Week #14 is now history and with it came absolutely no changes whatsoever in the league standings. The Finals are a mere two weeks away and, mathematically, four teams are in the running to take it all. Next week's outcome will determine who faces who in the end-all/be-all but, for now, it's all about what went down on Tuesday night of this week.The last time that Sexual Chocolate faced FTOP, David Codding had a little something special in store for them. This time around, it was the John Boren show. Leading FTOP with a 629 series, Boren pushed his team to the brink of a clean sweep over their opponents but a determined Jason Carpio stole Game #3 from the current league leaders with a 2-pin 10th frame victory. Carpio put up the top series for Sexual Chocolate with his 571. With the wins, FTOP improves to 36-20 on the season and remains in 1st while Sexual Chocolate, at 25-31, remains in 6th place.Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, Neil Rieger wasn't sure if he would bowl or not due to a hurt hand. Fortunately for the Pocket Pounders, he did. Earning both #1 Power Ranked bowler and Most Valuable Bowler nods with his team-leading 627 series, Rieger single-handedly led the charge to destroy opponents Bobby Belt and The Facebook Friends in a clean 4-0 sweep. While the wins keep the team solidly rooted in 2nd at 33.5-22.5, they managed to lessen their gap from the top of the league standings. The Belt's Seth Gunderson led his team with a 513 series in the losing effort, ending the night in 5th place with a 26-30 record. After post-bowling at the very last minute and dropping all four games, Split It and Hit It looked to redeem themselves against opponents Turkey Hunters...but came up short, waaaaaaay short. The Turkey's Phil Schroeder set the pace with his team-leading 578 series and coasted to an easy 4-0 sweep over the Splitters. Anchor Dennis Blake put up the highest numbers for Split It and Hit It – a 530 – but it simply wasn't enough to earn them a notch in the win column. The team seemed pretty proud of going 0-8 in four hours time, easily a league record. The Turkey Hunters stay in 4th place with their 31-25 record while Split It and Hit it remain in 7th place with their 22-34 record.On the flip side, the Mayan Apocalypse went 8-0 in the same four hours much to the chagrin of opponents Ballz Out. With their wins credited from the post-bowling in place, the Mayans continued with that momentum to sweep the competition down on Lanes 47 & 48. With Carl Goetz once again leading the way – this week with a 608 series – the Mayans improved their record to 31-25 and still hold 3rd place. Ballz Out, led by Rookie of the Season candidate Cliff Barendsen and his 513 series, remain in 8th place with a record of 19.5-36.5 on the season.Bowlers exchanging Black Friday horror stories in The 200 Club this week include: Aubrey Moren (225), Carl Goetz (226, 202), Jason Carpio (209), John Boren (212, 219), Neil Rieger (226, 205), Phil Schroeder (200), and Seth Gunderson (201).This week marked the second-to-last chance to make it into the finals for the Tournament of Champions. Whoever leads their respective divisions next week will do battle during the Finals for the prize money. Division #1 has been locked up by Carl Goetz (28 points) and John Boren (22). Division #2 is still up for grabs but is currently led by Aubrey Moren (20) and Phil Schroeder (19). Division #3 has the biggest number of prospective qualifiers with six of the eight people able to end up in the top two spots next week. Currently, however, it is led by Andy McLeod (22) and Scott Murdock (19). Division #4 is set with Cliff Barendsen (38) leading it and Teresa Deterding (28) behind him in second.Remember, there is still one more week left to vote on the Hall of Fame ballot. If you'd like to see a comparison chart of all the nominees, be our guest. See you next Tuesday!

THIS WEEK'S MVB Neil Rieger Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Neil Rieger Runner Up: Phil Schroeder	#1 H2H BOWLER Neil Rieger Runner Up: John Boren
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "Hey, how did Pops Junior bowl?" Scott Murdock, inquiring how AJ Hofmann rolled on Tuesday night.

