Bowling

Attica's Josh Elliott rolled his first United States Bowling Congress-certified 800 series on Friday night, posting an 812 set in the County Line Trios League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

The 39-year-old right-hander registered games of 276, 257 and 279 on lanes 11-12.

Mark Brown, also an Attica resident, had a big night with 267-212-259--738.

For a list of high scores around the Genesee Region USBC for the week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

For the second straight week, Medina's Hayden Allis posted a United States Bowling Congress honor score in the Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes.

The 25-year-old right-hander rolled games of 255, 269 and 290 for an 814 series on Feb. 6. It is his second 800 in a row, having recorded an 805 series on Jan. 30, and his third overall.

In other Genesee Region USBC action over the past couple weeks:

• Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw fired a 289 game and 780 series in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen;

• Rich Wagner of Batavia had a 299 game in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl;

• Jim Pursel of Batavia started with a 290 game en route to a 754 series in the Toyota of Batavia 5-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

 

Second cousins Hayden and Alex Allis lit up Medina Lanes on Sunday morning, rolling an 805 series and 300 game, respectively, in the Sunday Rolloffs League.

Hayden, a 25-year-old right-hander, posted games of 289, 258 and 258 for his second United States Bowling Congress-certified 800 series. His high series is 822.

Alex, a 22-year-old righty, fired his second USBC-certified 300 game en route to a 777 series. He previously rolled an 834 series.

Roger Allis, Hayden's father, was third on the list of high scores in the league with a 259 game and 734 series.

In the Thursday Ladies League at Medina Lanes, Amy Allis, who is Hayden's cousin and Alex's aunt, led the way with a 268 game and 704 series.

Elsewhere around the Genesee Region USBC last week, Chris Bailey of Batavia just missed an 800 series -- rolling 32 strikes in a 298-228-267--793 effort in the Turnbull Heating Triples League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Bailey, who turns 41 on Tuesday, left a pocket 7-10 split after 11 in a row in the first game, had 10 strikes in the second game around a split and an open frame, and came back with 11 strikes in the third game, including the final nine after an open in the third frame.

In the Mancuso Real Estate League on Monday, Devon Leach of Batavia started with a 300 game in a 748 series. Leach, winner of the GRUSBC Scratch Memorial Tournament earlier this month, had an 802 series in October.

At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Nathan Cordes of Batavia recorded a 289 game and 784 series in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League.

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Genesee Region USBC bowlers have plenty of tournaments to choose from over the next couple months, starting with this weekend’s 9^th annual Scott Whittier Triples No-Tap Memorial Tournament at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

The event lists four squads – 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. today and Sunday – and offers at $600 first prize. The entry fee is $75.

Proprietor Randy Hanks reports that today’s squads are nearly full, but there are many openings tomorrow. To enter, call 589-6900.

More information can be found on the Oak Orchard Bowl website – www.oakorchardbowl.com/tournaments.

Other tournaments are as follows:

• Feb. 4-6 – Help-R-Hero’s 4-Person Handicap No-Tap, Le Roy Legion Lanes. Entry fee is $100 per team. First place is $1,000, based on 40 teams. Squad times are 7 p.m. Feb. 4, noon and 3 p.m. Feb. 5 and 2 p.m. Feb. 6. Call 585-409-6459 to enter.

• Feb. 5-6 – GRUSBC Youth Team, Oak Orchard Bowl, Albion. An entry form can be found at www.bowlgr.com.

• Feb. 13 – Super Bowl Handicap Singles, Mancuso Bowling Center, Batavia. Entry fee is $45. One squad at noon. Call 716-474-7960 to enter.

• Feb. 19 – GRUSBC Doubles No-Tap, Mount Morris Lanes. An entry form can be found at www.bowlgr.com.

• Feb. 25-27 – 20^th Anniversary Ron Riggi Memorial, Le Roy Legion Lanes. Four-person handicap. Call 585-409-6459 for squad times and availability.

• Feb. 25-27 – 26th Annual Betty Ellison Memorial Strike Out for Crossroads House fundraiser, Mancuso Bowling Center.  Squad times are 6 p.m. Feb. 25, 3 and 6 p.m. Feb. 26 and 1 p.m. Feb. 27. Entry fee (five person team) is $125. To enter, call Cindy at 585-993-0584 or Tara at 585-409-0136 or go to www.crossroadshouse.com/upcoming-events.

• Feb. 27 – Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour, Brockport Bowl. Qualifying squad at 11 a.m. Entry fee is $50. Walk-in are accepted (registration starts at 10 a.m.).

