Reigning Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year Sean Rash (pictured left) of Montgomery, Ill., and his BROOKLYN STyLES teammates locked up the top stepladder position for the live debut of Professional Bowlers Association League competition on ESPN Sunday, recording a combined 160-game total of 26,403 pins (227.52 average) at the end of four rounds of team qualifying at Thunderbowl Lanes.

"It feels great," Rash said, who finished second to Tommy Jones in the International Bowling Championships 2013 in Japan, last week. "First is the only place you want to be. Our team was extremely consistent all week. All five guys contributed, like I thought they would when I drafted. Everyone's happy. Everyone picked up the other guys when they needed to. It'll be fun to be on TV as a team."

The other members of the BROOKLYN STyLES team are Ryan Ciminelli (left) of Cheektowaga, N.Y.; Ryan Shafer (right) of Horseheads, N.Y.; Walter Ray Williams Jr. (below left) of Ocala, Fla., and Jason Sterner (below right) of McDonough, Ga. The team is owned by Grey's Anatomy actor Jesse Williams.

Also qualifying for Sunday's noon ET debut on ESPN were the New York City WTT KingPins, owned by women's sports legend Billie Jean King and captained by PBA Hall of Famer Pete Weber, in second place 229 pins behind the STyLES. The hometown favorite Motown Muscle, owned by Detroit native and former Pittsburgh Steelers star Jerome Bettis and captained by Mike Fagan of Dallas, qualified third.

The battle for the final two positions for Sunday's finals was intense. Chris Barnes and his Silver Lake Atom Splitters, owned by comedian Chris Hardwick, claimed the No. 4 berth and PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke's Dallas Strikers, owned by NFL all-pro receiver Terrell Owens, rallied to claim the fifth berth by 10 pins over L.A. X, owned by NBA all-star Chris Paul and captained by Australian two-handed star Jason Belmonte.

After finishing eighth, seventh and seventh in the first three qualifying rounds, the Dallas Strikers won Friday's eight-game Earl Anthony round to move sneak into the television finals field.

"We were within one shot of making the top five, or not making it," Duke said. "After a total of 160 games, the difference between making it or not came down to one open frame, or one spare.

"Team-wise, we struggled the first three days, but we ground it out. We stayed in the hunt and we worked hard. We knew we had to have a great day today and we did it. That's where we showed our heart."

In winning the Anthony team round by 123 pins over L.A. X, the Dallas Strikers earned the top stepladder position for the fifth and final PBA League qualifying telecast prior to the Elias Cup team championship telecast. The Motown Muscle earned the third stepladder berth in the Anthony round, which will be conducted Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at Thunderbowl for delayed telecast on ESPN on March 24.

The PBA Players Championship title match will air on ESPN on Sunday, March 24, at 1 p.m. ET following with the PBA League Anthony round team finals. Based upon total points earned over five PBA League telecasts, the top four teams will compete for the Elias Cup in Indianapolis. The Elias Cup telecast will air on Sunday, April 7.

 

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PBA League Earl Anthony Qualifying Standings

Standings after 8 games; the top three teams advance to Baker format stepladder finals, teams four to eight will bowl a one-ball clash match eliminator round for the fourth stepladder position.

1, Dallas Strikers (owner Terrell Owens), Dallas, 9,461
2, L.A. X (owner Chris Paul), Los Angeles, 9,318
3, Motown Muscle (owner Jerome Bettis), Detroit, 9,279

4, Silver Lake Atom Splitters (owner Chris Hardwick), Silver Lake, Calif., 9,236
5, Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits (owner LaMarr Woodley), Pittsburgh, Pa., 9,219
6, BROOKLYN STyLES (owner Jesse Williams), Brooklyn, N.Y., 9,129
7, Philadelphia Hitmen (owner Kevin Hart), Philadelphia, 9,063
8, New York City WWT KingPins (owner Billie Jean King), New York, 8,928

 

PBA League Thunderbowl Finals Qualifying Standings

Final Standings after 32 team games; top five teams advance to live ESPN Baker format stepladder finals Sunday at noon ET.

