By: The Billiard & Dart News Paper - Metro Sportz Bar holds the biggest scotch doubles event in years. With the recent lowering of all players in the Arizona ratings system by one, Metro Sportz offered a 16 and under scotch doubles tournament with a handicap -6 minimum race to 5. The pot was guaranteed at $500 and an additional $20 added for teams 33 – 57 by Dick Breese of the Cue & Cushion League. That makes an additional $500, for a total of $1000. Al Ruiz added an additional $500 when the field reached its peak at 63 teams. This made the total added prize purse at $1500. The last big scotch doubles event at Metro Sportz drew in 53 teams last year. So this tournament was without a doubt the biggest scotch doubles event in the valley in several years. What a way to break the record by ten teams!
The event started at 1 pm on Saturday, September 5th. All the teams had their hopes set on the largest prize pool in the valley. There were players like: Mitch Ellerman – Arizona State One-Pocket Champion, WPBA members Iris Ranola, Susan Williams and Susan Mello, John Smith, Tony Yuzuik, Lee Collins, Al Ruiz, Ron Weeks, Joe Masi, National BCA Seniors Champion Doc Rice, Patrick Zientek, AZBCA Champion Jerry Stuckart, Chuck Parrill and Mike Howerton, owner of AZBilliards.com.
With the field set at 63 teams and play starting at 1 pm Saturday, all the teams played their hearts out until approximately 4am Sunday morning. This allowed for only the top 16 teams to return after a short rest for tournament play starting back up at noon. With only 12 spots being paid out, all the teams on the one-loss side really needed to focus and play their best in order to get to some money.
After several hours the field was reduced to 8 teams. Charlie Ward and his partner Eric Lervold had to play the father son team of Pete Gresh Sr. & Jr while Michael Clough and J.R. Burkhart had to play Bill Garrett and Mike McGovern. This would set the stage for the hot seat match.
On the one-loss side it was John Smith and Mark Nielson playing Chuck Parrill and Mike Howerton. While Tony Yuzuik and Joe Masi played the team of Kathleen Lawless and Johnny Cisnaros. All of these players showed heart stamina and determination with every stroke and every ball pocketed.
It came down to Pete Sr & Jr to play against Michael & J.R. for the hot seat match. On the one-loss side Tony & Joe had to play Bill & Mike and John & Mark went up against Charlie & Eric. After two tough matches it was the teams of Bill & Mike and John & Mark to keep their hopes alive. After the first rack, it was clear that John & Mark were in control of the table and the match and took the win.
With the hot seat match under way, it was the team of Pete Sr & Jr who dominated the table and pulled out a win against the team of Michael & J.R. As John & Mark won their match, they immediately had to face the team of Mike & J.R. The match was even 4-4 when John & Mark pulled out a 6-pack on Mike & J.R. for the win.
The finals were set with Pete Sr. & Jr. to play the ‘hot’ team of John & Mark. With the score in the first set 5-0 for John and Mark. Mark scratched during the 6th game and left Pete Sr & Jr a 4 ball out to make the score 5-1. During the next game Pete Jr missed a 6-ball in the side pocket, John & Mark took advantage and won the next 4 games, making the score 9-1. With a win by Pete Sr. & Jr. in the next game, the score was 9-2. John & Mark were able to win the next game to win the set, 10-2.
At the beginning of the 2nd set, John & Mark started out with an unanswered 5-pack, to make the score 5-0. The teams battled back and forth with scores of 5-1, 6-1, 6-2, 7-2, 7-3, 8-3, 9-3, 9-4, and 9-5. John & Mark had built up to strong of a lead for Pete Sr & Pete Jr. John and Mark won the next game for a final score of 10-5.
Congratulations to John & Mark for their strong level of determination, skill, and stamina in winning one of the greatest Scotch Doubles events held at Metro Sportz Bar or in the Valley in several years. All the teams played well and I congratulate all of you. I also want to give a special thank you to the staff of Metro Sportz Bar for their wonderful service. I think that a special thank you needs to go out to Dick Breese – and the Cue & Cushion League and Al Ruiz for each adding an extra $500 to this event. I personally hope to see another event like this in the future.
1st John
Smith & Mark Nielsen $ 2678
2nd Pete Gresh Sr & Pete Gresh Jr $
1156
3rd Michael Clough & J.R. Burkhart $
470
4th Bill Garrett & Mike McGovern $
544
5/6 Charlie Ward & Eric Lervold $
140
5/6 Joe Masi & Tony Yuzuik $ 292
7/8 Chuck Parrill & Mike Howerton $ 75
7/8 Kathleen Lawless & Johnny Cisnaros $
75
9/12 Manny Morales & Mario Barron $ 50
9/12 Harold Lyons & Mark Hovland $ 50
9/12 Amado Martinez & Miquel Diez $ 50
9/12 Chris Rae & Tanner Ellerman $ 50