• March 4-6, 11-13, Bertram Memorial No-Tap, Mount Morris Lanes.  Entry fee is $125 for a five-person team. First place is $1,000. To enter, call 585-658-2540.

• March 5 – King & Queen Mixed Doubles Handicap, Mancuso Bowling Center. Entry fee is $50, with a $500 first prize, based on 60 entries. Squad times are noon and 2 p.m. Call 716-474-7960 to enter.

Press release:

Batavian Mike Pettinella reached the finals of the Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour event Sunday, averaging 222 for six games to place third in the 51-bowler field at Doug Kent’s Rose Bowl Lanes in Newark.

Steve Nowicki, one of the best bowlers in Rochester for several decades, took first place in the tournament with a 254 final game to earn the $333 top prize. Wayne Potter of Canandaigua was second with 222 ($230), followed by Pettinella at 195 ($160) and Jim Galetta of Oswego at 190 ($120).

It is the second straight top five finish on the 60-and-Over Tour for Pettinella, a two-time titleist on the tour. He qualified with a 652 three-game series before rolling 226 and 254 in the eliminator rounds to reach the final four.

In fifth through eighth place were Rochester bowlers Joe Shullek, Charlie Gfeller and Terry Bennetti, and Elmira’s Jim Pitts.

The next stop is scheduled for Feb. 27 at Brockport Bowl.

In Genesee Region USBC league action last week, several big 700 series were reported, with Pettinella leading the way with a 764, highlighted by a 279 third game, in the Turnbull Heating Triples League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Alex Van Scoter posted a 268 game en route to a 757 series in the County Line Friday Trios and James Townsend finished with 298 in a 756 series in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 5-Man, both at Mancuso’s.

At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Rob Husted spun 278—751 in the Every-Other-Saturday Mixed League; at Medina Lanes, Hayden Allis shot 256—744 in the Sunday Rolloffs League, and at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, John Beadle registered 278—741 in the Sneezy’s Monday Night League.

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Submitted photo: From left, Pete Nashburn, Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour director; tournament finalists Steve Nowicki of Rochester Wayne Potter of Farmington, Mike Pettinella of Batavia and Jim Galetta of Oswego, and PBA Hall of Famer Doug Kent, proprietor of Doug Kent's Rose Bowl Lanes in Newark.

The owners of Livingston Lanes & Pub in Geneseo, a 16-lane establishment that is part of the Genesee Region USBC association, are in the process of installing string pinsetters – an investment approaching $250,000 they say is being made to keep the bowling center open for the foreseeable future.

The timing of the change, however, is resulting in the disruption of several leagues at Livingston Lanes that are certified by the United States Bowling Congress.

Since string pinsetters – yes, the bowling pins are attached to strings connected to a mechanical device that interfaces with the computerized scoring – have yet to be recognized by the USBC, averages of the bowlers in the affected leagues will be “final” as of the last time they bowl on the standard AMF pinsetters.

Dana Carson, one of four men who own the business, said they had hoped to wait until after the traditional league season, which ends in April, but were subject to the installers’ (QubicaAMF) work schedule.

“Unfortunately, with the timing of everything, it is midseason, but we weren't able to choose our time,” he said. “So, with COVID and getting employees to work and the subcontractors involved, there's a lot of different variables going on. So, again, unfortunately for the league bowlers, we had to do it now.”

COST SAVINGS A CRITICAL FACTOR

Carson said he and his partners have been concerned about the costs involved in keeping the current pinsetters running efficiently and have discussed removing the lanes and going in a different direction with that space. Previously, they spent a couple hundred thousand dollars in renovating the concourse, restaurant and bar area.

“They tell us that because of the mechanic and the parts issues that there is a long-term savings,” Carson said. “But with the initial investment, we figure it is the best fit for our open bowlers and our league bowlers right now … a way to speed up the pace of play.”

Bill Little, district sales manager for QubicaAMF, said string pinsetters require very little maintenance, eliminate the need for a mechanic and save considerably on electricity costs.

Little, whose office is in Philadelphia, spoke with The Batavian last week while overseeing the installation, which is expected to be completed sometime next week.

He said that Livingston Lanes is the seventh bowling center in his region to switch from conventional to string pinsetters.

“These machines, on average, will run about 7,000 frames per stop, where your traditional free fall machine may run for around 1,000 frames per stop,” he said. “So, you're not going to have as many mechanical breakdowns. Anybody that works in the bowling center on the staff can be trained on how to do all the maintenance that is involved -- how to repair them and how to work on them."

AN APP TO ASSIST WITH MAINTENANCE

He said the system includes an app on cell phones where a person can download something called Tech Wizard, which will notify via a text message when there’s a problem with a lane.