1, BROOKLYN STyLES, 36,403
(Sean Rash 7,604, Ryan Ciminelli 7,231, Ryan Shafer 7,244, Walter Ray Williams Jr. 7,162, Jason Sterner 7,162)
2, New York City WTT KingPins, 36,174
(Pete Weber 7,283, Tommy Jones 7,117, Scott Norton 7,629, Jack Jurek 6,841, John Szczerbinski 7,304)
3, Motown Muscle, 36,167
(Mike Fagan 6,954, Tom Smallwood 7,236, Mike Scroggins 7,302, Ronnie Russell 7,537, Jesse Buss 7,138)
4, Silver Lake Atom Splitters, 36,049
(Chris Barnes 7,108, Dom Barrett 7,371, Josh Blanchard 7,272, Stuart Williams 7,160, Nathan Bohr 7,138)
5, Dallas Strikers, 35,938
(Norm Duke 7,261, Rhino Page 7,092, Amleto Monacelli 7,403, Bryon Smith 6,902, Mike Machuga 7,280)

6, L.A. X, 35,928
(Jason Belmonte 7,324, Wes Malott 7,304, Andres Gomez 7,092, Parker Bohn III 7,067, Dave Wodka 7,141)
7, Philadelphia Hitmen, 35,886
(Bill O'Neill 7,277, Mika Koivuniemi 7,303, Chris Loschetter 7,154, Mike DeVaney 7,385, Dick Allen 6,764)
8, Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits, 35,564
(Osku Palermaa 7,248, Martin Larsen 7,070, Dan MacLelland 6,946, Patrick Allen 7,364, Thomas Larsen 6,936)

 

Earl Anthony PBA Players Championship

Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich. (Jan. 25, 2013)

Final match play standings after 41 games including match play bonus pins; top two advance to championship match.
1, Sean Rash, Montgomery, Ill., 7-2, 9,976
2, Scott Norton, Mission Viejo, Calif., 6-3, 9,974

Other Match Play Cashers:
3, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 7-2, 9,771, $8,000
4, Ronnie Russell, Marion, Ind., 3-6, 9,762, $6,000
5, Jason Belmonte, Australia, 7-2, 9,738, $5,000
6, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 7-2, 9,674, $4,700
7, Tom Daugherty, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 4-5, 9,657, $4,000
8, Mike DeVaney, Hemet, Calif., 4-5, 9,631, $3,500
9, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 5-4, 9,619, $3,000
10, Ronnie Sparks Jr., Ecorse, Mich., 6-3, 9,577, $2,700
11, Dom Barrett, England, 3-6, 9,561, $2,500
12, Amleto Monacelli, Venezuela, 3-6, 9,455, $2,400
13, John Szczerbinski, North Tonawanda, N.Y., 3-6, 9,436, $2,300
14, Brett Spangler, Niles, Ohio, 3-6, 9,421, $2,200
15, Mark Milasinovich, Macomb, Mich., 3-6, 9,266, $2,100
16, Jim Pratt, Glendale, Ariz., 1-8, 9,058, $2,000

Other Cashers:
17, Mika Koivuniemi, Finland, 7,303, $1,500
18, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 7,302, $1,450
19, Ildemaro Ruiz, Venezuela, 7,286, $1,400
20, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 7,283, $1,350
21, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 7,280, $1,320
22, Bill O'Neill, Langhorne, Pa., 7,277, $1,300
23, Josh Blanchard, Gilbert, Ariz., 7,272, $1,280
24, Patrick Girard, Canada, 7,271, $1,260
25, Frankie Calca, Elmont, N.Y., 7,270, $1,240
26, Brian Valenta, Lockport, Ill., 7,268, $1,220
27, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 7,267, $1,200
28, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 7,261, $1,180
29, Mason Brantley, Detroit, 7,254, $1,160
30, Osku Palermaa, Finland, 7,248, $1,150
31, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 7,244, $1,140
32, D.J. Archer, Friendswood, Texas, 7,242, $1,130
33, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich., 7,236, $1,120
34, Ryan Ciminelli, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 7,231, $1,110
35, Todd Book, Russells Point, Ohio, 7,223, $1,100
36, Lee Vanderhoef, Greenville, S.C., 7,218, $1,090
37, E.J. Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 7,195, $1,080
38 (tie), Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., and Jason Sterner, McDonough, Ga., 7,162, $1,065
40, Stuart Williams, England, 7,160, $1,050
41, Michael Haugen Jr., Carefree, Ariz., 7,157, $1,040
42, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 7,154, $1,030
43, Dave Wodka, Henderson, Nev., 7,141, $1,020
44 (tie), Jesse Buss, Belvidere, Ill., and Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 7,138, $1,005

