October 2nd & 3rd Jake’s Bar ’n Grill in Salem hosted the NW APA Fall Singles Regional with Randee Lee of Salem, APA League Operator as the tournament director and Merle & Boomer Humphreys, APA League Operators in the Portland/Vancouver area assisting. There were 125 players that were qualified. All were hoping for one of the total of 10 slots — 5 in 8-Ball and 5 in 9-Ball —to the APA National Singles Championship at the Riviera in Las Vegas during April 2011. In 8-Ball there was one Blue Tier (SL-2&3) slot, one Red Tier (SL-4) slot, one Yellow Tier (SL-5) slot, and two Purple Tier (SL’s 6 & 7) slots. In 9-Ball there was one Green Tier (SL’s 1-3) slot, two White Tier (SL’s-4 & 5) slots, and two Black Tier (SL’s 6-9) slots. The Format was Modified Single elimination (every player is guaranteed to play two matches before they can go into single elimination).
On Saturday’s 8-Ball, in the Blue (SL-2&3) tier action Samantha Criswell of Salem, went all the way undefeated to the finals. She won her first match against OPAL’s Genny Ness 2-Zip, and then got by OPAL’s Mable Adams in a double hill thriller 2-1. Next she wailed on Salem’s Mandee Briles 2– Zip to wait for an opponent. Meanwhile, after Samantha had trounced Genny in the first round Genny met OPAL’s Pauline Fox. Pauline took the first game putting herself on the hill. Shaking it off, Genny retaliated and made it double hill, then rallied again to claim the victory and stay alive. Gaining confidence she continued her momentum by sacking OPAL’s Darla Scriber 2-Zip. Then Mable Adams 2-Zip as well to claim a repeat match against the undefeated Samantha in the finals for all the marbles. Samantha took the first game, then Genny came right back taking game two to tie it up double hill. The case game was a real heart-breaker for Genny. She was the first one to the 8-Ball, but when she shot the 8-Ball she scratched thus giving Salem’s Samantha Criswell the very first slot to Las Vegas.
In the 8-Ball Yellow (SL-4) Tier Board, both finalist took the long way around. Joshua Gilchrist of Salem, started out by sending Dallas’s Mitch Hainsworth, limping over to the one loss side in a 3-2 double hill thriller. In Round 2 Josh got his tires flattened by OPAL’s Helen Hahn in a come back double hill, 2-3 nail biter. In the one loss side Josh, defeated Tim McMullin of Salem 3-1, then took out Salem’s David Woodall 3 –1 also to go against Dustin Chrisman of Salem in the Yellow Tier finals. After suffering a face slapping 3-zip loss to OPAL’s Christine Bonin in the opening round, Dustin Chrisman went on a rampage in the one loss side taking first a “Bye,” then, wiping out Medford’s Audrey Neill 3-1. Next Dustin barely got by OPAL’s Bruce Micheau in a see saw double hill 3-2 thriller to go to the finals against OPAL’s Josh Gilchrist. The Yellow Tier’s Final was a real crowd pleaser with Joshua winning games 1 & 3 while Dustin won games 2 & 4 to bring the match to a thrilling “double hill” final. Dustin nailed him in the case game to win the second slot to the 2011 APA Singles Nationals in Las Vegas.
Saturday’s 8-Ball Red (SL-5) tier action OPAL’s Henry Lowery of Vancouver drove his way to the finals undefeated by taking out: Dallas’s Bonnie Andrews 4-1, OPAL’s Shawn Mitsakis 4-Zip, Bend’s Chris Jaeger 4-1, and Salem’s Tom McLaughlin 4-Zip. Meanwhile Salem-Aurora’s Chris Beebe, took out OPAL’s Jarrod Buck 4-2, then in a dramatic coming back from being three 3 games down Chris took the case game to win a double hill thriller over Salem’s Paula Heusinkveld. Next Chris defeated Monmouth’s Gabriel Gish 4-1, and then OPAL’s Kelly Kent-Michaeu, 4-2 to squeak into the finals against OPAL’s hotter than hot Henry Lowery of Vancouver. Four straight games later and it was all over. Chris Beebe had walked through OPAL’s Henry Lowery like a hot knife passing through butter, and Chris Beebe would be heading to Vegas.
