June 16, 2021 Jef Goodger

 

Dethrones 25-time PWBA champion Liz Johnson to leave Portland as Empress

 

Portland, Maine—Stefanie Johnson defeated Liz Johnson to claim the throne as Empress of the Lanes following the fifth and final telecast of the PBA King of the Lanes: Empress Edition presented by Pabst Blue Ribbon held at Bayside Bowl. Stefanie Johnson, a three-time PWBA Tour champion, rolled 216 to Liz Johnson’s 189 to earn the crown.

“Liz Johnson is an icon,” said Stefanie Johnson. “Just to be in her presence alone is incredible, and to beat the best of the best is just awesome.”

To get a chance at Liz Johnson in the Empress match, Stefanie Johnson first had to win her contenders match against Verity Crawley. Stefanie Johnson began with the front nine, but a 10 pin on her first shot in the 10th ended her run at perfection.

“I got close,” said Stefanie Johnson, “but the task at hand is always to win the match and that was my goal.”

Stefanie Johnson finished with 278 to get past Crawley, who rolled six consecutive strikes late in the game to finish with 222.

“This crowd is absolutely electrifying,” said Stefanie Johnson. “It’s enlightening. I fed off of it. Obviously I can hear them, but I have to stay laser-focused on what I’m doing. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I work really hard and to have the fruits of my labor pay off is amazing.”

Liz Johnson became the Empress in the first of two telecasts on the evening by winning two matches by large margins. First, she defeated Ashly Galante in the contenders match, 248-187, then dethroned Empress Missy Parkin with a 232-181 victory. Parkin earned the title of Empress on the first night of competition by defeating Daria Pajak, who reigned for two telecasts after defeating inaugural Empress Kelly Kulick.

The PBA King of the Lanes presented by Pabst Blue Ribbon resumes Saturday, June 19, with Chris Barnes facing AJ Johnson in the contenders match and reigning King Kris Prather awaiting in the king match.

Viewers can live stream the PBA on the FOX Sports and FOX NOW apps or at FOXSports.com. Select highlights will be available on @FOXSports social handles across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. International fans can watch live on FloBowling.com.

PBA King of the Lanes: Empress Edition Presented by Pabst Blue Ribbon Results

Tuesday, June 15 – 8-9 p.m. ET on FS1
Daria Pajak def. Clara Guerrero (earns $3,000), 245-219
Daria Pajak ($10,000) def. Kelly Kulick ($5,000), 203-187, Pajak becomes the new Empress

Tuesday, June 15 – 9-10 p.m. ET on FS1
Danielle McEwan def. Maria José Rodriguez ($3,000), 235-204
Daria Pajak ($10,000) def. Danielle McEwan ($5,000), 214-213, Pajak remains Empress

Tuesday, June 15 – 10-11 p.m. ET on FS1
Missy Parkin def. Diana Zavjalova ($3,000), 207-152
Missy Parkin ($10,000) def. Daria Pajak ($5,000), 209-193, Parkin becomes the new Empress

Wednesday, June 16 – 8-9 p.m. ET on FS1
Liz Johnson def. Ashly Galante ($3,000), 248-187
Liz Johnson ($10,000) def. Missy Parkin ($5,000), 232-181, Johnson becomes the new Empress

Wednesday, June 16 – 9-10 p.m. ET on FS1
Stefanie Johnson def. Verity Crawley ($3,000), 278-222
Stefanie Johnson ($10,000) def. Liz Johnson ($5,000), 216-189, Stefanie Johnson becomes the new Empress

PBA King of the Lanes Presented by Pabst Blue Ribbon Upcoming Television Schedule

Saturday, June 19 – 2-3 p.m. ET on FS1
Contenders Match: Chris Barnes vs. AJ Johnson
King Match 1: Kris Prather vs. Contenders Winner

Saturday, June 19 – 3-4 p.m. ET
Contenders Match: Jesper Svensson vs. Parker Bohn III
King Match 2: Winner from King 1 vs. Contenders Winner

Saturday, June 19 – 4-5 p.m. ET on FS1
Contenders Match: Chris Via vs. Anthony Neuer
King Match 3: Winner from King 2 vs. Contenders Winner

Sunday, June 20 – 2-3 p.m. ET on FS1
Contenders Match: Tim Mack vs. Jason Sterner
King Match 4: Winner from King 3 vs. Contenders Winner

Sunday, June 20 – 3-4 p.m. ET on FS1
Contenders Match: Tom Daugherty vs. François Lavoie
King Match 5: Winner from King 4 vs. Contenders Winner

About the PBA

The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is the world’s preeminent organization dedicated to the sport of bowling and its professional competition, with thousands of members and millions of fans throughout the world. The PBA plays host to bowling’s biggest tournaments from the PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour, and PBA50 Tour. In 2020, the PBA launched PBA Jr., a club for elite youth bowlers under the age of 17 and the PBA Pinsiders, a membership for fans of the sport. For more information, please visit PBA.com.

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