DUPL Season 15 - Week 5 Recap

Hosted by Dave Vanderburgh – June 25, 2026

Week 5 delivered another fantastic night of pinball at Dave's house, where 23 competitors squared off across six hard-fought rounds. As the season continues to tighten up, every point has become increasingly valuable, and the standings are beginning to separate into clear championship contenders.

Leading the charge once again was Tony Becker, who put together another dominant performance with 21 points, extending his overall league lead to 84 points. Tony continues to set the pace as the player everyone else is chasing.

Behind him, Brian Schlagheck, Shannon Frye, William Bentley, Andrew "Muffins" Smith, Ian Kinner, Teresa R, Kayce S, Michael S, and Daniel G all posted impressive 18-point nights, making this one of the strongest collective performances of the season. Daniel continued his climb after joining the season late, while Ian's perfect evening pushed him into the thick of the battle for the Top 10.

The race behind the leader is becoming incredibly crowded. Just three points separate several players, with Aaron Krueger, David Jones, Vern Staats, William Bentley, and Shannon Frye all sitting within striking distance of one another. Every match from here on out could dramatically change the leaderboard.

One of the biggest stories of the evening was how balanced the competition has become. Upsets happened throughout the night, favorites were pushed to the limit, and no one had an easy schedule. With the league's "lowest week dropped" rule now in effect, players still have plenty of opportunity to make a late-season charge.

Current Top 10

🥇 Tony Becker – 84
🥈 Brian Schlagheck – 78
🥉 Tom Bentley – 72
4. Aaron Krueger – 69 (tied)
4. David Jones – 69 (tied)
4. Shannon Frye – 69 (tied)
4. Vern Staats – 69 (tied)
4. William Bentley – 69 (tied)
9. Andrew "Muffins" Smith – 66
10. Zach S – 66

With only a few weeks remaining, every single game is beginning to feel like playoff pinball. The championship race is wide open behind Tony, and with match forgiveness now in play, nobody can afford an off night.

A huge thank you goes out to Dave Vanderburgh for once again opening his home and sharing an incredible lineup of machines. As always, Dave was an outstanding host and helped make another memorable evening for the Dayton Underground Pinball League.

We'll see everyone next week as the race toward the Season 15 championship continues!