Minichello comes from one-loss side to wins Rack ‘Em Up Tour stop

In coming back from the one-loss side to win the Rack ‘Em Up Tour stop on Sunday, February 20, Rich Minichello, the top-ranked, Open/A  player on the tour, gave up only five racks in seven straight games. He shut opponents out in four of those five games, including hot seat occupant Danny Pavao in a true double elimination final.  The Open, A-C handicapped event drew 59 entrants to Westgate Lanes in Brockton, MA.

Minichello was moved west from among the winners' side final four by Ranulf Tamba, who went on to meet Pavao among the final four winners. Joining Tamba and Pavao were Todd Nevins and Chris Dionne. Pavao moved into the hot seat match with a 4-2 victory over Tamba, as Nevins downed Dionne 4-1. In a handicapped 4-3 race, Pavao got into the hot seat 4-1.

Over on the one-loss side, in the meantime, Minichello got by Scott Herbert with a shutout, allowed Rich Ross two racks in a 5-2 victory, and missed a re-match versus Tamba, when he drew Dionne. Tamba faced Pete Bowman, who'd defeated Dave Koopman 6-3, and the number one-ranked woman on the tour, Stacie Bourbeau 5-3. Bowman defeated Tamba 6-1, while Minichello gave up two more racks to Dionne. They proved to be the last two he'd give up until the finals. He shut out Bowman in the quarterfinals, and Nevins in the semifinals for a chance against Pavao.

Minichello took full advantage, giving up one rack in the opening set of the finals and none at all in the second set.  The victory allowed Minichello to retain his top ranking among the Open/A players on the tour, 70 points ahead of Joey Dupuis. Pavao's second place finish moved him within one slot of the top ten “B” players on the tour. The Break and Run Pot had two winners: Casey Olivieri ($45) and Clyde Matta ($25). Charlie Hodson was the winner of a McDermott Cue and Case.