“It will say, ‘Hey, lane seven has this problem.’ They’ll acknowledge it on their phone and then they’ll have the ability to look at what to do on the phone as they’re walking back to the machine,” he said. “It will show them a video, give them the ability to write notes and the ability to see what tools they need – and there are only six tools required to work on these machines.”

Little said the process calls for completely removing the old pinsetter and installing QubicaAMF’s Edge string pinsetter, which have very few moving parts. He said the equipment is a redesign of an old German machine that has been in existence for about 40 years.

While the initial cost is comparable to a free fall pinsetter, the maintenance costs are much less, he said.

“They cost only $12 per year per machine in electricity and the two 24-volt DC motors only run when there’s a call to action for the motor to run … not continuously like they do on these machines now,” he said. “And the parts’ cost savings is tremendous. You don’t need to spend $500 per machine per year on parts.”

The Edge string pinsetters are designed for competition, Little said.

LITTLE: NOT AN ARCADE GAME

“This is not an arcade game. It’s a very authentic experience to free fall. The back and the kickbacks are all black so you don’t really see the strings that much,” he said. “And the pinfall is very similar in some of the tournaments that we had and some of the tests that we've had with people bowling on them -- especially PBA (Professional Bowlers Association), male and female. That pin difference is like 1.3 pins (per game).”

Little noted that the pin itself is the same pin as used in conventional pinsetters “except it has three holes drilled at the top to put the string on it.”

“Other than that, it’s the same bowling pin – weighing 3 pounds, 6 ounces to 3 pounds, 8 ounces.”

The USBC Equipment & Specifications Team has been conducting tests on string pinsetters and is not at a point where it is ready to certify them for competition. Talk out of USBC headquarters in Arlington is that when they are certified, it would likely be a separate division along the lines of Standard, Challenge and Sport condition levels that exist today based on how the lanes are oiled.

After its most recent study in September 2021, the USBC identified several factors affecting pinfall, including string length, pin curtain, ball stop cushion and kickback thickness.

Adjustments were made to the string length, pin curtain location and ball stop cushion until results approached those of free-fall machines, and a design of experiment was conducted to identify the best combination of these properties to reduce the rate of splits being converted due to interference from the strings.

Videos on YouTube show a bowler converting the 2-8-10 split, for example, by hitting the 10 pin and seeing that pin bounce out of the pit to hit the 8 into the 2. That’s something that would never happen on conventional pinsetters.

HOPING BOWLERS WILL HANG IN THERE

It’s practically a certainty that the USBC will certify string pinsetters – likely before next fall – to avoid the possibility of losing out on membership revenue.

For bowlers seeing string pinsetters coming into their “houses,” especially in midseason as is the case in Geneseo, decisions on whether to bowl on the new apparatus or to quit have to be made.

Carson, a retired Geneseo Police Department officer, said he hopes that his bowlers will understand the situation at Livingston Lanes and keep bowling.

“We’re looking forward. People get second and third chances out here, but we’re looking for people to give us just one chance,” he said. “We’ve done a lot already. When COVID first shut us down, we decided to do a major renovation for the bar and restaurant. That’s two major projects that we're able to do as a small business during COVID. So, I think people and I think our league bowlers will appreciate that.”

Click HERE to watch the video summary of USBC's second research report on string pinsetters from September 2021.

Photo above: Bill Little, district sales manager for QubicaAMF, displays a string pin and mechanism that controls it, while at Livingston Lanes in Geneseo last week.

Little points to a box containing a string pinsetter that will replace the conventional AMF pinsetters at the Geneseo bowling center.

The remodeled concourse at Livingston Lanes. The bar/restaurant is located behind the windows in the background. Photos by Mike Pettinella.

Batavian Devon Leach’s gutsy move toward the end of the title match of Sunday’s 68^th Genesee Region USBC Scratch Memorial Tournament paid off in the best possible way as the 28-year-old right-hander defeated LeRoyan Tom Rohl for the $700 first prize.

Down by 13 pins after seven frames – and just coming off a split – Leach went into his bag for a different ball and proceeded to roll three consecutive strikes en route a 203-174 victory at Letchworth Pines in Portageville.

“I had been using the (Global 900) Honey Badger Extreme until then but figured it was time to switch to the (Storm) UFO Alert,” said Leach, who captured his first scratch singles tournament by running the table in the five-bowler stepladder finals.

Entering as the No. 4 seed after posting 822 in the four-game semifinals on the difficult Autobahn “Sport” condition, Leach turned back Mike Malone of Dansville, 236-176; Adam Philp of Batavia, 198-195, and Brett Van Duser of Perry, 192-154, before facing Rohl.

