Summer Showdown at… well, Somewhere
Seventeen players lined up for the Summer 2025 Division B Playoffs of the Southeastern PA Pinball League, hosted by Bill Disney. The official notes just say “Undisclosed Location,” but if you know Bill, you know he’s often running events out of The Pinball Gallery in Malvern — one of the region’s true homes for competitive pinball. Whether this playoff was there or in a secret underground lair, the competition was fierce from plunge to final drain.
The Giant Slayer on Dune
Round 5 gave us the tournament’s defining moment. On the fresh-out-of-the-box Dune from Barrels of Fun (released April 2025), four players stepped up: Erich Claussen, Tony Makowski, Ryan Strobel, and Craig Patton. Tony came in as the top seed, with years of experience and more than 250 events behind him. Erich entered with a rank in the five digits. By every measure, this should have been Tony’s game.
But that’s the beauty of a brand-new machine. Dune’s sweeping ramps and spice-fueled multiballs are still unfamiliar territory; no one has a full playbook yet. Erich found his rhythm early and kept control, while Tony chased but couldn’t quite catch up. Ryan and Craig weren’t far behind, but the final standings told the story: Erich first, Tony second, Ryan third, Craig fourth. A giant had fallen, and the entire playoff field felt the shift.
Jason Patterson’s Quiet Storm
Meanwhile, Jason Patterson PA was building the kind of run that doesn’t scream headlines until the very end. He wasn’t blowing anyone out in spectacular fashion — he was simply not losing. Game after game, Jason landed in the top spot or right next to it, and by the time Round 6 arrived, he had strung together a four-game win streak.
The finals were staged on Black Knight (Williams, 1980), a legendary machine that introduced the first-ever two-level playfield and the taunting voice of the knight himself. It’s a game that forces accuracy — miss a ramp and the ball ricochets straight to the outlanes. Jason handled the pressure flawlessly, taking first place ahead of Jamme Thomas, John Bowman, and Tony Makowski. The Black Knight’s famous “You cannot defeat me” callout rang hollow as Jason hoisted the Division B crown.
The Comeback Kid: Paul McClain
Another story unfolded lower on the standings sheet but no less compelling. Paul McClain started his playoff run with finishes of 3rd, 3rd, and 4th — the kind of skid that usually spells an early night. But instead of folding, Paul rallied.
In Round 4 on Hollywood Heat (Gottlieb, 1986), he found his first win of the day. It’s a game dripping in Miami Vice flair, with neon-soaked art and fast, punishing gameplay. From there, he doubled down, closing with another first on James Bond 007 (Premium) (Stern, 2022). Bond is no walk in the park — its deep rules and multiball stacking force players to make sharp choices under pressure — but Paul stayed locked in and claimed the top spot. His late surge was one of the best feel-good arcs of the night.
Machine Spotlights: The Real Battlegrounds
This playoff lineup was a time machine of pinball design, stretching from the mid-70s all the way to 2025. Every game added its own flavor:
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Dune (Barrels of Fun, 2025): The newest machine in the lineup, launched earlier this year. Barrels of Fun put a lot of love into theme integration — players navigate spice meltdowns and sandworm attacks while juggling multiballs that feel cinematic. No one had the ruleset memorized yet, which made it the perfect wild card. Its debut on the tournament stage saw Erich Claussen topple the event’s top seed, proving that new code can be a great equalizer.
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Black Knight (Williams, 1980): A landmark in pinball design, this was the first game to feature a two-level playfield. Designer Steve Ritchie introduced the taunting “You cannot defeat me!” voice callout, which was revolutionary in its day. The upper playfield changes strategy completely — controlled shots matter more than wild flips. Even decades later, it remains a brutal test of accuracy, and it was a fitting machine to crown the champion.
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Paragon (Bally, 1979): Nicknamed “The Beast,” this widebody is infamous for its massive “beast’s lair” outlane that swallows balls whole. Players can build big bonuses, but one missed shot can erase minutes of careful work. It’s a game that demands patience, nudging skills, and nerves of steel. Watching John Bowman tame Paragon in Round 4 was a reminder of why this machine is both loved and feared.
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James Bond 007 (Premium) (Stern, 2022): Keith Elwin’s design blends the early Sean Connery films into one deep, mode-heavy package. Bond rewards players who can stack modes and multiballs — the kind of multitasking that melts less experienced brains. The gadget-heavy layout and side loop shots are fun, but in competition it punishes sloppy play. Paul McClain’s late surge on Bond showed how dangerous the game can be if you dial into its rhythm.
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Creature from the Black Lagoon (Bally, 1992): Known for its drive-in movie theme and the stunning holographic creature that emerges beneath the playfield, “Creech” is a 90s Bally classic. It forces players to balance simple objectives — rescue your date and find the creature — with tricky shots and a multiball that can end before it begins. Jason Patterson notched a win here, showcasing the kind of control that Creech usually denies.
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Aztec (Williams, 1976): A single-player electromechanical game with chimes instead of digital sounds, Aztec is pure old-school. The flipper gap is wide, the shots are straightforward, and survival often depends on gentle nudging. It’s the type of game where a modern player’s “fast-flip” habits backfire. Jamme Thomas conquered it in Round 5, reminding everyone that sometimes simple layouts are the hardest to master.
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Hollywood Heat (Gottlieb, 1986): Few machines scream “1980s arcade” louder than this one — pastel art, palm trees, and synth vibes straight out of Miami Vice. Gameplay is fast and unforgiving, with short ball times that make every shot count. It doesn’t get much competitive play these days, so players often face it cold. Paul McClain’s win here was the turning point in his night.
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JAWS (Premium) (Stern, 2024): A blockbuster release from last year, JAWS packs movie clips, a menacing shark toy, and multiball mayhem. Its endurance-testing ball times make it a grind, especially under playoff nerves. While casual players enjoy the spectacle, competitors know it’s a mental and physical marathon. Surviving JAWS in tournament play is often about pacing yourself as much as playing the game.
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The Addams Family (Bally, 1992): The highest-selling pinball machine of all time, designed by Pat Lawlor and Larry DeMar. It introduced deep wizard-mode style rules before that was common, and the famous “Thing Flips” feature (where the game makes a shot for you) still wows newcomers. Its shots are buttery smooth, but draining is always just one risky center ramp away. Jamme Thomas leaned on Addams to keep momentum in Round 3.
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Roller Disco (Gottlieb, 1980): A forgotten gem of the solid-state era, Roller Disco is colorful, chaotic, and faster than it looks. With a notoriously short playfield, balls don’t last long — which made James Battaglia’s Round 5 win here all the more impressive. It’s a reminder that sometimes the oddball titles in a lineup provide the best drama.
Wrapping It Up
There’s something about league playoffs that hits different. It’s not the size of the prize pool or the number of WPPRs on the line — it’s the fact that your friends, rivals, and fellow flippers are right there watching every shot. The Division B Playoffs gave seventeen players their moment under the glass, and every game mattered.
The night left us with upsets, comebacks, and a champion who played nearly perfect pinball. More importantly, it left every competitor with a memory: where they stood, what they played, and how it felt when the pressure was real. And that’s the part they’ll carry into the next plunge.