Officials hope PBA event makes return to Hubbard

Halfway through last weekend’s PBA Central/East Hubbard Open, director Bobby Jakel was able to make this assessment: “Great turnout,” he said of the 100 entries.

But he didn’t stop there.

“It looks like we’ll probably be coming back next year, hopefully, if fund-raising falls into place and sponsorships come back. But it looks very good.”

Not bad for an inaugural event for Hubbard and the first in the area since a string of McKinley Open regionals at McKinley Lanes in Niles, the last of which was seven years ago.

Jim Bryant of Hubbard and Bell-Wick proprietor Francis Zitnik were Hubbard Open hosts.

Champion Ryan Ciminelli of Cheektowaga, N.Y. won $2,600 after beating Dayton’s Brian Kretzer, 233-226.

“It’s great because we don’t get to this part of the country very often,” said Jackel, the PBA’s Central Region manager. “It’s also a good time of year because the regional guys had a small break between the winter months and they’re ready to get back.”

The break was from November-February when regionals are scarce.

“It’s difficult for us to go in and take over a center for an entire weekend because the proprietor would have a lot of lost revenue [from open play],” he said. “So, the summer is definitely better. My season is very busy during the summer while the national tour is not going on. That’s why [regional] guys are itching to get back.”

The Hubbard Open was the second event upon resumption of the regional season.

“We had an event a couple weeks ago — down in Jasper, Ind., which combined with the Midwest.

Hubbard was combined with the East Region.

The Central Region consists of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.

The genesis of the Hubbard Open began when Jim Bryant inquired about a regional because he had some sponsors.

“I sent him some information and he sat down and talked to the owners and if they’d be interested in hosting a regional,” Jakel said. “It turned out that the weekend worked out good and everything fell into place and the sponsorship fell into line and, back in May, contracts were signed for this spot. The date is theirs for as long as they want it.”

Of the 100, seven were national tour pros with an exemption, 18 were guests (non-PBA members who paid $285 fee to compete with pros) and the rest were PBA members.

The exempt pros were Rhino Page, Ryan Ciminelli, Brian Kretzer, Dave D’Entremont, Jeff Zaffino, Dan MacLelland and Joe Ciccone.

Paul Gibson’s exemption doesn’t begin until April 1, which is the start of the 2011-2012 season.

The regional tour is in the midst of rebuilding its model.

“We are going to be on the ground floor of a world tour and it’s probably going to happen within the next five [to 10] years,” Jakel said. “The national tour will, eventually, be part of a world tour.”

“Our Extra-Frame program is going to be part of that,” he added. “So, essentially, instead of going to a different stop week after week, we would go to one stop for a period of time, tape some shows and then air them for a later date.”

He said that will invite the international players to come to the United States, because they will be the backbone of the international tour.

Secondly, the PBA saves on expenses in terms of bringing a PBA set from stop to stop.

“This is much more economical to fit this business model of the PBA of the future, so the regional program will always be the minor leagues of the national tour because [regular Joe] guys will come out here to test their skills against some of the best bowlers in the world,” he said.

With the old business model, it was impossible for the international players to come over for 10 weeks at a time.

“If they came over for one week and didn’t bowl well, they basically have five days of down time until the next competition,” he said. “That didn’t make sense for them. Since we’re going to be more of a global program, this makes more sense, so we’re in the midst of re-identifying ourselves and I think it’s going to be a great thing.”

A residual effect may make the regional program a little better.

“Once more sponsors get involved and once more people get involved [in a world tour] and the value of an exemption increases as a world tour becomes more and more visible, I think the regional program will also reap benefits.”

Asked if regionals have better footing, financially, than nationals, Jakel said: “Ask the people in Seattle that.

“Regionals are doing good,” he said of the roughly 27 regionals, including regular and senior (over 50) events.

“It doesn’t fluctuate much year to year. A lot depends on where holidays fall and lane availability.”

Barta has 837

Adam Barta’s 837 topped Evans Expert Roofing at Wedgewood on March 22, Tim Graham’s 803 led Tri-County Classic at Holiday on March 8 and Nick Evans did likewise with 803 in Belchyk/Action Plumbing Classic at Holiday.

Tom Ring and Chris Mull had their first perfect games when they both rolled a 300 in Hively’s Sportsman at Amron on March 21.

Rule No. 34 won Monday Classic’s fourth quarter at West Side with Mark Lias, Dan Clipse, Steve Sullivan, Robert Harvischak and Andrew Ruetz and The Mixers of Don Shaw, Bob Dean, Wendell Neal and Connie Joseph won the final third in Bob’s Auto Service Seniors League at Amron. The Bob’s league wild-card winners were The Hammers of Ron Palowitz, Dave Ifft, John Larson and Marshall McCree.