Rohl dominated the 15-bowlers semifinals, recording games of 198, 254, 241 and 231 for a 924 series – 93 pins better than Van Duser’s 831. The lefty’s chances for victory against Leach were thwarted, however, by splits in the final two frames.

Still, the two-time GRUSBC Masters champion, earned $360 for his efforts.

Leach, who bowls in four leagues, made headlines earlier this season with an 802 series in league play at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia. He is part of the large Leach and Bacon bowling family, but took up the sport in earnest only about eight years ago.

He is employed at Oldcastle Bonsal American concrete factory in Batavia.

Van Duser, proprietor of Perry Bowling Center, finished in third place, earning $280, while Philp took home $240 and Malone won $220.

Philp, who led the 12:30 p.m. Saturday four-game qualifying squad with 837, needed a double in the 10^th to defeat Leach, but left the 2-pin after getting the first strike.

Shawn Hurlburt of Freedom, who led the 10 a.m. Sunday qualifying squad with 839, placed sixth, good for $150, and defending champion Jake Rosenbeck, who was second on the Sunday qualifying squad with 823, finished seventh, earning $140.

Other cashers were Mickey Hyde of Le Roy, $135; Brian Weber of Perry, $130; Scott Culp of Honeoye Falls, $125; Brady Weber of Perry, $120; Anthony Drum of Dansville, $115; Mike Pettinella of Batavia, $110; Austin Hawker of Geneseo, $105, and Mel Helms of Nunda, $100.

Helms led the 4 p.m. Saturday qualifying squad with 843 and earned a $25 bonus as the overall high qualifier.

The tournament drew 66 entries. Five bowlers advanced to the semis from the first squad, four from the second squad and six from the third squad.

The GRUSBC will be running a handicap doubles no-tap tournament on Feb. 19 at Mount Morris Lanes. An entry form can be downloaded from www.bowlgr.com.

Submitted photo above: Mike Pettinella, GRUSBC association manager, presents the first place check to Devon Leach as runner-up Tom Rohl looks on following Sunday's Scratch Memorial Tournament at Letchworth Pines in Portageville.

Scratch Memorial finalists, (from left) Tom Rohl, Brett Van Duser, Adam Philp, Devon Leach and Mike Malone.

Right-handers Curtis Foss of Medina and Geoff Harloff of Batavia rolled 800 series this week in Genesee Region USBC league bowling action.

Foss, 34, posted 258-260-289--807 in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion and now has about three dozen 800 sets over the past 16 plus years.

For Harloff, 46, his 802 series in the County Line Stone/Mancuso's Trios League on Friday night is his first United States Bowling Congress-sanctioned 800. His games were 255-288-259.

Also in the Friday league, Jason Quilliam of Batavia started with 298 en route to a 750 series.  Josh Elliott and Alex VanScoter had big nights with 777 and 768, respectively.

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Press release:

Batavia native Pat Donaghue returned to Mancuso Bowling Center on Sunday and picked up his first Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour victory.

The 62-year-old right-hander, who has enjoyed much success in the Rochester area where he has lived for many years, struck out in the 10^th frame for a 226 game to defeat Batavian Fred Gravanda (214) and Rochester’s Rick Jewell (178) for the title.

The victory was worth $330 while Gravanda earned $250 and Jewell took home $170.

Donaghue qualified fifth (the top 12 advanced) and then rolled 256 and 247 in the eliminator rounds leading up to the finals.

Batavian Mike Pettinella placed fourth and earned $120, as did fifth-place finisher Steve Nowicki of Rochester and sixth-place finisher Bob Hodgson of Medina.

Bill Logan of Albion was one of six bowlers cashing for $70.

Submitted photo above: Tournament director Pete Nashburn, left, congratulates Pat Donaghue on his Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour victory Sunday as runner-up Fred Gravanda looks on.

LEROYAN TAKES TOP SPOT IN MEDINA

Samantha Hyde of Le Roy (with tournament director Tom Allis in submitted photo) claimed the $600 top prize in the New Year’s Day Eliminator Tournament at Medina Lanes.

Hyde rolled a 259 game with handicap in the final round to edge Batavian Mike Johnson by 10 pins. Maddie Whiteman of Albion (233) and Vicki Charache of Medina (219) finished third and fourth, respectively.

Press release:

A pair of Batavia left-handers found perfection in Genesee Region USBC league bowling this week.

On Wednesday, Rich Wagner started with a 300 game in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League on lanes 3-4 at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

He followed that with 279 before finishing with 218 for a 797 series.

On Thursday, Brian Green ended with a 300 game in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 5-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center to post a 698 series. On Tuesday, Green rolled a 778 series in the Mancuso Real Estate League in Batavia.

