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NOVEMBER 21, 2019 CALIFORNIA 7502B Florence Ave, Downey,O CAWLING 90240 • Website: CaliforniaBowlingNews.com • Email: [email protected] N • Office:EWS (562) 807-3600 Fax: (562) 807-2288 Acquires Ebonite Inby Industry-Shaking Lucas Wiseman Move In a blockbuster move goes, everyone has been re- there were three major Columbia 300 and Track International on the PBA Hopkinsville plant closing. sure to shake up the indus- tained.” bowling ball manufacturers consumers." Tour, told FloBowling on “I feel bad for the em- try, Brunswick has acquired EBI’s brands include – Storm Products, Bruns- The release also said Friday night that the news ployees of Ebonite be- Ebonite International in a Columbia 300, Hammer, wick and Ebonite Interna- Brunswick will continue caught him by surprise. cause being a union place deal that was announced Ebonite, Track, Power tional. The consolidation to market products under “I called Rob (Gotch- for however long – factory Friday. Brunswick secured House and Robby’s. What means bowling will now all the Ebonite brands and all) and talked to him, and workers, a lot of them have all the assets of EBI, includ- this move means for the only have two major play- will honor all warranties on I guess they were more been there for 20 years,” ing all of its brands, trade- long-term future of each ers in the equipment space existing Ebonite Interna- blindsided than us because Jones said. “You’ve got marks and technologies. individual brand is unclear with Storm and Brunswick tional bowling balls. “Ebo- you think they know in the some people who have Effective immediately, the and Kelly said those details going head to head while nite International has built office a little bit,” Jones been working there since EBI plant in Hopkinsville, will be worked out in the other smaller brands like a strong 109-year legacy said. “I know when Ebo- they were 15 years old, so Kentucky, has been shut coming weeks. MOTIV also battle for mar- in the bowling industry,” nite bought Columbia and I feel bad for those people.” down and production will “Our goal and our whole ket share. Ebonite International CEO Track they kept all their According to the Ken- move to Brunswick’s plant premise behind what we In a press release out Randy Schickert said in the players and all their con- tucky New Era newspaper, in Reynosa, Mexico. are doing right now is to late Friday, Brunswick release. “We believe that tracts, so hopefully that’s EBI has operated its Hop- “We’re still working on make sure the consumer CEO Corey Dykstra said: Brunswick Bowling Prod- what that will entail for us. kinsville plant for 52 years plans,” Brunswick Director still has all the product that “Ebonite and its associated ucts is the right partner at Time will tell, and we will and the paper reported of Marketing Bugsy Kelly they need and would want,” brands have an extraordi- the right time for continu- just see what happens.” around 170 employees will told FloBowling. “We have Kelly said. “The consumer nary history in bowling. We ing the traditions of the Eb- Although Jones said lose their jobs. The New about two or three weeks is going to be top of mind look forward to continuing onite, Hammer, Columbia details were scarce on the Era also reported that em- of working on what this re- for Brunswick going for- the tradition of producing 300 and Track brands.” deal, he did feel bad for the ployees will receive their ally means for Brunswick. ward for all of our brands.” outstanding products for Tommy Jones, one of people who lost their jobs salary and benefits through As far as Ebonite’s pro staff Before Friday’s news loyal Ebonite, Hammer, the main faces of Ebonite Friday as a result of the Jan. 13, 2020. Wesley Low Jr. to Begin ‘I’m Still Moonwalking Chasing PBA Dreams and Tripping on Clouds’ The widely anticipated he won a PBA West Region by Fred Eisenhammer arrival of Wesley Low Jr. “challenge” event for non- WINNETKA – What to the PBA ranks will begin title winners in Las Vegas does it take to elevate one’s in January when the highly in 2013 at the age of 15 league average from 227 decorated two-handed left- years, 336 days. He didn’t to 236? hander begins his quest for get credit for an official How about crushing a 2020 PBA Rookie of the title because he was not a stratospheric 886 series? Year honors. PBA member at the time. That’s exactly what Low, now 22 and a grad- He also was the second- Frank Chiodo did Oct. uate of the famous Wichita youngest player ever to 16 with one of the most State University collegiate “cash” in a PBA Regional brilliant