In the upper half of the Purple Tier (6 & 7) board Dana Sharman of Salem beat OPAL’s Rob Rowley 5-3, Opal’s Leonard Duval 5-3, then Dana got blasted into the one loss side by Rick Riley of Dallas 5-Zip. There Dana defeated Silverton’s Glenn Shoup 5-2 to move back across to the winner’s side and defeat OPAL’s Graham Sanchez 5-3 to go to the finals and face Rick Riley again. Meanwhile Rick Riley’s journey started when he wiped out Glen Sakamura of Salem 5-2, Silverton’s Glenn Shoup 5-3, Salem’s Dana Sharman 5-Zip, and then re-runned Glen Sakamura 5-Zip to get to the final match. The finals was a battle royal. Rick won the first two games, but then Dana won the next 4 games straight to the hill, but couldn’t get just one of the next 3 games, so Rick Riley of Dallas would be taking the 4th slot on the plane ride to Las Vegas in May ’11 from a 5-4 win.
The lower half of the Purple Tier (SL-7) board found David Hopfer of Salem spanking Salem’s Carlos Cadena into the one-loss side then going 4-1 to the hill against Newberg’s Tavis Wagner who came back and beat him 5-4 to send him in the one loss side as well. David won and got to return back to the winner’s side where he upended Howard Allen 5-2. Next up for David was the waiting Tavis Wagner. Tavis’s journey to the finals was difficult one at best. He managed to defeat OPAL’s God—Jonathan Hahn —5-2 in the first round. Next he 5-2’d OPAL’s “Damit” Dan Rodriguez. Then Tavis had that fantastic come back 5-4 win against David Hopfer. If that wasn’t tough enough he had to face the deadly Jonathan Hahn again in the next round. Tavis came out firing and took the first 3 games, but then Jonathan won the next 4 games to put himself on the hill. Tavis won game 8 and they were at double hill. An untimely scratch by Jonathon who was on his way to a run out in the case game gave Tavis the opportunity he needed. Tavis capitalized on it to claim the match. In the finals it was Tavis and David for all the marbles. After two games they were tied 1-1. Then Tavis put the pedal to the metal and took the next 4 games straight to claim the last victory of the day and the fifth and last of the 8-Ball slots to Las Vegas.
Sunday, In the 9-Ball Green (SL-1-2-&3) Tier Board, Opal’s John Scarth went down the long scenic pathway to the finals. He began by sending OPAL’s Shannon Hilands, stumbling over to the one loss side 25-16. In Round 2 David upended Silverton’s Teri Baker 25-18, but then ran into the OPAL wall of Joni Remster who handed him his 31-23 walking papers to the one loss side after David missed his winning 9-Ball. There, David speared OPAL’s Lance Bennet 25-16 to move back to the winner’s side. Next he defeated Darryl Craig of Salem 25-16 to move into the finals. Meanwhile, back at the beginning, OPAL’s Joni Remster narrowly got by OPAL’s Robert Solomon 31-28— who had just gone up to a SL-4 after his first match with OPAL’s Frank Brookfield. Next, after being promoted to a SL-4 herself, Joni barely managed to get by John Scarth 31-25 who had missed the match winning 9-Ball. Showing no mercy, Joni wiped Mable Adams out of the tournament 31-16 to enter the Finals undefeated, and face John Scarth again. In the OPAL finals it was a race to 25 for SL-3 John Scarth, and a race to 31 for—now SL-4—Joni Remster. It was a tense ball trading match but John Scarth got his revenge and won the match 25-26 to claim the 1st 9-Ball slot to Vegas.
In the first (SL-4 & 5) White Tier Salem’s William “Billy” Stewart, went straight to the finals by first jumping OPAL’s Alisha Hepler, 31-16. Then he ate up Salem’s Monica Peterson 31-16. Next, he squashed Alisha Hepler 31-11 to gain passage into the finals against OPAL’s brand new SL-5 Maria Argueta. Maria had been ambushed in the gate by Salem’s Wendy Hamm 31-27. Then drawing a loser’s side “Bye” she moved on to knock off OPAL’s Kim Norn 31-29 in a real nail biter. Next it was to the Loser’s side point and revenge for Maria as she ripped Wendy Hamm a new one 31-23 to move back to the winner’s side and come up face to face with Salem’s Shawn Wagoner who she defeated by the narrowest of one point margins 31-37 to get into the finals against undefeated William “Billy” Stewart of Salem. The final tally came right down to the last rack and almost the last ball before OPAL’s SL-5 Maria Argueta recorded her 38-30 match win to be able to claim the bragging rights to the second 9-Ball slot into the 2011 Las Vegas Singles National event.