Also in the Toyota league, Batavian Fred Gravanda started with 274 and 278 en route to a 766 series.

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Press release:

Middleport left-hander Brian Cline added another jewel to his illustrious bowling resume on Jan. 9 when he set a Medina Lanes record with an 847 series.

Cline, who has more than 40 800 series and around 60 perfect games, posted 279-269-299 in the Thursday Firefighters League. The previous record was held by Mike Lavender of Medina with 846.

Cline also held the record at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia with an 858 series in January 2018 until it was eclipsed by fellow lefty Rich Wagner's 899 last February.

In other action at Medina Lanes last week, Ray Neuman rolled 300 in the Wednesday Community League -- his second perfect game in three weeks -- and Mike Schepis fired 299--763 -- three days after registering 300--797.

At Mancuso Bowling Center, Batavian Mike Pettinella took top honors for the week with 238-290-266--794 series in the Turnbull Heating Doubles League.

Darleen Balduf rolled her third straight 600 series -- 623 -- in the Wednesday Night Ladies League at Mancuso's.

For a list of high scores around the Genesee Region USBC, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Just four years ago, Cory Russell of Bergen was a 151 average bowler in league competition at his hometown Rose Garden Bowl.

This season, the 36-year-old right-hander has improved to 186 -- thanks to this week's 756 series in the Thursday Owls League.

Russell bowled games of 243, 234 and 279 -- getting the first nine strikes before leaving a 4-pin in the final game -- on lanes 5-6.

In other action around the Genesee Region USBC, Batavian Tom Fluker raised his league-leading average to 236 in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League with a 718 series, which included a 289 game.

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

The BBA South rallied in the final event – four-man Baker-style Team – to upset host BBA North, 64-59, in the 27^th annual Karl Marth Cup bowling competition Saturday at Medina Lanes.

The win is the second straight for the South squad, which is comprised mostly of bowlers from the southern portion of the former Batavia Bowling Association. The match did not take place last year due to COVID-19.

Still, the BBA North, consisting of bowlers from the northern part of the former BBA, has the upper hand in the series, 15-12.

The Baker teams of Mike Johnson, Paul Spiotta, Geoff Harloff and Jason Quilliam, and Jim Pursel, Scott Culp, Fred Gravanda and Matt Balduf swept their matches to earn 18 points, while the other Baker team of Ed Doody, Steve O’Dell, Josh Elliott and Rick Underhill managed to take two of seven points as the South came back from a 52-44 deficit.

The South opened with an 13-11 advantage in Doubles, before the North took the Baker Doubles competition, 15-9, and the Singles events, 26-22.

Individually, Jake Rosenbeck of Medina earned the Scott Wright Memorial Award by averaging 259 – including a 299 game – while winning three of his four matches. Teammate Brian Cline averaged a whopping 265 for his matches, but only compiled a 2-2 records as he went against the South’s Scott Culp (238 average) each time.

The South’s Jason Quilliam, making his Marth Cup debut, received the Joe Trigilio Memorial Award by averaging 221 en route to winning three of his four matches.

Submitted photo: Members of the BBA South team are, front from left, Geoff Harloff, Jason Quilliam, Matt Balduf, Steve O'Dell; back, Josh Elliott, Jim Pursel, Mike Johnson, Scott Culp, Ed Doody (captain), Paul Spiotta, Rick Underhill and Fred Gravanda, posing together after win.

Three bowlers cracked the 800 mark -- with two of them recording perfect games as well -- in Genesee Region USBC league bowling action this past week.

On Wednesday, Ray Neuman rolled 300--823 in the Wednesday Community League at Medina Lanes, and Tim Fonte had a pair of 279 games en route to an 806 series in the Wednesday Classic League at Mount Morris Lanes.

On Friday, Tom Baker started with 279 and 300 in an 804 series in the County Line Stone Friday Trios League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

And this morning, Michael Schepis posted a 300 game in the Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes. He fell just short of 800 with 797.

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Lifelong Batavian Rich Wagner will share the men's National High Series Award for the 2019-20 season by virtue of the 899 series he recorded on Feb. 11 of this year in the Toyota of Batavia 5-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

The United States Bowling Congress issued a press release today to announce award winners in the various categories.

Wagner, a 38-year-old left-hander, and Brent Bowers of Bel Aire, Kansas, each posted 899 series last season.

Bowers, 33, rolled his on Oct. 6, 2020 in the Bud Light Invite League at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan. His games were 299-300-300 and his series is a state record.

Wagner registered 35 consecutive strikes on lanes 23-24 before leaving the 6-pin on his final delivery.

