Team Anchorage Captures Inaugural Pioneer Peak Challenge

February 10, 2011

By ANDY MORTON, GAUSBCA President

The energy and excitement surrounding the first ever Pioneer Peak Challenge between Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley quickly simmered once the team introductions concluded and the lights came on.  Anchorage got hot early and hot late and won the inaugural event and race to 8.5 points by a tally of 9-4. 

Anchorage took an early lead in the event by rattling off the first four points of the night with an average of 251 per game.  They won two baker games with scores of 265 to 220 and 247 to 169.  While on the Doubles side, Anchorage won with scores of 257 to 194 and 237 to 152. 

“They had a nice crowd out here and they had some fancy introductions and got that crowd really into it and supporting them.  It was important to get off to a quick start to deflate that energy and that’s what we were able to do.  It doesn’t always work out like that, but we’ll definitely take it,” said Andy Morton, Captain of the Anchorage team. 

The Valley curbed some of that momentum of Anchorage’s and brought the crowd back into it by winning three of the next four team points.  They finally tossed a big 246 baker game, which topped Anchorage’s 205.  They also swept the remaining two doubles matches 187 to 180 and 246 to 185. 

“I think the nerves got to some of us and we got off to a really slow start.  Plus, they had Belinda Carlisle playing during our introductions and that didn’t really get us into the right frame of mind for this event.  It took us about four games to get that song out of our head.  After that, we started to gel and gain some confidence and take some points, but it might have been too late,” said Nate Morton, Captain of the Valley team.

Anchorage stifled the rally and prevented the Valley from tying up the match at four points apiece with a 251 to 186 victory in the final Baker match of the night. 

After the team and doubles portion of the match, Anchorage held a small, but sizeable advantage at 5-3 considering they were heading into the singles matches and have won a whopping 80% of all singles matches under this format over the last year.

True to form, Anchorage grabbed the first three singles matches by scores of 225 to 193, 231 to 184, and 259 to 158 giving Anchorage a total of 8 points in the match and putting them just a win or tie from locking up the victory.     

The Valley stayed alive for one more round when Dale Lebahn fought off Chris Clapper with a 255 game to Clapper’s 237.  But the miracle comeback was not to be had when two early leads in both of the following singles matches ended in defeat.  Mark Eggleton sealed the deal with a strike in the 10^th frame against Nate Morton and the Anchorage team could finally celebrate with a 9-4 victory over the Mat-Su Valley. 

“I had a great time. The competition was awesome and the people were friendly.  They were definitely cheering for the home team which made it even more fun for us as the visiting team.  I can’t wait to do it again.  Did I mention that’s how A-town rolls?” said Anchorage team member Shawn Robinson following the victory.