2025

🏆 2025 Boston Advertising Bowling League Playoff Recap 🏆

The road to the championship almost started in the gutter—literally.

A chaotic lane-switching glitch forced the league to restart the opening playoff matches mid-frame, sending everyone, including the commish, scrambling to the front desk for a fix. But once the dust settled and the lane switching fiasco was under control, we were back on track and ready to roll.

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

The Heroes entered with a mighty +40 pin bonus—and they needed every bit of it. Who Do You Think You Are? I AM! put up a scrappy fight behind strong performances from Harry Gauthier (378) and Maeve Mudie (374), keeping things tight across both games. But Jeff Marois (410) came through when it mattered most, especially in Game 2, where he fired a career-high 181 scratch, helping swing the momentum back to the Heroes. It proved just enough, as the they escaped with a 1921–1883 net victory to punch their ticket to the finals.

#2 Tiger Daddies vs. #5 Bowling for Soup

Bowling for Soup entered the night as the league’s only rookie squad—but you wouldn’t have known it. Despite missing Nolan Moon… again, they refused to go quietly. Tiger Daddies came out swinging, jumping ahead after game 1 behind big efforts from Raf Feliz and Justin Galvin. But the Soup flipped the script in game 2, mounting a comeback led by Carter Huff (417) and Julia Scott (421). The rookies overcame the deficit and sealed a stunning 1917–1906 upset, sending the Daddies packing and proving they belonged in the big show!

#3 Mustache Bandits vs. #4 Spare Parts

On paper, this looked like the tightest matchup—and in reality? It delivered. Spare Parts entered short-handed, with Pat Kelleher, Joe Carter, and Sean Harrison pre-bowling earlier in the week. That left Derek, Glennon, and Kevin to hold down the lanes solo, bowling fast… and then waiting. And waiting some more to find out their fate. Still, they showed up ready to roll the rock. Kevin O’Sullivan came out blazing with four straight strikes, finishing with a 224 scratch—the second-highest score in league history—and giving the Parts a serious shot of momentum. But the Mustache Bandits, rolling with a full six-deep squad and riding big games from Divito (431) and Grasela (429), leaned on their depth—and their +20 bonus pins—to hold on for a 2037–2012 win and a ticket to the finals.

🎳 THE FINAL THREE:

With scores reset and no bonus pins to fall back on, the stage was set for the championship match.

Carter Huff (227 net) was the high roller in the finals and nearly dragged Soup to the finish line, but the Bandits once again proved too deep and too steady. The hot hands stayed hot - Grasela (207 net), Divito (199 net) Trafka (198 net) led the charge, while every Mustache contributed. Hambone Heroes had their chances—Marois (196 net) and Ramaswamy (190 net) showed up—but the top seed couldn’t find a rhythm in the final.

The Mustache Bandits are your 2025 BABL Champions—for the second time in three years!

After capturing the crown in 2023, the Bandits returned to the top with a gritty, balanced performance and a flair for the dramatic, capturing a mere 6-pin victory over Bowling for Soup.

Final Scores:

• 🥇 Mustache Bandits – 971 net

• 🥈 Bowling for Soup – 965 net

• 🥉 Hambone Heroes – 917 net
  

X-Factors & Footnotes

• Bonus pins mattered big: Hambone Heroes don't make the finals without their +40. The Bandits barely escape Spare Parts without their +20.

• Bowling for Soup’s debut was legendary: a rookie team storming to the final and falling just six pins short? Unreal.

• Spare Parts deserve a nod: Short-handed and still competitive, they weathered the weirdness. And Kevin O’Sullivan’s 224? One for the record books.

• Bandits = Dynasty in the making: With titles in 2023 and 2025, they’ve officially etched their name in league lore, joining Swayze Train, Marco Bowlow, and Gutter Mouths with multiple titles to their name.

🎟️ One Last Roll

Before the night ended, it was time for the Lucky Ball Raffle. The pot had ballooned to $528, and the moment belonged to Jeff Marois. His ticket was pulled....

One ball. One strike. One pot. And he absolutely nailed it. Clutch. Congrats, Jeff. And a big thank you to @Michael Grasela for running the raffle this year. It was a really fun addition to the league and will definitely make a return.

Until Next Time, Turkeys

A huge thank you to everyone for making this another great season. From the rookies to the seasoned vets, all the high-fives and handshakes are what it’s all about. Whether you were chasing a career-high score, hunting down a team turkey, or just enjoying a good hang with a few cold beers, this league is about more than just strikes and spares—it’s about showing up with your team, having some laughs, maybe having a few shots (Hambone Heroes?) and making Wednesday nights something to look forward to.

See you next season!

Marco!