All national leaders will receive an award from the USBC.

In other categories:

Charles Easton of Sylvania, Ohio, has earned the men’s USBC National High Average Award for a second consecutive season after putting together a near-record effort during the 2020-2021 season.

Easton, 30, posted the second-highest average in USBC history in the Toledo New Bath/Sparks Concrete league at Jug’s Bowling Center in Toledo, Ohio, finishing with a 259.56 average for 75 games.

Jeff Carter of Springfield, Illinois, holds the record with a 261.7 average during the 2000-2001 season.

Easton earned the award during the 2019-2020 season after averaging 256.5 in the Oakie Schroyer III Memorial league, also held at Jug’s Bowling Center. His performance during the 2019-2020 season ranked fourth on the all-time list at the time.

Easton averaged 251.48 for 93 games last season in the Oakie Schroyer/Generations Pro Shop league.

Team USA member Jordan Richard of Maumee, Ohio, was the women’s high average winner for the 2020-2021 season, also competing at Jug’s Bowling Center. The two-time Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour champion averaged 242.02 for 69 games in the Florian Insurance Classic league.

Richard, 25, recently helped Team USA win the gold medal in team competition at the International Bowling Federation Super World Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Junior Team USA member Spencer Robarge of Springfield, Missouri, and Cassidy Potter of the Rochester suburb of Webster, have earned USBC National High Average Awards in the Youth Male and Youth Female divisions, respectively.

Robarge, 19, recorded a 250.67 average for 78 games in the Junior/Majors league at Springfield’s Sunshine Lanes.

Robarge, the 2015 U12 Junior Gold Championships winner, made headlines earlier in 2021 after advancing to the stepladder finals at the USBC Masters in April, finishing in third place.

Potter, 18, earned her award by averaging 222.06 for 78 games in the Fairview Fri Juniors league at AMF Fairview Lanes in Fairport.

The women’s USBC National High Series Award will go to Brandi Kordelewski of Belleville, Illinois, after she set the women’s state record in Illinois with an 868 series on Nov. 18, 2020.

Kordelewski, 31, was competing in the Wednesday Night Ball league at Belleville’s Bel-Air Bowl when she rolled games of 290, 279 and 299

Jacob Hartman of Camanche, Iowa, and Mikayla Blair of Springfield, Ohio, will take home the Youth Male and Youth Female USBC National High Series Awards, respectively, for the 2020-2021 season.

Hartman, 18, rolled games of 289, 279 and 299 for an 867 series on March 6, 2021, in the Jr. Elite league at Camanche’s Imperial Lanes.

Blair, 18, put together games of 300, 267 and 257 for an 824 set on March 28, 2021, during the Spring 21 Youth/Adult Scholarship Travel league at Bowl 10 in Fairborn, Ohio.

File photo: Rich Wagner, center, receiving his award from the Genesee Region USBC in May for his 899 series. At left is Tommy Kress of Hilton, guest speaker at the association banquet, and at right is Wagner's wife, Jennifer. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

Jim Foss, who took over as proprietor of Medina Lanes prior to the 2021-22 season, rolled a 300 game on Sunday morning in the Sunday Rolloffs League at his hometown bowling center.

The right-hander's perfect game came in a 648 series, and that gives him about a dozen 300 games for his career.

Top honors in the league went to Tom Allis, with a 697 series.

Elsewhere around the Genesee Region United States Bowling Congress, Jim Pursel of Batavia set the pace in the County Line Friday Trios at Mancuso Bowling Center with a 746 series.

For a list of high scores for the week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Mark Roth of Fulton, one of the greatest bowlers in Professional Bowlers Association Tour history and a member of four Halls of Fame, died Friday at the age of 70 due to congestive heart failure and complications following a diagnosis of pneumonia.

A 34-time PBA Tour champion, Roth had been in poor health after suffering a massive stroke in 2009 that left him partially paralyzed on his left side.

Roth, who revolutionized the game in the 1970s and 1980s with his high-revving style, is ranked No. 5 all-time of the PBA’s list of “50 Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years.”

He was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1987, the United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 2009, the New York State USBC Hall of Fame in 2010 and the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

The Brooklyn native holds the PBA record with eight titles in a single season (1978) and won four PBA Player of the Year honors -- 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1984.

In 1980, he became the first bowler in history to convert the 7-10 split on a PBA Tour telecast, a feat that only has been accomplished four times since.

Among Roth’s PBA Tour titles were two major victories – the 1984 U.S. Open and PBA Touring Players Championship. He also went on to collect a pair of victories on the PBA50 Tour.

