Prediction Records
Tyson Nelson: 56 – 40 – 0 Previous Week: 7-1-0
Trevor Cook: 58 – 38 – 0 Previous Week: 6-2-0
Match #1 – Orne vs. Cousins
Both teams are coming in off winning weeks, but you have to expect Team Orne is coming in with a little more confidence after shooting their season high total 3842. Team Cousins will really need to pull up their socks this week, they come in at over a 10-pin disadvantage at each position with the exception of leadoff where Jennifer Duncan comes in at only an 8-pin advantage. David Wastle has been a machine over the last three weeks, averaging the highest on his team during that span at 242. This is a pretty intimidating number to see for any bowler in the second position, so Shannon Pruden won’t have much room for slacking off.
Key Matchup
This match will really be determined by the bottom half of the lineup. Matt Sutherland comes in as pretty much a straight swap sparing for Darren Maxwell both averaging 233. Matt combined with Linda Orne who also had a big week last week will be an ominous matchup for Cindy Cousins and Char McIvor respectively, who come in at 28-pin underdogs. They will both need to find some big scores if they hope to keep things close.
Tyson’s Pick: Team Orne
Trevor’s Pick: Team Orne
Match #2 – LaMonica vs. C. Jeffers
Team C. Jeffers is coming off one of their best weeks this season, unfortunately they are in a tough portion of their schedule where they face off against yet another top-3 team. Team LaMonica did not have as strong of a week but still managed to pull out the win and keep themselves in good standing. Based on recent scores both Al Bristow and Cyndie Barnett lineup pretty evenly, and the same can be said for the matchup between Anthony Novak and Sam Gelardi. Anthony has had a couple weeks off so we will see how rusty he feels in this match. If you look just at averages, Team LaMonica’s interior positions should clean house but I would not be so quick to count out Chris Jeffers and Tim Hooper. Tim has been averaging 222 over the past four weeks, and Chris is coming off his highest week of the year.
Key Matchup
Like I said, the interior matchups are going to be interesting. With Andrew LaMonica averaging 220 for his last three weeks and Tim averaging 222 for his last four, this matchup could be closer than expected. Jeff Bradshaw versus Chris Jeffers if you had asked me a month ago would have been a no brainer, but now Chris is looking in better form and Jeff has struggled shooting two of his last three weeks below 800. I really think whoever wins the interior wins this match.
Tyson’s Pick: Team LaMonica
Trevor’s Pick: Team LaMonica
Match #3 – Lourenco vs. Bartram
Both teams coming off tough losses, and hoping to rebound with a big win this week. This matchup does not bode well for Team Bartram, in the top two positions Derek Sanderson and Colton Harris come in as whopping 42-pin underdogs versus Dave Duncan and Tabatha Gelardi. Ethan Buckman remains in the third spot with a slow start to 2022, but I would still consider him a favourite over whoever is bowling third this week for Team Bartram. The anchor matchup sees old friends Belle Lourenco and Jeston Bartram faceoff for the first time as anchors. Jeston is hot off his best week of the season, while Belle has been holding her own at anchor with a 247 average over her last four weeks. Team Lourenco has been one of the league’s favourite punching bags this season, boasting one of the highest opponent averages of any team, so they will be hoping that is not the case in this favourable matchup.
Key Matchup
Watch the top two positions, this match could run away from Team Bartram very quickly if Derek and Colton don’t find a way to close the gap early and keep it closed. Tabby has been a solid leadoff so far, but now this week will be trying her hand in the second position. Either way facing Dave or Tabby at leadoff is not going to be an easy night. If Derek and Colton can’t keep it within 100 pins, I don’t see their team having much of a chance.
Tyson’s Pick: Team Lourenco
Trevor’s Pick: Team Lourenco
Match #4 – Devenney vs. Cook
Neither of these teams has had the start they hoped for in the new year, and last week did not change that as they both lost with single-point weeks. Team Devenney will look to break their eight-week losing streak with a much-needed win. A good start to this will be building on Holly Chaikowski’s season high total and keep up that momentum into this week. They do have a strong advantage at leadoff almost gaining 20 pins between Neil Stewart and Dave Priestley. Jayson May and Holly Chaikowski based on how the recent numbers are trending would indicate this should be a fairly close matchup. Unfortunately for Team Devenney, they face Trevor Cook and Alyssa Campbell who have been one of the toughest third and anchor combos in the league over the past three weeks, which explains the 49-point average gap between them and Mike and Jennifer Devenney.
Key Matchup
I would say Team Devenney needs a hail mary in this one from the Devenneys. If we can see Mike around 900 and Jennifer mid 900-1000 I believe they will give themselves a fighting chance especially with a little support at the leadoff and second positions. The biggest threat to them is Trevor, he has been consistent all year and after a slightly lower week last week, I am thinking he will come back big, probably close to 1100.