In the second (SL-4 & 5) White Tier Salem’s John Russell got trampled in the first gate by OPAL’s Erik Wickstrom 38-19. John demolished a “Bye” for his first match in the loser’s side then went on to defeat Salem’s newest SL-6 Chris Peterson 38-43 to take the bridge back to the winner’s side. Meeting up with OPAL’s Erik Wickstrom again this time John did a reversal and stampeded over Erik 38-19 to win his way into the finals against OPAL’s Karen Upshaw. Karen had began her Journey by defeating OPAL’s Kelly Kent-Micheau 38-36, but then got trounced by Salem’s Kim Perry 38-25 and was demoted to SL-4. In the loser’s side Karen upended former 2001 National SL-3 Champion Linda Lou Garcher from Silverton 31-23 and then went on to again defeat OPAL’s Kelly Kent-Micheau 31-31 to come back to the winner’s side and face Salem’s Kim Perry again—this time defeating her 31-35 to get a shot in the finals against Salem’s pride—John Russell. The finals was a pretty close contest all the way, but when the sun set, Karen Upshaw registered a 31-34 win Over Salem’s John Russel to claim the 2nd 9-Ball plane seat to Las Vegas.
In the SL-6-9, Black Tier 9-Ball bracket, there were two more slots up for grabs.
In the top section, Salem’s SL-6 Dave Wallace Got Clobbered in the first round by OPAL’s Chad Naber 46-39. In the loser’s side, Dave easily bested Salem’s Hector Gonzalez 46-22. Gaining confidence Dave took out OPAL’s Scott Bean 46-39, and then Salem’s Mike Harlow 46-32 to move back across the bridge to the winner’s side. There Dave upended OPAL’s John Ross 46-32 to advance into the finals.
Meanwhile, after taking out Dave in round one action OPAL’s Chad Naber got clobbered by OPAL’s John Ross 46-29. Slipping over to the Loser’s side Chad managed to get by Salem’s Scott McComas 46-35, and then Dallas’s Rick Riley 46-28 to return back to the front side and OPAL’s Henry Lowery. Chad nailed Henry 46-36 to advance into the finals and face Salem’s David Wallace again in what Chad hoped would be Summer reruns. Summer reruns it was—but it was close-46-41. OPAL’s Chad Naber took the 4th 9-Ball Slot and the plane ride to Vegas come May 2011.
In the Black Tier’s bottom section OPAL’s SL-9 Scott Grimm, and Newberg’s SL-7 James Moore made it all the way to the finals totally undefeated. Scott’s journey began with a wipeout of Salem’s Matt Hiatt 75-62. Next Scott demolished Salem’s Keola Slavey 75-35, and then he blasted Bend’s Levi Walusiak 75-24 and advance into the finals. Meanwhile, Newberg’s “Kojak-look-a-like & Tootsie Pop sucker,” James Moore began with a close win over OPAL’s Steve Chandler 55-51. Then, had a nail biter win over Levi Walusiak 55-53. Next James defeated Salem’s Jim Long 55-45, and then clobbered Keola Slavey 55-40 to advance to the finals to face Scott Grimm. For the spectator there couldn’t have been a more exciting finale’. For SL-7 James Moore it was a race to 55. For SL-9 Scott Grimm it would be a race to 75. After the first rack the score was tied at 5 points apiece. After that, and for the next 10 racks, all James could do was eat Scott’s dust because after the first 11 racks of play the score was 71 for Scott and 32 for James. Scott just needed 4 more balls to claim the victory. Then, the unthinkable happened. Scott miscued, and James progressively ran off 23 unanswered points to claim the match 55-71. It was total disbelief by all who were witness. Everybody but James had given up on James. However, James Moore pulled off the greatest come-back win ever recorded in Fall Singles 9-Ball Regional history. Newberg’s James Moore stunned everyone with absolute amazement by his “never say die” attitude and the fact that he won all the bragging rights, took the final 5th 9-Ball Slot, and will be boarding the plane to Las Vegas Singles Nationals in May 2011—it’s all his and —he earned it!
Special Thanks to Scott McComas & Staff for being such gracious and generous hosts for this event. The tables were all in great shape, the food was great, and there was plenty of cold liquid refreshment to be had!