The Professional Bowlers Association announced today a major expansion of its PBA League, increasing the number of teams from eight to 10 in 2020 by adding teams that will represent the cities of Milwaukee and Las Vegas when the league's Elias Cup competition returns to Bayside Bowl in Portland, Maine, in July.

As part of the expansion, the PBA has named Hall of Fame Bowlers Marshall Holman and Amleto Monacelli as managers for the Milwaukee and Las Vegas teams, respectively. The “High Rollers” is the league's newest team name, representing the Las Vegas franchise. The Milwaukee team has yet to be officially named, but this month the PBA will give its fans the chance to be a part of PBA history and help select a name for the team by participating in a social media contest starting Monday, Feb. 3.

Fans are invited to submit their original franchise names for Milwaukee between 10 a.m. EST on February 3 and 10 a.m. EST on February 5 via the PBA's dedicated Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts. The top three names will be released on PBA's social pages by 1 p.m. EST on February 5, and fans will be invited to vote for their favorite. The winning team name will be chosen by the PBA and publicly announced at the PBA League draft.

The person who submits the winning name will receive a customized bowling ball and pin autographed by the Milwaukee team after the draft.

The PBA League, which introduced a unique team competition to the PBA in 2013, will return in 2020 with its eight original teams and managers: the 2019 Elias Cup Champion Portland Lumberjacks (manager Tim Mack); Silver Lake Atom Splitters (Mark Baker); L.A. X (Andrew Cain); Motown Muscle (Del Ballard); Brooklyn StYles (Johnny Petraglia); Dallas Strikers (Norm Duke); Philadelphia Hitmen (Jason Couch) and NYC Kingpins (Carolyn Dorin-Ballard).

With the addition of Milwaukee and Las Vegas, the League will be divided into two five-team divisions: the Carter Division (Dallas, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Silver Lake and Las Vegas) and the Anthony Division (New York City, Motown, Portland, L.A. and Milwaukee).

A player draft will be held during the PBA World Series of Bowling XI in Las Vegas on March 15. The eight existing teams can protect up to three players from their 2019 rosters and will draft in the reverse order of how they finished in 2019. Any remaining player not protected will go into the draft pool.

All 10 teams will round out their five-player rosters with players whose draft eligibility may be earned up until this year's WSOB. Player eligibility for the draft will be based on the top 75 players in combined competition points earned during the 2019 and 2020 seasons through WSOB XI.

The eighth annual PBA League Elias Cup competition will be conducted over three consecutive nights of live television coverage on FS1.

2020 PBA League Elias Cup Competition Bayside Bowl, Portland, Maine, July 20-23.

Ed's Outlook

Colorful two-handed bowler Kyle Troup of Taylorsville, North Carolina, threw 11 consecutive strikes to defeat Hall of Famer Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas, 290-269, to win the PBA Jonesboro Open at Hijinx Family Entertainment Center Saturday for his fourth career PBA Tour title.

The Jonesboro finals aired live on FS1. The finals, as well as the rest of the tournament, was contested on a dual oiling pattern featuring the 48-foot Shark lane condition on the left lane and the 36-foot Viper pattern on the right lane.

Troup started the title match on the shorter-oil lane, leaving a 3-6-7-10 split that he converted before striking out. Barnes, who had missed the pocket only one time in three previous games, left two single pins, converted both, but that's all the margin Troup needed.

“I thought I made a really good shot in the first frame, but after that, I moved my feet and that was it,” Troup said. “I knew I needed to throw the 10 best shots of my life to beat Chris and I did it.

Vinny Collura

Bowls 300

Monticello bowler Vinny Collura scored a perfect 300 game January 27 in the Monday Men's league bowling as a substitute for the Keller Williams team with team mates Tom Belgiovene. J.J. Wilhelm Jr. and Jon Wilhlem Sr.

He presently averages 216 and his January 17 scores included the 300 game in the first game followed by a 177 and 253 for a 730 series.

Vinny has always been considered one of the premium bowlers in Sullivan County for many years carrying high averages and recording numerous 300 games in his bowling career.

