2025

In the blink of an eye, the regular season has vanished like the 10-pin on a clean pickup. Now, it’s playoff night. Six teams enter with dreams of glory—but only one will hoist the cup and bask in league immortality. Well, sorta. Your name will be on the t-shirt. So that's neat.

The oil is fresh. The beers are overpriced. The nerves are real. Let the games begin.

FORMAT REMINDER

ROUND 1 - Bracket (2 games):

• Each team will bowl two games against its opponent based on the regular season standings.

• The best net team total over two games wins the matchup and will advance to the final round of 3 teams.

• The top 3 seeds will be awarded bonus pins that are added to their 2-game net total.

• #1 Hambone Heroes: +40 pins

• #2 Tiger Daddies: +30 pins

• #3 Mustache Bandits: +20 pins

ROUND 2 - Royal Rumble (1 game)​:

• The 3 remaining teams will bowl one final game.

• Scores reset—previous scores and bonus pins no longer apply.

• The team with the highest net score will be crowned league champions.

MATCHUPS

#1 Hambone Heroes vs. #6 Who Do You Think You Are? I AM!

#2 Tiger Daddies vs. #5 Bowling for Soup

#3 Mustache Bandits vs. #4 Spare Parts

Now let's break down each matchup and make some predictions.

#1 Hambone Heroes vs. #6 Who Do You Think You Are? I AM!

Spot Advantage: Hambone Heroes start with +40 pins

Overview: Hambone Heroes enter the playoffs as the top seed, but they’re coming off back-to-back net losses in Weeks 4 and 5. Still, they’ve got depth, experience, and a key weapon in Mike Connolly (203 avg net), who pairs high scores with top-tier strike percentage. Jose Suazo (196 avg) and Jeff Marois (196 avg) round out a formidable trio.

Who Do You Think You Are? I AM! is riding momentum after a strong week 5 showing, putting up 1936 net behind Beau Phillips (406 net) and Anya Spirito (414 net). Their biggest challenge will be overcoming Hambone’s cushion and staying consistent across both games.

X-Factor: If Hambone’s mid-lineup holds up, their +40 pin cushion might be too steep to overcome. But if Beau and Anya bring their A-game, this could get tight late in Game 2.

Prediction: Hambone Heroes by 24 pins. The spot advantage and depth win out, but this one will be closer than the seeding suggests.

#2 Tiger Daddies vs. #5 Bowling for Soup

Spot Advantage: Tiger Daddies start with +30 pins

Overview: Tiger Daddies are red hot, posting the highest total scratch (1683) and net (2031) of Week 5. Their top three—Jude Senese (203 avg net), Lawson Clarke (202 avg), and Mike Lawson (196 avg)—are all among the league's most consistent scorers. Plus, they’ve got momentum, swagger, and arguably the best team name in the playoffs.

Bowling for Soup limped into the postseason with a subpar Week 5 (1821 net), missing Nolan Moon, their week 4 MVP. Without him, the scoring load falls on Sam Mueller (408 net) and Adam Proia (378). When Nolan returns, it’s a game-changer. If not—they’re in deep soup.

X-Factor: Nolan Moon’s attendance. Full stop.

Prediction: Tiger Daddies by 66 pins with or without Moon, the Daddies are locked in. If he plays, it’s closer—but the daddies still roar on.

#3 Mustache Bandits vs. #4 Spare Parts

Spot Advantage: Mustache Bandits start with +20 pins

Overview: It's a week 5 rematch, and this one’s a coin flip. The Mustache Bandits come in as the league’s #1 seed in Power Rankings (total net pins), thanks to their deep rotation of Mike Grasela (201 avg), Kevin Boyle (196), and James Dunoyer (196). They’re high-floor, high-ceiling bowlers—and their Week 5 net of 2009 proves they can hang.

Spare Parts, meanwhile, have been steady all season. Pat Kelleher (197 avg) and Derek Welch (200 avg) are the keys here, supported by a quietly dangerous back half that includes Sean Harrison (196) and Joe Carter (192). They put up 1976 net in Week 5 and know how to grind.

X-Factor: This will come down to Game 2—expect it to be very close. The Parts are built for comebacks.

Prediction: Spare Parts by 9 pins. They erase the 20-point cushion and edge the Bandits in the final frames. Upset alert: activated.

Final Prediction?

🥇 Tiger Daddies – 2012 net pins

🥈 Spare Parts – 1987 net pins

🥉 Hambone Heroes – 1958 net pins

I'm going with the hot hand. The Tiger Daddies will ride their week 5 momentum, balanced attack, and hopefully a mesh tank top to take the 2025 title. Do you agree?

See you on the lanes at 6:15 pm. Good luck!