Big Strike 4 vs. Lyin' Kings (+27)

With Big Strike 4 captain out with an injury, results remain TBD until he is able to complete make up games. Rest up King, and put on some pants.

Cool Runnings vs. The Demigods (+34)

Heading into Week 3, the Cool Runnings crew found themselves staring down the barrel of a winless season, zero wins, zero points, and zero momentum. Across the lane stood The Demigods, the scrappy but resilient crew who had been wrestling through one of the toughest schedules in the league, still managing to snag points here and there with pure grit (and maybe a little help from the Muses).

On paper, it looked like another uphill climb for the bobsledders, but in sports, and in movies, sometimes the underdogs catch fire.

Game 1 – Bathtub Training Pays Off
Bathtub training must’ve been paying dividends, because the Cool Runnings duo of Dan Lam and Diego came out rolling like they have been sledding down icy trails their whole lives. Unpredictable and fearless, much like their movie counterparts Sanka and Junior, they caught Hercules completely off guard, evoking memories of the Jamaican squad shocking the Swiss and German bobsled teams.

The Demigods, perhaps expecting a slow start from their rivals, were caught flat-footed. Despite flashes of power, Hercules couldn’t summon enough strength to reel in the surging Cool Runnings squad. When the pins settled, the scoreboard read: Cool Runnings 863, Hercules 825. The bobsledders were finally on the board with 2 points, and the crowd could practically hear the chant: “Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme!”

Game 2 – The Demigod Awakens
If Game 1 was a shock to the system, Game 2 was Hercules flexing his mythic might. Thinh Nguyen, gained unseen powers, almost as if Zeus had struck him with a lightning bolt. Thinh threw lightning bolt after lightning bolt, and rolled his way to a raw 243, a personal record since joining the league last season, and almost single-handedly shifted the momentum.

Cool Runnings bowled admirably, riding their Game 1 confidence into the rematch, but Thinh’s Herculean effort was too much to overcome. The Demigods stole this one 886–842, evening the match at one win apiece.

Game 3 – Heartbreak for Hercules
With the match tied, both teams stepped into Game 3 knowing the stakes. Cool Runnings, smelling their first overall victory, refused to ease up. Hercules, however, stumbled early as team captain Tony Le had an uncharacteristically poor showing, leaving key frames open.

The two teams traded blows frame by frame, the scoring gap never stretching beyond a handful of pins. In the end, Cool Runnings edged out a nail-biting 855–846 win, just 9 pins separating the sides. Even more painful for the Demigods? The total pin count was a razor-thin 2560–2557, only 3pins between them over the entire series.

For the Demigods, fate has been a cruel mistress. Last week, they scored the second-highest total in the league but found themselves against the highest-scoring team. They somehow managed to walk away from week 2 with the victory. This week, déjà vu struck: second-highest again, facing the top scoring Cool Runnings. Unfortunately for the Demigods, fate was not on their side in week 3.

Cool Runnings’ 3-game series was their best of the season, posting their #1, #2, and #4 highest game scores. They walked away from week 3 with their first victory, a well earned 5 points, and a newfound swagger.

Week 3 proved the Cool Runnings motto still holds true: “If we’re not enough without it, we’ll never be enough with it.” Now, with their first win, they might just be enough to make a run at the playoffs.

Cool Runnings: 5 points

Demigods: 2 points

Pinside Out vs. Roar Omega Roar (-9)

The most evenly matched showdown of Week 3 came with Pinside Out getting a 9-pin spot each game against the fearsome Roar Omega Roar. Both teams have been known for their high powered offense this season, but tonight proved to be more of a grind than a spectacle.

Game 1:
Roar Omega Roar came screaming out of the gate, literally. Channeling the energy scared little children all across the world, all four monsters delivered big frames. Former champion Will Phu, roared his way to one of his best performances since his championship season on the Gorillaz. For Pinside Out, it was like Anger had taken control without checking the console, spares slipped away, strikes were rare, and their composure evaporated. It was their worst game of the season so far. Roar Omega Roar stomped to a win, 896–830.

Game 2:
The legend of lane 3738 continues to grow. Known for mechanical quirks that could send even the most seasoned bowlers into a mental tailspin, the pair lived up to its reputation. Pinside Out’s control room was in shambles, Anxiety took the wheel, Sadness adjusted the settings, and Joy was nowhere to be found. Pinside Out, the team who just had their season low in game 1, posted a new season low in game 2. Yet somehow, the monsters sputtered even harder. Perhaps their scream canisters were running low, because this was their worst outing of the season as well. Pinside Out kept it together just enough pins to steal game 2, 802–780.

Game 3:
With the series tied 1–1, Roar Omega Roar needed every last bit of scare power they had in reserves. Luckily for them, Pinside Out was in full emotional breakdown mode, Joy had clearly left the building, and even Disgust looked unimpressed. Their score plunged to yet another season low of 730. The monsters weren’t much better, posting their second-lowest score of the year at 805, but it was more than enough to clinch both Game 3 and the series win.

Final Take:
This was not the high-scoring shootout fans expected, perhaps the legend of lane 3738 are true? Both teams stumbled hard under the dim lights and tricky conditions, producing uncharacteristic season lows. Roar Omega Roar leaves Week 3 with the win, but they’ll need to recharge their scream tanks. Inside Out will have to rally their emotions and get back to balanced, confident play. Both squads will be eager to shake off this off-night when Week 4 rolls around.

Roar Omega Roar: 5 points

Pinside Out: 2 points

Incredi-bowls vs. Goof Troop (+23)

The BSL’s top two teams squared off in a high-stakes week 3 showdown that had all the makings of a blockbuster, superhero swagger versus animated chaos. Both squads entered the night undefeated, but only one would walk away holding sole possession of first place.

Game 1
The Incredi-bowls, fresh off a week 2 sweep, came out firing like a well-oiled machine that never stopped super-heroing. Jayt-Jayt, channeled his inner Mr. Incredible, smashed his season-high performance, carrying the team to an explosive start. Meanwhile, the Goof Troop stumbled like Goofy trying to dance in ski boots, posting a season-low 728 pins. Whether Goofy’s shoes were a size too big, or an early sense that the game was slipping away, the Troop never found their rhythm. The Incredi-bowls dominated by a whopping 162 pins, taking game 1 by an 890–728 scoreline.

Game 2
Shaking off their rough start, the Goof Troop stormed back behind strong outings from Dillon and Anny, looking every bit like a team ready to tie the series. But just as they closed in, Frozone decided to put on his supersuit and joined the fray. With the reigning champion Andrew and Huy struggling for consistency, the Incredi-bowls fended off the Troop’s rally, taking game 2, 852–808, and clinching the series before the final game.

Game 3
With victory in hand, the Incredi-bowls seemed to loosen the capes. Jayt and Shelby Garcia both decided to ease off, oddly similar to their performance last week. Whether it was a calculated strategy or a sign of superhero fatigue is up for debate. Posting their season-low 758, they left the door wide open for the Goof Troop, who gladly grabbed the 2 points with an 838–758 win.

The Incredi-bowls’ early dominance proved too much, sealing another win and remaining undefeated in season 9. Still, the 100-pin swings between their second and third games remain a curious trend. Is it rust from years out of action, age catching up, or just next-level playoff pacing?

Before the season began, Incredi-bowls’ captain famously asked, “HOW DID THEY LET THIS HAPPEN?” Three weeks in, the rest of the league might be asking themselves the same thing.

Incredi-bowls: 5 points

Goof Troop: 2 points