Baer becomes first back-to-back match play winner

Adam Baer dominated match play on Sunday, winning all eight of his matches at East Lincoln Lanes, to coast to a 327-pin victory over Jerred Poff.

Baer, a powerful right-hander from Gettysburg, became the first bowler to win back-to-back Bud Light York County Match Play Championships in the tournament’s 15-year history. He also became the first three-time champ, having won three of the past four years.

“I felt like I dominated today,” said Baer, who averaged 250. “I bowled really well. Winning back-to-back match play titles rates up there with winning the PBA East Region tournament last year.”

Baer capped off the stellar performance with a 252-206 victory over Greg Bruff in the final match of the day, which turned out to be a battle for second place. Poff defeated Mark Jones, 257-211, to move ahead of Bruff into second place.

Baer led the 61-bowler qualifying field and held the lead for all but one game during the two-day, 16-game match play competition.

Trailing by 29 pins entering Sunday’s competition, Baer delivered a bold statement with a 267 his first game to regain the lead and a 93-pin cushion.

“I wanted to shoot a big game to start the day,” said Baer. “That along with the fact that Don Harbaugh (who had been in first) and Jerred Poff (who was in third) shot games under 200 and didn’t win their first matches was a big help.”

Baer said being in first and having a comfortable cushion decreased some of the pressure and allowed him to free up his swing.

“I didn’t feel I had to shoot a big score every game,” he added.

Baer tallied critical victories against his closest competitors, Jerred Poff and Greg Bruff.

In game four, he defeated Poff, 280-249, and the following game he topped Bruff, 257-247.

Baer admitted that he feared Poff, who regularly bowls at East Lincoln, more than any other bowler in the field.

Poff, who finished second for the third consecutive year, said, “Adam’s win against me changed the momentum. And, it took me out of the game mentally.”

Bruff forced Baer to strike out in the 10^th to secure a narrow victory.

“That was a huge win,” offered Baer. “At the time, Bruff was only 160 pins behind. I had to make two great shots to pull that game out. It could have gone either way.”

That win stretched Baer’s lead to 203 pins, and he coasted the rest of the way. Baer earned $1,200 for the victory.

The final standings and pin totals are: Baer (1,579), Poff (1,252), Bruff (1,223), Jones (1,211), Denny Runkle (1,155), Jeff Daubert (1,124), Eric Smith (1,123), Jimmy Plessinger (1,111), Neil Smith (1,033), Don Harbaugh (977), Steve Carbaugh (858), Rick Bretz (797), Barry Whorley (775), Duane Martin (774), Dave Kareis (699), Justin Shearer (661).