Bowling Tip

By Mike Luongo

Releasing the ball means understanding the axis rotation. Geometry is a very important subject when talking about axis, plans and angles. When you release the ball, an entire geometrical construction is released also.

The spinning of the ball is the main arm of releasing the ball. You have to observe the ball spinning a lot of time before throwing it on the platform.

The spinning must be smooth and it must apply the two axis of rotation, vertical and horizontal. Most prefer to spin the ball watching the horizontal axe because it is easier and handier.

A good thing you could do in order to improve your axis rotation would be to find a good bowler who could watch you bowl and could teach you exactly how to release the ball.

All in all, it can be said that releasing the ball in bowling requires practice.

Visualizing the angles will make you understand the road of the ball.

Mike Luongo is a Certified IBPSIA Pro Shop Operator, Master Instructor, USBC Silver Level Coach and an Advisor-Special Events Assistant with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. Have a question, email him at mike.luongo@stormbowling.com.

BOWLING SCORES

BEECHWOOD LANES

Villa Roma Mon. Ladies

Laurie Brockner 150, Tracy Puerschner 167, 187, Barbara Cady 198, Kristina Verrico 153, Lindsey Bauer 153, Joyce Brooks 172, Tara Meyer 155, Autumn Ackerman 159, Lillian Zieres 151, 155.

PORT JERVIS BOWL

Thursday Ladies

Erin McDonagh 158, 244, 233, 635, Josephine Zych 175, 191, 211, 577, Carol Flynn 181, 192, 189, 562, Charlene VanHorn 221, 168, 133, 522, Carmela Montaperto 168, 147, 189, 504.

FOX BOWLING CENTER

Wednesday Men's Independent

Doc Bolduc 246, 222, 201, 669, Frank Dicostanzo 233, 256, 678, Roger Widmann 205, Ben Green 226, 232, 201, 659, Wayne McClenon 208, 205, 213, 626, Zuke Wormuth 217, 233, 643.

Thursday Night 3

Shane Dirig 223, 204, 236, 663, Bill Gleim 202, 213, 248, 663, Dan Keesler 228, 219, 640, Natasha Viera 180, 192, 224, 596, Dan Wormuth 207, 209, 608.

Friday Couples

Jeremy Barnes 203, 201, 210, 614, Andy Bullis 224, 247, 654, Shane Dirig 215, 245, 656, Scott Ellis 237, 213, 640, Linda Ferris 201, 557, Dan Wormuth 249, 213, 235, 697.

Sat. Youth Mixed

Ethan Dennis 123, 274, Landon Fuller 125, 355, Olivia Johnston 134, 349, Alex Mosher 146, 275, Landyn Robinson 109, 279.

Sunday Mixed

Mike Bowker 204, 201, 594, Reva Jones 184, Don Marino 245, 228, 650, Wilbur McAdams 257, 594.

KIAMESHA LANES

Monday Men's

Pedro Agapito III a 258, 279, 259, 796, Charlie Tuttle 256, 213, 187, 656, Kevin Stackhouse 247, 204, 204, 655, John Jashembowski III a 235, 215, 206, 656, George Baggatta 277, 224, 200, 701.

Tues. Mixed Firefighter

Karen Martin 159, 162, 191, 512, Carena Collura 169, 181, 176, 526, Kyle Giordano 213, 223, 269, 705, Jon Wilhelm 220, 200, 243, 663, Robert Wells 200, 217, 218, 635, Mary Lee Williams 170, 171, 182, 523, Ailene Washington 208.

Friday Mixed

Pedro Agapito III a 258, 266, 279, 803, AJ Atkins 217, 213, 227, 657, David Graham 237, 239, 179, 655, Bill Schubert 216, 236, 220, 672, Kevin Stackhouse 257, 268, 244, 769, Bill VanAken 222, 255, 217, 694, Lisa Cartwright 205, 158, 167, 530, Mikayla DeGraw 174, 174, 144, 492.

Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the Sport of Bowling and brings over 60-years of sports journalism experience in writing and compiling the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, bowl a 300 game or an 800 series, let Ed know at 845-439-8177, email to edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax to 845-205, 4474. View this column and Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.