Youngstown Charity Open Feb 24-26 2006 continued

Sunday morning rolls around and while I am a bit tired I am relieved that my stomach feels much better. I dont know if it was something I ate or just a bug going around. But I noticed several other people complaining Sunday of upset stomachs as well.

First on tap was the Men's Doubles 501. Wade and I blast through the competition including a 10dart leg in the semi-finals to earn our second finals berth of the weekend. This time our opponents are USA number one Darin Young and Mr. ESPN himself Isen Veljic. Wade and I are looking for a little payback for the semi-final defeat they handed us the previous day in the mixed triples event. Revenge comes 3 legs later as Wade and I celebrate our second doubles win of the weekend.

Next up is the Mixed Doubles. This time my partner in crime is Jamie Mawson wife of the that kooky Canadian turned Buckeye, Gary Mawson. We make the early rounds but inconsistency rears its ugly head and out we go.

The final event of the weekend is the Singles cricket. And I feel confident despite the tough crowd present. And tough is certainly the right word for my bracket. My game is clicking and entering the money rounds has been no easy task. And in the round of 16 I draw Gordon Dixon, the gentlemen that extinguished my hopes in Columbus just a few short weeks previously. Again out for revenge I come out on top and Gordon gets a early start home.

The quarter-finals was certainly a heated affair. My opponent, Dayton Strawbridge is no push over and plays every bit as intense a game as I do. Three hard fought games and 3000 points later I find myself in the semi-final. This time is Sam Ruta. Sam plays a decent game but is clearly tired and I cruise through to the singles final yet again.

The other bracket was well behind and coming out on top to meet me in the final is Darin Young. As the hour creeps toward 7pm Darin's final dart relegates me to runner-up for the fifth time in 3 weeks.

A four and a half hour road trip after such a grueling weekend seemed to take forever. Luckily I have the next weekend off before the big qualifer in Chicago. Five runner-up finishes in singles gnaws at my brain as second is no good in two weeks. Its first or nothing. I wonder when the second place curse will be lifted...