Failed to Cash:
46, Craig Nidiffer, Trenton, Mich., 7,123
47, B.J. Moore II, Apex, N.C., 7,122
48, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 7,117
49, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 7,108
50, Joe Ciccone, Buffalo, N.Y., 7,098
51 (tie), Rhino Page, Dade City, Fla., and Andres Gomez, Colombia, 7,092
53, Lonnie Waliczek, Wichita, Kan., 7,087
54, Brian Gunn, Chicago, 7,085
55, Martin Larsen, Sweden, 7,070
56, David Haynes, Las Vegas, 7,069
57, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 7,067
58, Brad Miller, St. Charles, Mo., 7,003
59, Kurt Pilon, Warren, Mich., 6,986
60 (tie), Jon VanHees, Charlestown, R.I.; Jeffrey Edwards, Sterling Heights, Mich., and Joe Paluszek, Bensalem, Pa., 6,969
63, Tyler Wilds, Three Rivers, Mich., 6,959
64, Sean Swanson, Springfield, Mo., 6,957
65, Mike Fagan, Dallas, 6,954
66, Jake Peters, Decatur, Ill., 6,948
67, Dan MacLelland, Canada, 6,946
68, Thomas Larsen, Denmark, 6,936
69, Justin Neiman, Warren, Mich., 6,929
70, Harry Sullins, Chesterfield Twp., Mich., 6,910
71, Corey Miller, Grand Blanc, Mich, 6,906
72, Rick Graham, Lancaster, Pa., 6,904
73, Bryon Smith, Roseburg, Ore., 6,902
74, Kelly Kulick, Union, N.J., 6,899
75, Mike Williams II, Montgomery, Ala, 6,893
76, Kyle Bigelow, Troy, Ohio, 6,864
77, Tom Baker, King, N.C., 6,861
78, Gregory Thompson Jr., Dublin, Calif., 6,851
79, Bob Learn Jr., Macomb, Mich., 6,847
80, Jeff Roche, Dearborn, Mich., 6,843
81, Jack Jurek, Lackawanna, N.Y., 6,841
82, Tom Hess, Urbandale, Iowa, 6,832
83, Anthony LaCaze, Melrose Park, Ill., 6,825
84, Michael Stocks, Leesburg, Va., 6,807
85, Jesse Smith, Garfield Heights, Ohio, 6,783
86, Humberto Vazquez, Mexico, 6,765
87, Dick Allen, Columbia, S.C., 6,764
88, Chad Reiffer, Kentwood, Mich., 6,759
89, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 6,742
90, Tony Campagna Jr., Hendersonville, Tenn., 6,739
91, Brett Cunningham, Clay, N.Y., 6,732
92, Julio Cesar Blancas, Mexico, 6,731
93, Randy Weiss, Columbia, S.C., 6,728
94, Mike Wolfe, New Albany, Ind., 6,694
95, Kevin Brophy, Oakhurst, N.J., 6,655
96, Kyle Troup, Taylorsville, N.C., 6,654
97, Keith Caldwell, Detroit, 6,644
98, John Furey, Freehold, N.J., 6,634
99, Jerry Sikora, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., 6,619
100, Darren Andretta, New Hyde Park, N.Y., 6,595
101, Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla., 3,383
102 (tie), Carleton Chambers, Detroit, and Nick Kokenos, St. Clair Shores, Mich., 6,575
104, Ryan Appel, Cinnaminson, N.J., 6,550
105, Andrew Graff, Las Vegas, 6,549
106, Justin Stevens, Aiea, Hawaii, 6,540
107, Chris Cundiff, Lake Station, Ind., 6,498
108, Stephen Pavlinko Jr., Sewell, N.J., 6,491
109, Rick Zakrajsek, Lorain, Ohio, 4,884
110, Michael Calhoun, Wyandotte, Mich., 6,468
111, Mike Keily, Golden, Colo., 4,851
112, BJ Satkowski, Jackson, Mich, 6,419
113, Justin Bychkowski, Fairfield, Conn., 6,413
114, Josh Lewis, Asheville, N.C., 6,367
115, Kasey Normandin, Canada, 6,361
116, Diandra Asbaty, Chicago, 6,341
117, Johnathan Bower, Middletown, Pa., 6,312
118, David Shinn, West Columbia, S.C., 6,308
119, Brian Robinson, Morgantown, W.V., 6,305
120, David Tullos, Spring, Texas, 6,295
121, Andrew Horodecki, Norcross, Ga., 6,291
122, J.T. (Action) Jackson, Sherman Oaks, Calif., 6,287
123, Kenneth Bland Jr., Germany, 6,218
124, Eric Tackett, Huntington, Ind., 6,190
125, Dustin Baker, Melbourne, Ky, 6,105
126, Kirby Allen, Ironton, Ohio, withdrew
127, Jonathan Russell, Rockwood, Tenn., withdrew
128, Craig LeMond, Jasper, Ind., withdrew
129, Bo Goergen, Sanford, Mich., withdrew
130, Christopher Colosimo, Elkhorn, Wis., withdrew
131, Phillip Vallar, Southgate, Mich., withdrew
132, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, withdrew
133, Mitch Beasley, Nashville, Tenn., withdrew
134, Gradie Merritt-Foster, Park Forest, Ill., withdrew
135, Thomas Biniek Jr., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., withdrew

300 Games: Mike DeVaney, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Tommy Jones, Wes Malott, Kurt Pilon, Brian Kretzer, Tom Baker.