Team Bayer, featuring Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour stars Rhino Page, Michael Fagan, Bill O'Neill, Sean Rash, two-hander Jason Belmonte and Tommy Jones, took a 1-0 lead after the first day of GEICO PBA Team Shootout competition.

The GEICO PBA Team Shootout Hosted by Six Flags was conducted outdoors on specially-constructed lanes at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., June 11-13. Round-robin team matches air Sundays on ESPN through July 12.

Team Bayer won its first round-robin Baker format match by defeating Team GEICO (Brad Angelo, Mike Wolfe, Chris Barnes, Mika Koivuniemi, Wes Malott and Patrick Allen), 231-210.

L-R Team Bayer - Belmonte, O'Neill, Jones, Fagan, Rash and Page.

The Baker scoring format requires five members of the team to roll two frames in one game to combine for one score, but the GEICO competition also includes a unique "Endless 10th Frame." If the team that is behind in the match strikes on its final ball in the 10th frame, it can continue throwing shots as long as each is a strike. Each bonus strike is worth 10 points. If the opposing team loses its lead, it can then try to rally in its own "Endless 10th Frame" only if its anchor bowler also has struck on his final ball.

In the opening match, Team Bayer held the lead going into the final frame, but Team GEICO's Malott struck on his fill ball for a 210 and the right to continue. But Angelo, the team's leadoff bowler, failed to strike on his first "Endless 10th Frame" attempt.

In its second match, Team GEICO evened its record at 1-1 by defeating Team Lumber Liquidators (Norm Duke, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Steve Jaros, Mike Scroggins, Parker Bohn III and Pete Weber), 208-198, when Team GEICO rallied in the bonus round. The regulation game ended with Lumber Liquidators leading, 198-188, thanks to Duke's three strikes in the 10th frame.

Because Malott converted a 10 pin and struck on his second shot in the 10th frame, Team GEICO still had a chance. Barnes, bowling in the leadoff position, and Allen, bowling second in the lineup, threw bonus strikes to erase Lumber Liquidators' 10-pin advantage and put their team into the lead. Scroggins, Lumber Liquidators' leadoff bowler, then had a chance to get his team back into contention, but he failed to strike.

During the GEICO PBA Shootout, all three teams will bowl 12 round-robin matches on a variety of lane conditioning patterns leading up to a championship round. The top two teams based on match play record will advance to a championship contest which include singles, doubles and Baker-style team matches. The championship round will air on ESPN on Sunday, July 12.

 

GEICO PBA Team Shootout standings (as of June 21)

1. Team Bayer 1-0
2. Team GEICO 1-1
3. Team Lumber Liquidators 0-1

 

GEICO PBA Team Shootout ESPN TV Air Date Schedule

All times Eastern. Viewers are encouraged to check their local listings for air times in their area.

June 28, 2009
Show 3: 1 - 1:30 p.m.
Show 4: 1:30 - 2 p.m.
Show 5: 2 - 2:30 p.m.
Show 6: 2:30 - 3 p.m.

July 5, 2009
Show 7: 1 - 1:30 p.m.
Show 8: 1:30 - 2 p.m.
Show 9: 2 - 2:30 p.m.
Show 10: 2:30 - 3 p.m.
Show 11: 3 - 3:30 p.m.

July 12, 2009
Show 12: 1 - 1:30 p.m.
Show 13: 1:30 - 2 p.m.
Show 14: 2 - 2:30 p.m.
Show 15: 2:30 - 3 p.m.