One of Roth’s biggest rivals on the lanes was fellow hall of famer Marshall Holman, but the two also were one of the sport’s most revered doubles teams.

They won three doubles titles together, and the PBA Tour schedule currently includes an event named in their honor – the PBA Roth/Holman Doubles Championship.

Roth is survived by his wife, Denise.

Photo above: Mark Roth, right, being inducted into the New York State USBC Hall of Fame in 2010 in Niagara Falls. Fran Bax, a director of the state association at the time, is at left. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

After struggling through a couple of subpar games in the Saturday Night Mixed League at Mount Morris Lanes last week, Piffard resident Venitha "V.J." Frew knew she had to do something to change the pace.

So, with her sister on hand to watch her bowl, the 46-year-old right-hander decided that they would get on their cell phones and conduct the family’s traditional Christmas present draw.

Little did Frew -- formerly V.J. Ellis prior to her marriage to George Frew in September -- know that Christmas would come early for her in the form of a 300 game.

By rolling 12 consecutive strikes in that third game, Frew became just the second woman to reach perfection at the eight-lane establishment.

Frew, who is employed as the meat and produce team leader at the Geneseo Walmart, opened the session with games of 156 and 113, much lower than her 169 average. A bowler for many years in Hornell, she said she had averaged around 190 in the past and had a 288 high game to her credit.

These days, she’s bowling twice a week at Mount Morris Lanes – on Saturdays on a team with her husband, and Sam and Ashley Repass (George’s daughter) and on Tuesdays on a team with George; her daughter, Courtney McDaniel, and friend, David Lohmer.

Ironically, this past Saturday she was bowling against a team of McDaniel, Lohmer, daughter Mackenzie Towner and son-in-law Corey Towner.

After the 113 game that saw her leave seven splits, Frew said she just "needed to regroup."

"The only changes I made is I just relaxed," she said. "And the funny thing is (which helped her during the third game) I was distracted. My sister, who lives an hour away, had come over that night to the bowling alley. Since we all always do a family Christmas draw, we got my phone and her phone and another phone and kind of like video-chatted all of our children. And we sat there drawing names out for the Christmas draw."

She said she just got up to bowl, set her feet, looked at her mark and let the ball go.

"I didn’t even pay attention. I actually thought I had had a spare in the first or second frame. So, I didn't even know how many strikes I had in a row. After I threw the first strike in the 10th frame, I heard my husband in the background cheering. I said, 'Oh, cool' and looked up at the screen and thought, 'Oh my goodness.'"

That's when the nerves set in, she said.

"I started trembling very badly. And I got up there and I apparently rushed myself, although I didn't feel that I did," she said.

It was then that another bowler, Jamie Watson, got up and made his delivery in attempt to slow Frew down a bit.

Following the 11th strike, she said all she thought about was keeping the ball out of the channel.

"All I kept saying is do not pitch it in the gutter, do not pitch it in the gutter," she said. "So, I let it go and it was a good ball. And I knew even if I only got nine or eight pins, I was going to be more than satisfied because my high game before that was 288."

Frew said she was fortunate in that three of her deliveries crossed over to the Brooklyn side but her 15-pound Roto Grip UFO knocked down all the pins each time.

The previous 300 game by a woman at Mount Morris Lanes was rolled by Amanda Coniglio of Mount Morris on Feb. 23, 2015.

Frew said she is opting for the ring from the USBC, personalized with her initials and Mount Morris Lanes, New York on it. She also will receive a plaque from the Genesee Region USBC.

Submitted photo: VJ Frew reacts after rolling a 300 game last Saturday at Mount Morris Lanes.

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Albion’s Reid Cole stepped into the Genesee Region USBC Senior Masters Tournament winner’s circle for the first time Saturday, topping LeRoyan John Lowe, 179-138, in the title match at Perry Bowling Center.

The 62-year-old right-hander was at or near the top of the standings throughout the scratch singles event’s four rounds, averaging 214 for his seven games. He earned $300, a free entry into the GRUSBC Scratch Memorial Tournament and a plaque for his efforts.

Only three other bowlers averaged 200 or better on the challenging lane conditions – Lowe (200), who won $160; Mike Johnson of Batavia (203), who placed third for $120, and Don Parrott of Warsaw (211), who finished fourth for $90.

Lowe defeated Johnson, 175-166, in the opening game of the three-bowler stepladder finals to earn the right to face Cole.

Cole was the third-high qualifier with 669 for three games, and then posted 393 in the two-game semifinals to reach the top six. From there, he rolled a 257 game to claim the top spot in the finals.

