Tempe’s Best Pinball Players Clash at Electric Bat

With a crisp 61°F evening and a clear sky overhead, Tempe’s pinball warriors descended upon the Electric Bat Arcade for another high-energy tournament. The Electric Bat Season 15-Part 1 #2, held on February 11, 2025, saw 130 players battle it out across five intense rounds, with each match testing both skill and endurance.

Three hours of fast flippers and tense multiballs later, we had our champions—but not before some epic moments on the machines that make Electric Bat one of the most exciting places to play in the Southwest.

Yucca Tap Room: Where Pinball Meets Punk Rock

If you’ve never been to Yucca Tap Room at 29 W. Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ, then let’s set the scene: this isn’t just an arcade, it’s a cultural institution. By day, it’s a casual spot for drinks and conversation. By night, it turns into a full-throttle music venue with a reputation for hosting some of the best punk shows in the area.

Tucked inside is Electric Bat Arcade, a pinball oasis where modern Sterns stand alongside rare classics. Regulars praise the friendly staff, solid drink selection, and the arcade’s ever-rotating lineup of machines. If you like your pinball with a side of loud guitars and craft cocktails, this is the place.

The Game That Gave Everyone Chills: Scared Stiff

Round 2 put players face-to-face with Scared Stiff, Bally’s 1996 horror-comedy pinball masterpiece starring Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Designed by Dennis Nordman with artwork by Greg Freres, this game is a spiritual sequel to Elvira and the Party Monsters and remains one of the most beloved titles from the mid-’90s.

At its core, Scared Stiff is all about building up the Stiff-O-Meter—a six-stage challenge where players complete creepy objectives like “Night of the Leapers,” where you frantically bash jumping frogs, and “Return of the Deadheads,” where hitting the skull pile brings eerie heads to life. Once all six objectives are completed, the machine erupts into Scared Stiff Mode, where the goal is simple: keep the ball alive as long as possible while every switch hit scores major points.

It was a fitting battleground for Henry Hanshaw, a familiar name in the Arizona pinball scene, who took full advantage of the game’s flow-heavy layout and stacked multiballs to lock in first place. Andrew Kohtz, a Phoenix local who’s been steadily climbing the ranks, nearly pulled off a comeback after a well-timed Crate Multiball but couldn’t quite close the gap. Geoffrey Cebulski, a player known for his love of classic Bally designs, made a respectable run to third, while Dylan McCartin, one of the newer faces in the competition, rounded out the match in fourth.

The Machines That Defined the Night

With 65 machines on the floor, players had plenty to challenge them, but these five stood out for their impact on the tournament:

• Black Jack (Bally, 1977) – A game that forces players to think strategically rather than just flipping wildly, Black Jack brings a casino-style twist to pinball. The goal is to beat the dealer’s hand by collecting point values through carefully timed shots, while also managing bonus multipliers to maximize scores. This solid-state classic is deceptively simple, but those who understand its ruleset can squeeze out massive points by making the right decisions. Several players who came in hot off of fast-paced modern games found Black Jack a test of patience and precision.

• Deadpool (Pro) (Stern, 2018) – A fan-favorite for its humor and fast, flowing gameplay, Deadpool was a crowd-pleaser. Its battle system allows players to take on iconic Marvel villains like Juggernaut, Sabretooth, and Mystique, with each fight offering different scoring opportunities. The katana ramp and chimichanga targets kept the action fast, while its multiball modes turned into absolute point bonanzas for those who knew how to stack them properly. A few players capitalized on the Ninja Multiball early in their rounds, using it as a way to build up an insurmountable lead.

• The Simpsons Pinball Party (Stern, 2003) – Widely regarded as one of the deepest pinballs, The Simpsons Pinball Party is a marathon-style game that requires patience, accuracy, and an understanding of its many overlapping modes. Players had to navigate multiple upper playfields, tricky shot sequences, and the chaotic Itchy & Scratchy multiball, which can either be an unstoppable points machine or a total disaster if control is lost. Those familiar with the game’s deep rule set had a clear advantage, while less experienced players found themselves caught in long ball times without much to show for it.

• The Mandalorian (Pro) (Stern, 2021) – A machine that rewards aggressive play, The Mandalorian brought out some of the most exciting rounds of the night. Players who knew how to control the Razor Crest multiball and capitalize on the tilting mini-playfield had a clear edge. One of the most exciting features of the game is Grogu’s magnet-assisted ball save, which caught a few players off guard, leading to unexpected returns to play. The flamethrower hurry-up mode also proved to be a clutch scoring opportunity for some of the night’s top competitors.

• JAWS (Pro) (Stern, 2024) – One of the newest machine in the lineup and an instant tournament favorite, JAWS challenged players with its shark fin bash toy, Barrel Multiball, and intense Shark Cage Hurry-Up mode. The playfield is built around speed and control, forcing players to balance high-risk shots with precision timing. One competitor nearly lost their round but nailed a last-second jackpot shot in Shark Cage mode, flipping the standings in dramatic fashion. With its dynamic rules and fast-paced play, JAWS proved to be one of the most talked-about games of the night.

Champions Crowned: The Night’s Top Players

After five rounds of high-intensity play, the podium belonged to some of Arizona’s strongest competitors.

1. Andrew Roesch, who has been a staple of Arizona pinball competitions for years, took home the victory. Known for his consistency and ability to perform under pressure, he played a disciplined tournament, avoiding risky shots and capitalizing on multiballs when it mattered most.
2. John Shopple, the current top-ranked player in the state, finished second. A force in the IFPA scene, Shopple’s experience was on full display, particularly in his controlled playstyle on some of the longer-playing machines.
3. Greg Drewes, one of Mesa’s rising competitors, secured third. He’s been building momentum in recent tournaments, and this finish proves that he’s a player to watch going forward.
4. Wesley Worosello, who entered the night as an underdog, outperformed expectations and landed in fourth. While not as highly ranked as some of his opponents, he made up for it with smart shot choices and patience on the tougher games in the lineup.

Arizona’s Pinball Titans: Top 10 Standings

Wrapping Up Under the Desert Sky

With another Electric Bat tournament in the books, it’s clear why this arcade remains one of the most beloved spots for competitive pinball in Arizona. The machines were in top form, the competition was fierce, and the energy of Yucca Tap Room kept the night alive long after the final ball drained.

Congrats again to Andrew Roesch for taking the win, and a shoutout to all the players who came out to test their skills. See you at the next one—keep flipping!