For the third straight year, the BBA North squad defeated the BBA South team in the annual Karl Marth Cup challenge match – and this time it wasn’t even close.
Led by Roger Allis and Garrett Gibson, the North held on to the cup in dominant fashion on Saturday afternoon as it posted a 71.5-51.5 victory, clinching the match after the Singles event, which was the third of four competitions at StrikeForce Lanes in Oakfield.
Photo caption: Members of the victorious BBA North team in this year’s Karl Marth Cup match are, kneeling from left, Tim Talbot, Jake Rosenbeck, Jason Mahnke and Jim Foss; standing, Scott Allis, Roger Allis, Brian Cline, Hayden Allis, Garrett Gibson, Alex Allis, Scott Gibson and Mike Lavender. Photo by Mike Pettinella.
The BBA North now leads the series, 18-12. The team’s victories in 2022 and 2023 went down to the wire – winning by one point at Mancuso Bowling Center and then by two points at Medina Lanes.
The match is conducted each year in memory of Karl Marth, a Hall of Fame bowler from the Albion area. The match originally started in the Batavia Bowling Association, pitting bowlers from the northern region of the association against bowlers from the southern region.
Allis led all bowlers with a 235 average (in Doubles and Singles) and won three of four matches. He earned the Scott Wright Memorial Award for his efforts, becoming only the second player to win the award twice.
His son, Hayden, another member of the winning team, also has won the award twice.
Gibson was recognized with the Joe Trigilio Memorial Award for winning all four of his matches – the only bowler to do so – and leading all bowlers with 9.75 individual points.
All of the North bowlers averaged 200 or better, with Alex Allis averaging 230 and Tim Talbot averaging 227. Other members of the North squad are Scott Allis, Brian Cline, Scott Gibson, Jake Rosenbeck, Jason Mahnke, Mike Lavender and Jim Foss.
The North won the Doubles event, 17-7; Baker Doubles, 19.5-4.5; and Singles, 26-22, before the South took the Baker Team event, 18-9, to make the score a bit more respectable.
For the South team, Brian Green posted a 230 average and Steve O’Dell was next at 219. Other South members are James Townsend, Geoff Harloff, Scott Shields, Dave Montemarano Jr., Mike Johnson, Scott Culp, Matt Balduf, Paul Bacon, Fred Gravanda and Rick Underhill.
WEST SENECA BOWLER POSTS 299 IN TITLE MATCH
Mike Faliero of West Seneca, a New York State USBC Hall of Famer, capped off a triumphant day today by rolling a 299 game in the title match of the 60-and-Over Tour presented by Batavia Downs Gaming tournament at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.
Video of Mike Faliero rolling a 299
The 63-year-old right-hander strung 11 strikes before leaving a “light” 4-pin on lane 10 for the 299. He earned $495 for placing first in the event, which attracted 61 bowlers.
Robert Day of Rochester finished in second place with a 237 game while Mike Feola of Rochester placed third and John Masiello of Buffalo was fourth.
Local bowlers cashing were Bob Hodgson and Jim Foss of Medina, Troy Fanton of Kendall and John Lowe of Le Roy.
A special 60-and-over scratch singles tournament is scheduled for Jan. 12, also at Oak Orchard Bowl, with competition getting underway at noon.
One out of every four bowlers will cash. Prize money winners will include two bowlers from each of the 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75-and-over age groups. Entry fee is $50 and first prize, based on 40 entries, is $350.