Matt Cattan and Jim Hudson, the last team to enter
the 2005 IAA Doubles, was the last team standing after the dust settled to claim the title
in the IAA's 9th annual Baker Doubles Championhips held at Hebron Lanes January 30, 2005.
The pair defeated Tim Croy and Mike Kraushaar in the title match by scores of 226 - 220
and 219 - 199. Croy and Kraushaar had advanced to the championship match in spectacular
fashion. The pair fired a 268 during the sixth and final game of qualifying to advance to
match play where they then rolled games of 278 and 258 before falling in the title tilt.
After qualifying third, Cattan and Hudson defeated Nick Treba and Dave Denton 235 - 218
in round 1 of match play. The pair then edged #2 Seeded Chuck Podkul and Charlie Jones 203
- 199 to advance to the title match. Croy and Kraushaar steamrolled Greg Givens and Bill
McFarland 278 - 202, then dismantled I/N Tek's Jeff Topp and Jim Mahlie 258 -232. Topp and
Mahlie led qualifying with a six game total of 1,397 to earn the top seed. The
tournament's high game was rolled by IAA tournament veteran John Riffle and Brett Carter
(279). The final game of qualifying witnessed several pairs making big moves and major
falls. Croy / Kraushaar's 268 vaulted them from 12th to 4th, Hudson / Cattan's 233 jumped
them 4 spots into the 3rd position, John Skrundz / Paul Young dropped 7 spots with a tough
164 finale, and Troy Davis / Mike Marshak fell from 4th to 17th with a closing 136. Becky
Betts and Kevin Mikalouski's closing 250 moved them up some 15 positions, however, they
fell 5 pins shy of the sixth and final qualifying position.
The event held at Hebron Lanes attracked 35 teams. Cattan - Hudson won $800 on the day
as a result of their tournament victory, Grand Bracket Victory, and numerous wins in the
side-brackets. Croy and Kraushaar collected $300 for their second-place finish. Other
Grand Bracket cashers included Derek Skievaski - Joe Trichek, Jeff Topp - Jim Mahlie
(2nd), Mike O'leary - Karen Yankauskas, and Croy - Kraushaar. High Games were won by
Riffle - Carter, George Clarke - Ron Cimoch, Fred Cox - Jeff Derolf, Mike Vandenakker -
Jim "300-821" Rutherford, Chuck Marovich - Dave Wilson, and Croy - Kraushaar.
