Barnes breaks through

Ron Willison is the bowling columnist for the Butler Eagle.

February 12, 2008 Last Updated: February 12, 2008 01:37 PM Sports

Chris Barnes had to be wondering if he ever would win another championship after making three straight appearances in the final round of a PBA tournament.

Sunday marked the fourth straight television appearance for Barnes and he finally came through, beating Tommy Jones 241-158 to win the PBA Bayer Classic in Texas.

Jones defeated Mike DeVaney 216-135 to get to the finals, while Barnes beat Mika Koivuniemi 240-198.

Barnes earned $25,000 and an exemption for next season.

The PBA heads to Nebraska for the 2008 Pepsi Championships. ESPN will televise the finals at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Barnes leads the player of the year race. ... Jones took an 11-2 record in title matches into Sunday's final, while Barnes was 8-18. ... The tough conditions made it a joy to watch how the pros handle the lanes. Barnes played the outside line, while the others worked the inside part of the lane.

What former Major League Baseball pitcher has been a USBC member since 1988 and has bowled eight 300 games and three 800 series? Hint: he pitched for the San Francisco Giants. Answer at the end of the column.

Changing your release to try different angles on the lane is an alternative to moving your target. Using a cupped wrist will help you play deeper angles to the pocket. It will increase the amount of revolutions on the ball, and will create the hook necessary to play deep inside.A "broken" or relaxed wrist position works well when playing on dry or short oil conditions. This reduces the revolutions on the ball and reduces the amount of hook.Sometimes changing your wrist position is all you need to change.

• Tri-County Men's League: Jon Pennington, 277 (737), Brian Hobaugh 280 (770), Danny Wolfe 247 (681), George Furka 229 (675), Jeff Atkison 247 (674)• Fruit Loops: Albert Selfridge 267 (717), Chad Reges 256 (701), Carl Ealy 268 (697), Dave Reges 235 (687), Darryl Thompson 266 (649), Kelly Reges 22 4 (565), Sally Reges, 201 (563)• Armco A: Mark Kerner 255 (638), Karen Love 676 handicap triple• Kelly Automotive: Greg Reen 268 (750), John Boozell II 671 series• Firearms: Ben Clauser 279 (716), Lee Johnson 254 game, Courtney Baird 210 (504), Kristie Erkens 193 (519)• Armco C: Chuck Dight 279 (716), Tom Call 240 (683), Bob Prementine 246 (676).

Former major leaguer John Burkett of Beaver County has been a USBC member since 1988. Burkett sported a 221 average in 2006-07, and a 2,086 all-events score at the 2,006 USBC Championships in Texas.