Tyson’s Pick: Team Cook
Trevor’s Pick: Team Cook
Match #5 – Hurd vs. King
I think this will be the match to watch tonight. Both teams come enter tonight in the top half of the league, but Team King would most likely want to distance themselves a little more from the 9th place team. Kevin Naugler has been one of the hottest bowlers in the league since returning in 2022, he is averaging 261 and making himself quite the competitor in the anchor position. That being said, his matchup is with Wayne King who has also found his groove lately, averaging 251 in the new year so far. This should make for a great match to watch. Two other bowlers who have come off big weeks are the leadoffs, Ryan Bannerman and Chris Fedorchuk, with the edge still going to Ryan who has shot over 900 for three consecutive weeks, averaging 230 over that span.
Key Matchup
The thirds should make a good matchup this week, Brett Hendrickson has sort of found his groove the last two weeks if he can get rid of the 160 games, they should start turning into 1000+ scores. Karen Armstrong is definitely never someone to count out and watch for her to give Brett a tough time all night. I will be bold and say whoever wins this matchup will have their team win the night.
Tyson’s Pick: Team Hurd
Trevor’s Pick: Team Hurd
Match #6 – Youzwa vs. B. Jeffers
Team Youzwa lost some ground in the standings last week with a tough upset loss. They do not come into an easy match this week either facing a top-4 team in Team B. Jeffers. Scott Saunderson and Adam Williamson provide a slight advantage at leadoff and second positions, over Mark Prystupa and Jenna Gillrie. This advantage could be increased if Adam continues his 225 average pace he has set so far through 2022. This advantage is basically evened out by the matchup between Ben Jeffers and Chloe Fleming, where Chloe comes in a strong 15-pin favourite. Ben has been trending in the right direction with back-to-back weeks over 920, and if he can keep it up he will give himself a fighting chance.
Key Matchup
Colton Youzwa is warming up from his cold streak and this week will be a good test to see if he is back to his A-game, as he faces league high average Tyson Nelson. Tyson has been averaging 277 over the last four weeks, making him a good challenge for Colton. If Colton can take a win here it will be a huge boost to his team, and take the pressure off them.
Tyson’s Pick: Team Youzwa
Trevor’s Pick: Team B. Jeffers
Match #7 – Gelardi vs. Rodych
Team Gelardi comes in as the team to beat right now, while Team Rodych is the team that gets beat. Team Rodych will rely heavily on their bottom half of the lineup to secure their points this week, easier said than done for Matt Rodych who faces Dwayne Gelardi. Dwayne is currently the second highest average in the league and Matt will have to knock off any rust quickly if he wants to keep up. Speaking of rust, or in this case bandages… Wayne Wolanski will be making his return to the league since being off with a hand injury since the end of November. Hand injuries are never easy to get over and I expect it to be a slow process getting back into his groove, might be a good opportunity for Lexie Sutherland to take advantage of in the third position.
Key Matchup
The top half of these lineups has a ginormous pin disparity, 56 pins difference between Mitch Dubell and Robbie Hendrickson over Hailey Roberts and Carter Schade. Hailey and Carter need some big scores to put themselves into this match and put a little pressure on Mitch and Robbie. Mitch is still one of the top leadoffs in the league and is consistently in the 800-860 range which is where I expect him to be tonight.
Tyson’s Pick: Team Gelardi
Trevor’s Pick: Team Gelardi
Match #8 – Stevenson vs. Enns
Both these teams had rebound week last week, each taking a win. With Team Stevenson just holding onto a spot in the top half of the league and Team Enns in the hunt this could be a big match for both teams. Team Enns biggest strength right now is the consistency of Glen Howarth at anchor, shooting over 970 for five straight weeks. His opponent, Dylan Stevenson, will need to find a little more consistency in his game if he hopes to push back. However, Team Stevenson boasts one of the stronger top three in the league and are most likely able to gain some ground at the leadoff position with Erik Stewart facing the ever-crafty Dwight Hurd. Erik has been averaging 222 since coming back in 2022 and based on how he feels about his game, I think we can expect similar numbers from him tonight.
Key Matchup
This match will really come down to the interior positions, second and third. Garry Bell and captain Craig Enns have missed a few weeks to start the new year and it’s hard to say if that time off will have any effect. What we do know is that on the other side Tyler Reynolds and Jayden Nickerson have been putting up consistently strong scores in the second and third positions. These two are high energy players so if Garry and Craig can keep up for the first two games, they will have a good shot to take their matchups.
Tyson’s Pick: Team Stevenson
Trevor’s Pick: Team Stevenson
