A CRAZY DAY at Narrows Plaza Saturday, to say the least.  We finished with the BIGGEST Doubles turnout, & total paid-out, ever.  That also adds to the list of records that Narrows Plaza currently holds, including the Singles records set there in April.  We had very nice scores from every squad and LOTS of people stringing 9-Taps all day.  Right off the bat, in the 1st squad Mick Thrush hit SEVEN Taps (actually 8) in the middle of his game.  He and his Yakima group were totally WIRED when they learned his 7-Taps could be worth $1,000.00, only to get concerned when they learned, that if someone hit the Jackpot before the day was through, that Jackpot Consolation would go away.  Sure enough, in the last squad, PAUL BITZER GOT THE 1ST SEVEN TAPS and even an eighth for good measure!  BUT, Paul didn't get in the Pot on his last entry, although he had entered the Pot earlier.  He decided that since he hadn't strung any Taps in his earlier squads, he wasn't likely to do it this time either.  WRONG!!  But that wasn't the end of Paul's day or week... see more below.  So Mick ended up getting his $1,000.00 after all.  Meanwhile, over in the Dad's Day Pot (which paid-out to the Top 4 hdcp games for the day) the Dad with the days Top Score, ALSO WASN'T IN THE POT!  So that left, 'guess who'... MICK THRUSH again!  Mick earned the $300 Top Prize for his 306 score, Carl Nichols captured both 2nd and 3rd places (scores from 2 squads) worth $150 & $90 and Tong Nguyen took the 4th Place in the Pot for $50.  Mick's Lucky Day wasn't over yet......when he and his wife, Denise, got back to Yakima, she bought a couple dollars worth of pull-tabs and hit that for another $500 (when you're Hot, you're Hot).  ELEVEN bowlers took advantage of the "Multi-Cash" aspect of the Doubles Tournament, by making the Cash List at least twice.  Led by Rich Eaton making it FIVE times, including 2nd & 4th (at one point he was in 1st & 2nd places).  Mai-Lee Bowyer & Greg Roberts each cashed FOUR times and 3 others (including our winners) each Cashed THREE times.

 

Part 2 of our Paul Bitzer saga, is a testament to his positive attitude.  Rather than getting 'down' over missing out on the Jackpot, he stayed positive and focused.  After actually stringing the first 8 Taps in his first game, ending with a 283, he managed to keep it going, putting together even a better score in his 2nd game totaling a HUGE 567.  10 lanes away, his Doubles partner Samson Ibale was shooting nearly as 'Lights-Out', contributing a very nice 536 to the team.  They Ran-Away from the competition with their 1103, winning by a WHOPPING 64 pins.  Samson and Paul are a team of contrasts - Samson lefty, Paul righty; Samson in his 10th year on Tour, Paul in his 1st year; Paul winning his 1st Tour Title, Samson winning his Record 11th Title.  While in line to check-in for the 4:30 squad, Samson and Paul were talking and decided to add each other as extra partners for that squad.  Neither shot that well and decided to combine one more time in the last squad.  The $5 Winner's Pot that's used for Doubles, is obviously much smaller than the Progressive Pot that we usually use.  As a result, the Top spots pay a little less than a regular event, but this week 1st still paid a strong $1,625.00.  Samson's share pushed his career earnings to a Monumental $33,500.00.  Paul's "Series of Unfortunate Events" actually started earlier in the week when he shot his first ever 300 game, using his new HAMMER Epidemic, unfortunately it was shot in an UNSANCTIONED League.  Needless to say... Paul's had quite a week to remember!  CONGRATS to both Winners!!

 

It was a Banner Day for HAMMER Bowling Balls.  Mick Thrush won $1,300.00 with a used Hammer that Paul Padilla just drilled for him last week... Samson has won 10 of his 11 Titles using a Hammer Ball and Paul Bitzer used a brand new Hammer Epidemic drilled by Dave Martin a Bowl Arena Lanes for his 1st & 4th Place finish. 

 

In 2nd, 4th, 9th, 19th & 23rd places, Rich Eaton added a LOT of points to his Bowler of the Year total, along with $748.00, plus a little Bracket money to boot.  Carl Nichols collected some Big Money in the High Game Pots and Brackets, to go with his $526.00 for 2nd & 6th.  Kim Forrest and Jeremy Truitt shot well enough to cash twice, but with the same partners they could only use their best score, a sweet 1029, sharing the $388.00.