The sun is setting on the 26th season of GutterAlley action and, with Week #13 now in the history books, the title is neither settled nor decided. Couple that with the fact that we have a team post-bowling and we really don't know the lay of the land at the moment.NOTE: Due to post-bowling, the matchup between Mayan Apocalypse and Split It and Hit It cannot yet be determined.Having won the last two seasons, the Turkey Hunters showed why they can't be counted out just yet. Facing opponents Ballz Out, who have punishing opponents lately, the Turkeys came out firing to take Games #1 and #2 despite ever improving Cliff Barendsen and his 492 series. Game #3 came down to the wire, however, with the Hunters' Freda Schroeder (tentatively this week's Most Valuable Bowler) and Aubrey Moren needing to string the strikes in order to pull off the come-from-behind victory...which they did. Ending his night striking out to notch a 3-pin victory, Aubrey Moren led the Turkey Hunters with his 563 series. While Ballz Out remains in 8th place, the Turkey Hunters tentatively move up into 3rd place.Sexual Chocolate's anchor and Hall of Fame nominee Jason Carpio had not rolled since Week #8. During his absence, his team managed to go 11-5, conjuring up talks that perhaps the team didn't need him. Turns out they needed him Tuesday night as Carpio's 630 series – tentatively earning his #1 Power Ranked bowler honors – led his team to a 3-1 matchup victory over opponents Bobby Belt and The Facebook Friends. The Belt, led this week by anchor Bill Krejci and his 564 series, add one win to their record and tentatively find themselves in 4th place. Sexual Chocolate, improving to 24-28, sweetens their position by tentatively moving into 6th place.Each time the Pocket Pounders manage to work themselves into striking distance, they run head first into current league leaders FTOP...this time, lead off bowler John Boren. Boren, shooting a 641 series to lead his team, helped extend FTOP's lead over the league to 3.5 games with a 3-1 matchup victory over their opponents. The Pounders anchor, Ryan Doll, shot a 633 series in the losing effort. Despite the wins and losses, neither team moves from their current spots with FTOP still in 1st and the Pocket Pounders in 2nd place. Bowlers spending some time in The 200 Club before Thanksgiving this week include: Aubrey Moren (213), Bill Krejci (213), Dennis "Pops" Laube (200), Freda Schroeder (216), Jason Carpio (225, 215), John Boren (215, 222, 204), Ken M. Wilson (202), and Ryan Doll (202, 224, 207).Until the post-bowling takes place, we cannot calculate the results of this week's Tournament of Champions matchups.See you next Tuesday!

THIS WEEK'S MVB Freda Schroeder Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Carl Goetz Runner Up: Jason Carpio	#1 H2H BOWLER Carl Goetz Runner Up: John Boren
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "Oh, this'll be a piece of cake. That halfbreed hasn't bowled in a month." Jonathan Vigliaturo, moments after Carpio showed up...and shot a 630 series.

Week #12 is now in the books and with it came yet another shake up in the league standings involving half the league. Four teams swapped places with one another as the Finals loom in the distance, a mere four weeks away. Two teams continue to keep themselves distanced from the rest of the league but there's always one team keeping itself just within range to strike. Is it too little too late or could their possibly be an upset? We'll know by the end of December 11th.The last time that FTOP faced reigning champions Turkey Hunters, they walked away with a clean sweep. Tuesday night started out the same way with a Game #1 victory, led by Ken M. Wilson and his 524 series, that came down to the 10th frame. Game #2 was more of the same, but by a wider margin of victory. Game #3, however, was a different story as the Turkey's Aubrey Moren – and his 536 series – provided enough to turn the tide to come away with a 10th frame victory but was unable to turn the tide for total pins. FTOP ends the night with a 3-1 matchup win and return to the top of the league standings. The Turkey Hunters drop one spot down into 5th place.Down on Lanes 43 & 44, Sexual Chocolate and Split It and Hit It battled it out to a standstill in what may be their final matchup the season. With Split It stealing Game #1 in the 10th frame, compliments of Dennis Blake and his 481 series, it was the anchorless Sexual Chocolate that fought back to even the series at a game apiece after an 8-pin victory in Game #2. Game #3 came down to the final throw with Sexual Chocolate – led by Jake Parrott's 415 series – earning a 2-pin victory...but faltering to take total pins, dropping it by only seven pins. With their two wins apiece, neither team moved at all in the standings. Split It and Hit It remains in 6th with Sexual Chocolate one game behind them in 7th place.Let's face it...when Cliff Barendsen of Ballz Out faces whichever team is the top of the heap, the man brings his A game. Raising his average five pins with his 585 series, Cliff not only earned Most Valuable Bowler and #1 Power Ranked bowler honors, he also revoked the Pocket Pounders short-lived tenure in first place. Despite a 546 series from the Pounders anchor Ryan Doll, the best they could do was a tie in Game #3 which was handed to them rather than being truly earned. Ballz Out, taking the matchup 3.5-0.5, remain in 8th place but continue to wreak havoc on the top teams in the league. The Pocket Pounders drop into 2nd place, trailing FTOP by a game and a half.The final battle of the evening pitted powerhouse teams Mayan Apocalypse and Bobby Belt and The Facebook Friends against one another on the final pair of lanes in the house. The Belt, led this week by anchor Bill Krejci's 595 series, easily took Game #1. Not to be outdone, the Mayans fought back to take Game #2 led by Carl Goetz and his 538 series. A 10th frame showdown seemed inevitable as both teams had a chance to take it but it was The Belt that stepped up to overpower their opponent when it truly mattered. Splitting their matchup 2-2, Bobby Belt and The Facebook Friends remain in 3rd while Mayan Apocalypse climbs to 4th place two games back.Bowlers preparing for a long final four weeks in our league in The 200 Club this week include: Anita Osthoff (212), Bill Krejci (235), Cliff Barendsen (209), Neil Reiger (200), Ryan Doll (218), Scott Murdock (212), and Seth Gunderson (211). The Tournament of Champions pushes onward, with little change across the top two spots in each division. Carl Goetz (19) and John Boren (13) still rule Division #1. Division #2 is still held by Aubrey Moren (19) and Phil Schroeder (16). Andy McLeod (22) and AJ Hofmann (16) continue to lead Division #3...but Division #4 had a swap. Cliff Barendsen (26) has finally caught Teresa Deterding (24) to take over the last division. If you haven't voted for this season's Hall of Fame nominees, shame on you. Come on, it only takes a couple of minutes to do it. If you're an undecided voter, you could always see how they all compare across a number of categories.See you next Tuesday!

