VESTAL – On Friday and Saturday, Midway Lanes in the Vestal hosted their Section IV Tournament for both girls and boys. Between the two days, three teams from the county crowned themselves Section IV Champions.
On Friday afternoon, the Oxford Lady Blackhawks were the first to claim their Class D title, winning with a team total of 2,445 – 300 pins more than any other team. The Blackhawks’ pin total was also higher than any team in Class B or C and only two teams’ score bettered Oxford from Class A teams in the section.
The Lady Blackhawks scored the highest team score in a single game with a score of 872 in the class as well.
Oxford’s Jourdan Pinney bowled the seventh highest series out of the bowlers in the Section IV Tournament with a 530, averaging a 176.67 over the three games. Her teammate Savannah Beech scored single game highest 214, which was the fourth highest of the tournament.
That game bowled by Beech was her only of the tournament but she made it count as the 214 helped her qualify for a chance at the state qualifying tournament.
The rest of the Lady Blackhawk bowlers also had a great day at the tournament as their three game average’s were above most of the other girls Friday. Erin Howard’s average for the three games finished at 159.67. Howard’ season average of 174.59 will also qualify her for the state tournament with Beech and Pinney. Pinney’s season average and tournament average earned her bid at qualifiers. Destiny Beang recorded a 167 and Megan Smith finished the day averaging a 136.67. Acadia Aherns took home a two game average of 155.50.
Other county schools that participated at Midway Lanes were Norwich in Class B, Afton-Harpursville in Class C and Greene, Bainbridge-Guilford and Unadilla Valley all representing in Class D.
Norwich’s girls team finished in third place in Class B, one of the best finishes the program has had in many years. With their highest single game total of the class being an 826 in game, the Lady Tornado landed in the the second spot with one game to be bowled. But Maine-Endwell’s game three score of 687 helped pull ahead of the Purple, bumping them to third.
Jazmin Rodriguez’ 199 was the highest single game by any other Norwich bowler, helping her to roll to the of 145. Gabby Wonren scored the highest three game average for the Purple, bowling a 150.67. Kalie Binelli also had a nice day on the lanes with a single game score of 182, a personal best, and a 141.33 day average.
In Class C, Afton-Harpursville’s Morgan Merrill bowled a 109.67 for the highest average on the team. As for a team series, Afton-Harpursville ended the tournament with a 1450 and their highest single game total was 501.
The Lady Storm’s Paige Catena scored a three game average of 155.67, leading her team for the afternoon. Teammate Breanna Thall ended the day with a 125.67 average. The team combined for a 644 single game high as well a 1825 team series score.
A series of 2008 for the Bobcats was the fifth best of the tournament in Class D. B-G’s Courtney Delello (155.67), Jill Davis (143.00) and Maya Cliffe (139.00) all ended the afternoon with three game averages over 135. The team bowled a single game best of 674.
The Lady Trojans best game as a team was right behind the Bobcats with a 653. Greene’s tournament series was a game game total of 1889. Vicki Fleury bowled a team-high 144.67 average for the afternoon. Her teammate Courtney Pratt rolled a 132.67.
The boys teams of the section competed on Saturday and the Norwich Purple Tornado as well as the Trojans from Greene brought home championships to their schools.
In Class B, the Tornado ended the day with a 2777 series, averaging a 185 score. Norwich’s Cameron Birtch ended the day as the team’s top bowler, recorded the highest single game score (224) and series of the day with a 596.
Birtch snagged the team’s high game honors over teammate Scott Manwarren but a single pin. Manwarren ended the afternoon with the sixth highest series score of Class B, bowling a 570 while the Purple’s Nick Deady finished with a 584, the third highest of the class.
Also aiding in the victory for the Tornado were bowlers, Dylan Gladstone and A.J. Little. Gladstone ended his afternoon with a 172.67 three game average while Little rolled to a 169.67 for the day. Norwich will attend the State Qualifying tournament as team. Deady and Birtch’s scores will also be qualified on a individual basis as well.
Joining the Purple will be Class D champion Greene. The Trojans won their class with a 2508 series score, averaging 167 as a team.
Brandyn Scott, Jakob Cook and Mike Willard’s single game high’s were three of the top six scores for the Tournament. Scott and teammate Funnell scored two of the highest series on Saturday.
Scott nearly bowled a perfect game, ending with a 298 for one game. His 669 series was the high of the afternoon by any bowler in Class D. Cook bowled a 205 and Willard finished right behind him with a single game score of 192. Funnell’s 485 series was the fifth highest of the day.
The Trojans also had the help of Cade Niemi, rounding out the scoring with a 141 three game average.