performances in program, was the youngest when he finished third Los Angeles-area history. bowler ever to win a PBA in the same non-champi- Bowling in Wednesday’s Wesley Low Jr. Regional tournament when continued on page 7 star-studded Mixed Classic Handicap league at Winnetka Bowl, Chiodo ripped off games of 288, 300 and 298. Bobby Hornacek On Fire At Empire Bowl Frank Chiodo turned in a sizzling performance in October REDLANDS – Bobby Chiodo’s masterpiece at Winnetka Bowl when he blasted an 886 series with scores Hornacek is only twenty- ranks as the second-highest of 288, 300 and 298. Photo by Fred Eisenhammer five, but this young man is series in L.A. history. making a statement about Anthony Sharpsteen is “It was my only ball out of For Chiodo, a 71-year- his being the Citrus Belt’s No. 1, having blasted an the pocket,” Chiodo said. old Granada Hills resident, very best bowler regardless 888 (289, 299, 300) in the Still, Chiodo’s score it marked his second 800 of age! Men’s Classic League on was good enough to claim series. His first came in He has bowled a 252 Jan. 25, 2011 at now-defunct the Winnetka Bowl house 2015 at Winnetka Bowl 300 300 852 at the center Mission Hills Bowl. record, surpassing the 869 when he rolled an 801 – one and it appears the house Chiodo revealed that rolled on July 18, 2011 by year after he ended a 20-year record of 870 might be in Sharpsteen “chased me California United States break from the game. jeopardy! down the next day to tell Bowling Congress Hall- So Chiodo improved his Bowling in Empire me congratulations and said of-Famer and Valley icon previous best series by a Bowl’s explosive Doubles he had wanted me to beat Johnnie Englehart. It also whopping 85 pins. League Bobby posted his score. He was very exceeded an 876 series “Shock,” responded 300/769 on October 28 and gracious.” (300-277-299) by powerful Chiodo with a wide smile 280/742 on November 4! Chiodo actually had a Charles Kenny, another when asked his reaction to The smooth righty was shot at tying Sharpsteen’s California USBC Hall-of- his 886. “Did I really make rolling his Brunswick Me- score on his last shot of his Famer, at Jewel City Bowl 33 strikes out of 35 shots?” Pictured are Empire Bowl’s Chief Staff MemberTerry (L) continued on page 7 third game but left the 4-7. in Glendale in 2016. continued on page 7 with Bobby Hornacek. PAGE 2 CALIFORNIABOWLINGNEWS.COM NOVEMBER 21, 2019 PBA REGIONAL UPDATE: 25 YEARS LATER, JOE FIRPO WINS AGAIN A quarter of a century later, Joe Firpo of Tucker, Ga., defeated Gary Shultis of Levittown, N.Y., 258-214, to win a PBA Regional tournament when he won the PBA50 Gastonia Southern Open presented by Brunswick at George Pap- pas Liberty Lanes in Gastonia, N.C., Sunday. Firpo, a 54-year-old former PBA member, won $2,000 in his first PBA Regional win since a tournament in Tallahassee, Fla., in 1994. But because he dropped his PBA membership 15 years ago, he doesn’t get credit for a fourth PBA title. Firpo won his only PBA Tour title with partner Del Warren in winning the 1987 Showboat PBA Doubles Classic in Las Vegas, In the semifinal round Firpo easily disposed of Ken Shealy of Myrtle Beach, S.C., 227-190, while Shultis made it to COLORADO RIVER USBC PRESENTS the championship match for a third consecutive year by defeating Bill Vannoy of Lexington, S.C., 275-248. Shultis, who had won at Liberty Lanes three times in the past, pocketed 1,000 as the runner-up. THE 6 GAMES SCRATCH CLASSIC • Tom Hess of Granger, Iowa defeated Dakota Vostry of Chicago, 225-193, to win the PBA Plaza Bowl Midwest STEP LADDER TOURNAMENT Open presented by Roto Grip in Clinton, Iowa, Sunday for his 11th PBA Regional title and the $2,000 first prize. Locals & Walk–Ons Are Welcome! In the first match of the three-player stepladder finals, Vostry defeated Kenny Calkins III of Des Moines, Iowa, 222- SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2019 215, to advance to the title match to face Hess, the top qualifier. The tournament was the final PBA Midwest Region FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: RIVERSIDE LANES AT 1-888-590-2695 event of the 2019 season. • Brendon Miller of Urban, Ohio defeated Michael Adams of Fresno, Mich., 208-166, to win the PBA La-Z-Boy ADULT/SENIOR Central Challenge at Monroe Sport Center in Monroe, Mich., Saturday for a $1,500 first prize and his first PBA title. The tournament field consisted of PBA members who had not won a PBA title and non-members who have never VIP DOUBLES BOWLING won a PBA event (non-members are not eligible to win PBA titles).

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