The Silver Lake (Calif.) Atom Splitters put on a competitive effort but were outlasted by the Motown Muscle, 210-199, in the first match of the Professional Bowling Assn. League’s Don Carter round at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mich.
The action was aired Sunday by ESPN.
Silver Lake had a chance in the bottom half of the 10th frame but needed two strikes from anchor man Chris Barnes. Barnes, the team’s franchise player from Double Oak, Texas, had thrown a strike in the fifth frame for his first shot.
But Barnes couldn’t deliver the double as the Atom Splitters lost in the opening match for the second time this year.
This was the league’s fourth of five rounds that lead up to the PBA League championship Sunday, March 31, at Woodland Bowl in Indianapolis.
The New York City WTT KingPins, composed of Tommy Jones, Jack Jurek, Pete Weber, Scott Norton and John Szczerbinski, won the Don Carter title match with a 243-199 victory over the BROOKLYN STyLES.
The KingPins defeated the Muscle, 249-192, in the semifinal match.
Last month, Silver Lake was overwhelmed by the Dallas Strikers, 278-171, in the first round, but its match against the Muscle was much more competitive.
Each of the five members of the Atom Splitters – Nathan Bohr, Stuart Williams, Dom Barrett, Josh Blanchard and Barnes – bowled two frames against the Muscle.
Only Bohr failed to come up with a strike as the Silver Lake leadoff man had two spares.
The Los Angeles X failed to advance out of the preliminary round, but the team has qualified for the final round’s stepladder finals.
After four rounds, the KingPins lead the Elias Cup points standings with 44 points. The Muscle and STyLES are tied for second with 33 points. The Strikers are fourth with 20 points and the Philadelphia Hitmen and Atom Splitters are tied for fifth with 18.
The X is seventh with 14 points and the Pittsburgh Jack Rabbits are in last place with six points.
The top four finishers will compete for the league title.
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