A mere pin separated the top two teams at the annual Whittier Memorial Triples handicap no-tap tournament on Jan. 30-31 at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.
After a barrage of strikes – some natural and some of the “nine counts as 10 variety” – the Last Chance team prevailed with a score of 2,591 and took home the first prize of $705.
Team members were Nicole Piegzik of East Aurora, Ron Lawrence of Batavia and Jeremy Vallance of Batavia.
The Game Over squad of Batavians Mike Lambert and Jason Quilliam and Attica resident Josh Elliott posted 2,590 for second place – splitting $525.
The top 15 teams out of the 89 that entered cashed in the event, which raised more than $2,000 for a pair of Albion High School 12th graders and to support the bowling center’s youth program.
In third through fifth place:
— Team 11 Jark, 2,581, $375, Ed Toscano of Rochester, Chad Evert of Bergen and Chris Dunn of Holley.
— Triple Threat, 2,569, $255, Sam Oddo of Batavia, Scott Shields of Batavia, Josh Elliott.
— Team Oreo, 2,567, $240, Batavians Jason Quilliam, Kaelen Clouser, Nate Cordes.
Tournament director Mark Brown, left, with finalists Trenton Chick, center, and Scott Shields following Super Bowl Handicap Singles Tournament on Feb. 8 at Mancuso Bowling Center.
BROCKPORT BOWLER CAPTURES SUPER BOWL TOURNEY
Trenton Chick of North Chili rolled a 290 game with handicap – 232 scratch – in the final match to defeat Scott Shields of Batavia and win the Super Bowl Handicap Singles Tournament at Mancuso Bowling Center on Feb. 8.
Chick exceeded his 157 entering average throughout the tournament – averaging 190 scratch in the four-game qualifying round before posting scratch games of 210 and 203 to earn the right to face Shields, who received 12 pins per game based on his 203 entering average.
The victory was worth $450 for Chick while Shields earned $300.
Semifinalists Nate Balduf and Ian Lawlis, both of Batavia, won $160 apiece; quarterfinalists Kyle Johnson, Gavin Lawlis, Brian Dilcher and Levi Bluhm, all of Batavia, won $120 each, and qualifiers Dave Hall of Batavia, Laverne Luce of Oakfield, John Lowe of Le Roy and Pat Brick of Buffalo each pocketed $90.
Johnson was the high qualifier with a 1,031 handicap total.
The tournament drew 49 entries.
HEROLD, GIBSON LEAD ‘HIT PARADE’ IN MEDINA
Judging by the bushel full of honor scores in league play last week, bowlers at Medina Lanes have adjusted well to the oil pattern being put down by proprietor Jim Foss’ new Atlas lane conditioning machine.
Over the course of leagues last Thursday, Friday and Sunday, bowlers recorded five 300 games – including two by Garrett Gibson of Oakfield in a 799 series and one by Shayne Herold of Batavia in an 832 series.
Starting with the Thursday Firefighters League, Brian Cline of Middleport posted a 299 game.
In the Friday Doubles League, Herold fired 279-300-253—832, Dave Montemarano Jr. of Pavilion rolled 300 and Aaron Philp of Le Roy recorded 290.
In the Sunday Rolloffs League, Gibson sandwiched a pair of perfect games around a 199 for the 799 series. Jason Mahnke of Medina also had a 300 game that morning and Alex Allis of Medina came close with a 290.
And this just in: Mahnke posted another 300 game last night in the Firefighters League at Medina Lanes!
Several Medina Lanes bowlers found success in January as well.
— On Jan. 9, Jon McDowell of Lockport posted 256-276-278–810 in the Friday Doubles League.
— On Jan. 14, Peyton Yasses of Oakfield rolled his first 300 game in a 750 series in the Wednesday Commercial League.
— On Jan. 16, Brian Wittcop of Gasport rolled a 300 game and Marc Mariani of Lockport notched a 298 game in the Thursday Firefighters League.
— On Jan. 23, Cline added another 300 to his long list of honor scores.
— On Jan. 29, it was Alex Patterson of Lockport with a 300 game in the Firefighters League.
Elsewhere around the Genesee Region USBC:
— Chris Colantonio of Avon rolled his first perfect game in the Wednesday Night Classic League at Mount Morris Lanes on Jan. 21.
— Rob Husted of Bergen strung 11 in a row after an opening spare for 290 in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen on Feb. 5.
— Travis Kinne of Barker shot 290—755 in the Sneezy’s Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.
— And Mike Pettinella (this bowling columnist) was fortunate to start with a 300 game en route to a 792 series in the Toyota of Batavia 4-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center on Jan. 29. On a personal note, I wish to dedicate the perfect game to my cousin Ed Pettinella, Batavia native and avid bowling fan, who passed away on Jan. 9 at the age of 74.