🎱 DUPL SEASON 17 — WEEK 1 RECAP! 🎱

🚨 THE KID CAME TO PLAY, THE VETERANS CAME TO FIGHT, AND SOME PEOPLE APPARENTLY CAME FOR THE SNACKS! 😂

28 players. 6 rounds. One fantastic opening night at Mike Harris' house!

The Dayton Underground Pinball League is BACK, baby! Season 17 kicked off tonight at the home of Mike Harris, and if Week 1 is any indication, we're in for one heck of a season!

We had some incredible competition, a ridiculous traffic jam near the top of the standings, and a few players who might want to check whether their flipper buttons were actually plugged in. 😂

🏆 THE KID TAKES THE THRONE!

🥇 WILLIAM BENTLEY — 21 POINTS (5-1)

Somebody check this kid's birth certificate, because apparently nobody told William Bentley he's supposed to respect his elders!

William came out swinging, winning FIVE of his six matches and standing ALONE at the top of the leaderboard after opening night!

While the rest of the league was busy figuring out their strategies, William was busy collecting victories.

And yes, his dad was playing tonight too.

And no, his dad did NOT finish first.

We're sure Thanksgiving dinner at the Bentley household is going to be perfectly normal this year. 😂

🔥 THE GREAT SECOND-PLACE TRAFFIC JAM!

TEN PLAYERS TIED FOR SECOND — 18 POINTS EACH (4-2)!

You read that correctly. TEN!

Shannon Frye, Brittany Pritchett, Brian Schlagheck, Mitch Roth, Matt Juhascik, Andrew "Muffins" Smith, Tom Bentley, Dan Souders, Aaron Krueger, and Daniel Graeter all finished with four wins and two losses.

That's not a tie for second place. That's a full-blown traffic jam!

Brian Schlagheck is already lurking near the top, apparently determined to make another run at the championship.

Muffins showed up and delivered four wins. Apparently the secret ingredient really IS Muffins.

And Tom Bentley managed to win four matches while watching his own son steal the spotlight. Nothing like getting humbled by your own offspring in front of your entire pinball league!

⚖️ THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK — THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY!

EIGHT PLAYERS TIED FOR 12TH — 15 POINTS (3-3)

Rob Altick, Ian Kinner, Zach Stoddard, Tom Lute, Wendell Buis, Michael Stankas, Brendon Tiffany, and Tony Becker all finished the evening at an even 3-3.

Three wins. Three losses.

Not terrible. Not spectacular.

Just enough to go home saying, "I would've won that last game if the ball hadn't drained."

We've all been there.

These eight players are sitting right in the middle, and with plenty of pinball left to play, any one of them could make a serious move up the standings.

😬 THE "WE'RE JUST GETTING WARMED UP" CLUB!

SIX PLAYERS TIED FOR 20TH — 12 POINTS (2-4)

Glenn Loving, Jeremy Perry, Vern Staats, Heather Juhascik, Emily Refe, and Greg Tilton managed to pull out two victories each.

Now, normally we wouldn't make a big deal out of a 2-4 start...

BUT HOLD ON A SECOND.

GLENN LOVING?!

As in, SEASON 16 CHAMPION GLENN LOVING?!

The defending champion opened his title defense with TWO wins and FOUR losses?!

Somebody check that trophy. It might have already started collecting dust! 🏆😂

Don't get too comfortable laughing, though. Glenn knows how to win when it matters, and there's a whole lot of season left.

As for the rest of this group, consider Week 1 your six-round warm-up session. The real season starts next Thursday, right?

🪦 THE BASEMENT DWELLERS — WEEK 1 EDITION!

THREE PLAYERS TIED FOR 26TH — 9 POINTS (1-5)

Teresa Roth. Brenda Debord. Dan Korb.

First of all, congratulations on finding Mike's house!

Unfortunately, finding the WIN column proved a little more difficult. 😂

One win. FIVE losses.

We're not saying these three had a rough night, but the pinball machines have reportedly requested easier opponents next week.

Teresa, Brenda, and Dan, the good news is you can only go UP from here!

Well... technically you could stay tied for last.

But we're trying to be positive! ❤️

And remember, every great comeback story has to start somewhere. You three are just making sure yours is going to be REALLY dramatic.

❤️ A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR HOST!

Let's give a big round of applause to MIKE HARRIS for opening his home and kicking off Season 17!

Hosting a bunch of competitive pinball players is no small task, especially when half of them are convinced the machines are personally out to get them.

We appreciate you, Mike!

🎯 THE ROAD AHEAD!

Week 1 is in the books, but nobody is running away with this thing yet.

William Bentley has the early lead, ten players are breathing down his neck just three points behind, and the defending champion is already looking for a redemption arc.

And for those sitting at the bottom?

Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint.

Although some of you might want to start jogging. 😂

NEXT STOP: WEEK 2!

Until then, keep those flippers moving, practice those shots, and remember...

THE BALL IS ALWAYS GOING TO DRAIN. THE QUESTION IS WHAT YOU DO BEFORE IT DOES!

🎱 DAYTON UNDERGROUND PINBALL LEAGUE — SEASON 17! 🎱

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