,431 after 14 games.
See complete cashers’ round results below:
JTBA OPENS FALL SEASON
The Junior Tournament Bowlers Association began its fall season with the 45th JTBA Kickoff Tournament recently at HPK Lanes in Columbus.
Division champions included Jayden Combs (18U boys), Madison Strouse (18U girls), Elliott Gordon (15U boys), Olivia Lizzi (15U girls) and Asa Wilson-Perry (12U boys) in the 103-player field.
The next event is the JTBA Akron Youth Open, set for Aug. 18 at Spins Bowl Akron with a $75 pre-registered entry fee and $85 for nonmembers. Go to http://www.jtba.com/schedule-24-25.html for details.
See Kickoff results below:
OTHER EVENTS
HBT SUMMER SPORT SHOT SERIES: With 1,397 total entries over 14 weeks, the Summer Sport Shot Series at Mt. Lebanon (Pa.) is preparing for its final championship. James Meyer shot 251 in the final four-man rolloff to top the field in the final regular event, followed by Evan Thro, Tim Jones and Anthony Strickland. Those qualifying for the finale will be contacted.
HDP: The Hit Dem Pockets Wonder Twins Ultimate Team Challenge is set for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at Wickliffe Lanes. This is a two-day event, and four-player teams must bowl both days. Teams bowl three games as a team and three more as two teams of doubles on Saturday followed by three games as singles players on Sunday. Entry fee is $400 per team ($100 per person). For information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/334498609719220/342433692259045/
LABOR DAY SWEEPER: The seventh annual Labor Day Sweeper is set for 5 p.m. Sept. 2 at AMF Brook Park with a $60 entry fee. Bowlers roll five games in the handicap event. See details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/2481692158833566/?ref=newsfeed
SPINS BOWL SWEEPER: Another Spins Bowl Akron Doubles Scratch Sweeper is set for 4 p.m. Aug. 25 at Spins Bowl Akron with a $110 entry fee. Teams bowl four games before the field is cut to the top four for stepladder finals. For information, contact Frank Dallas via Facebook.
OHIO MASTERS: The 2024 Bowler X Ohio Masters will be held Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at Eastbury Bowling Center in Canton. The event is open only to adult bowlers sanctioned in Ohio. No youth bowlers are permitted to enter. Entry fee is $100. Bowlers will bowl five qualifying games beginning at 11 a.m. Aug. 31. The field then will be cut to the top 50 percent of the field, which will bowl five additional games at 5:30 p.m. with pins from the early block carrying over. The field then will be cut again to the top 32 (based on 120 entries) for single-elimination, two-game match play by seed until a champion is declared. The field is limited to 128 players. Ric McCormick is the defending champion.For information, go to:
https://www.facebook.com/events/806542027970521
AKRON OPEN: The 2024 Akron Open is set for Aug. 24 and 25 at Station 300 in Akron. Station 300 currently is installing new lane surfaces and a new scoring system that will be operational in time for this event. Entry fee is $130, with bowlers having 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. six-game squads available on a house oil pattern. Following six games, the field will be cut to the top one-in-five for Aug. 25 9 a.m. cashers’ round, with pins carrying over. The field then will be cut to the top 24, with pins carry over, to bowl five more games before the field is cut to the top five for the stepladder finals. There also will be a kickoff doubles event at 7 p.m. Aug. 23 with a $200 entry fee. Bowlers will roll four games to determine the winner. For information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/602080075460035