THIS WEEK'S MVB Cliff Barendsen Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Cliff Barendsen Runner Up: Anita Osthoff	#1 H2H BOWLER Cliff Barendsen Runner Up: Anita Osthoff
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "Gee, I'm sure glad our anchor got that brand new ball." Rob Kaszuba, after narrowly avoiding getting swept by the last place team by a single pin.

For the third time this season, a new team has ascended to the top of the league standings. With five weeks remaining until the Finals on December 11th, two teams are on a crash course towards a huge matchup while two other teams cling to spots within striking distance. Brace yourself, folks...we're in for a bumpy ride.Donning Batman t-shirts in unity to take on opponent Carl Goetz and the Mayan Apocalypse, the men of Pocket Pounders took Games #1 and #2 in the 10th frame before handily taking Game #3 thanks to a matchup leading 592 series from anchor Ryan Doll to give the Pounders a 4-0 victory and their first taste of being on top of the league standings. The Apocalypse, led by Hall of Fame candidate Pat Searcy's 560 series, just couldn't get it done tonight and fall two spots into 5th place. The Pocket Pounders hold onto 1st place by a margin of one game.Let's face it, Seth Gunderson is having a great season. Reaping the benefits are Bobby Belt and The Facebook Friends, who have recently gotten on the shoulders of their own Hall of Fame candidate – and this week's #1 Power Ranked bowler with his 629 series – and ridden them to yet another winning week. Defeating opponents Ballz Out 4-0 in their second matchup of the season, The Belt moves up two spots into 3rd place – five games back from first. Cliff Barendsen provided the most firepower for the Ballz with his 442 series but it never even put his team in contention Tuesday night. Ballz Out remains in 8th place.The last time that FTOP faced Split It and Hit It, they began the night in first place and ended it in second. History once again repeated itself after the two teams split their matchup 2-2. FTOP's David Codding came out firing en route to a 635 series to take Game #1. Split It bounced back in a big way in Game #2, with huge output from the team, and handily earning the win. FTOP managed to win Game #3 in the 10th frame but lost total pins. Dennis Blake led Split It and Hit It with his 490 series and remains in 6th place. FTOP is one game out of 1st place.Anchor? Who needs an anchor? Definitely not Sexual Chocolate. Taking on the reigning league champs without their anchor in the lineup for a third straight week, the Chocolates managed to battle the Turkey Hunters to a 2-2 tie and improved to 9-3 since the position round. Led by this week's Most Valuable Bowler AJ Hofmann and his 451 series, Sexual Chocolate came back after a Game #1 beat down – led by the Turkey Hunter's anchor Aubrey Moren and his 605 series – to take the next two games in extremely close 10th frame finishes. Total pins went to the Turkey Hunters. Despite the wins, neither team moved in the standings with the Turkey Hunters remaining in 4th place and Sexual Chocolate in 7th.Bowlers watching the election results in The 200 Club this week include: Aubrey Moren (212, 201), Bill Krejci (216), David Codding (254), Ken M. Wilson (205), Pat Searcy (201), Ryan Doll (211, 201), and Seth Gunderson (225, 213).The Tournament of Champions saw some change across its divisions Tuesday night. Carl Goetz (19) and John Boren (13) remain in control of Division #1 while Aubrey Moren (19) and Phil Schroeder (13) are joined by Seth Gunderson (13) at the helm of Division #2. Andy McLeod (21) now finds AJ Hofmann (16) on his tail in Division #3 while Division #4 remains unchanged with Teresa Deterding (23) and Cliff Barendsen (20) at the 1-2 spots. The Hall of Fame ballot is anxiously awaiting your votes. Whaddya say? It only takes a couple of minutes to complete. See you next Tuesday!

THIS WEEK'S MVB AJ Hofmann Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Seth Gunderson Runner Up: AJ Hofmann	#1 H2H BOWLER Seth Gunderson Runner Up: Aubrey Moren
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "Now, I think it's a bit premature to declare that the Pocket Pounders are in first and FTOP is in second." Karl Rove, refusing to believe simple math.