Lowe recorded 706 in qualifying – second to Parrott’s 709 – and went on to roll 386 for two games in the second round and 197 in the third round to advance. Johnson qualified seventh with 637 before posting 417 in the second round and 202 in the third round.

Bill Logan of Albion and two-time defending champion Mickey Hyde placed fifth and sixth, respectively, each winning $90.

Other cashers, all for $70, were Brett Van Duser of Perry, Duane Barrett of Warsaw, Scott Shields of Batavia, Fred Walters of Perry, Paul Spiotta of Batavia and Matt Balduf of South Byron. Steve Krna of Alexander cashed for $50.

The tournament drew 42 entries – 24 from the ages of 50-59, 12 from 60-69 and six in the 70 and over bracket.

FIFTEEN CASH IN WOMEN’S EVENT

Forty women competed in the 36th Gladys Ford Memorial Women's Senior Singles Tournament earlier this month at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

Cashers in the six age classifications are as follows:

75-and-Up -- Frances Matthews, 738, $86; Dawn Bertrand, 701, $75; Grace Bogle, 662, $50.

70-74 -- Georgene Della Penna, 654, $85; Margie Page, 613, $65; Kathy Pacino, 608, $45.

65-69 -- Arlene Underhill, 608, $85; Patricia Gilbertson, 569, $55.

60-64 -- Chris Bovee, 735, $100; Dawn Luckenbach, 614, $85; Linda Johnson, 607, $75; Karen Moran, 604, $60.

55-59 -- Terry Gilman, 603, $80; Pam Jenks, 592, $60.

50-54 -- Becky Arft, 580, $55.

Photo: Reid Cole, left, and John Lowe, champion and runner-up, respectively, of the Genesee Region USBC Senior Masters on Saturday at Perry Bowling Center. Submitted photo.

Batavian James Townsend said he was extremely nervous during the eliminator finals of the 14^th annual Triple O Mechanical Singles Handicap Tournament on Sunday at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

Judging by his prolific bowling, however, you wouldn’t have believed him as the 23-year-old strapping right-hander powered his way to the title, defeating veteran kegler Jerry Blair of Le Roy in the title match, 269-232.

Townsend received 11 pins handicap (based on his 212 average) while Blair – won earned $250 – received nine pins handicap (based on his 214 average). Strikes in the seventh, eighth, ninth and on the first two balls in the 10th frames sealed the victory for the Batavian.

The victory was worth $500 for Townsend, an employee in the automotive department at Walmart and a “graduate” of the Turnbull Heating Junior League at his hometown Mancuso Bowling Center.

“After I made the cut (qualifying 14^th with a 717 series -- 684 scratch), I was tremendously nervous,” said Townsend, who has put in the time to improve his game over the past couple years. “I’ve been shaking this entire time.”

His jitters didn’t affect his performance as he continually put his high-revving bowling ball in the 1-3 pocket and struck at a high rate to advance through the four rounds of the finals.

His scratch scores in the finals were 238, 245, 259 and 258. In the first round, he struck out in the 10^th frame to advance, edging John Martorella Sr. of Rochester by three pins.

“I’ve been working on making adjustments on the lane and I’m really starting to develop my game and get smooth at the line,” Townsend said. “Being able to get to the line so smoothly has been the key to developing my game. I slowed down my arm swing, my arm speed and my ball speed, and that’s helped me to focus on each shot.”

He credited his improvement to the instruction offered as a youth bowler by his father, Paul, and more recently, by Brian Green, owner of Striking Effects Pro Shop at Mancuso’s.

“They’ve helped me and, basically, everyone has been on my side and I thank everybody very much,” said Townsend, who noted that he “lit the place up” after switching to the Roto Grip Haywire ball for the 3 p.m. qualifying squad after failing to make the cut on the 12:30 squad.

Reaching the semifinals, and earning $125 apiece, were Devon Leach of Batavia and Mark Brown of Attica.

Quarterfinalists ($80 each) were defending champion Mickey Hyde of Le Roy, Mark Mack of Le Roy, Ricky Zinone of Rochester and Marty Lindner of Scottsville. Hyde was the high qualifier with 801 for three games (771 scratch).

Those eliminated in the first round ($50 apiece) were Martorella, Jeff Dewar of Rochester, Sam Oddo of Batavia, Frank Fitzmaurice of Rochester, Pat Bruton of Rochester, Jim Pursel of Batavia, Ken Wilson of Batavia and Don Perrault of Rochester.

Fitzmaurice rolled a 300 game in the USBC-certified tournament that drew 66 entrants. The top 16 earned prize money.

Photo: Tom Sardou, left, proprietor of Rose Garden Bowl, congratulates James Townsend, first place, and Jerry Blair, second place, following Sunday's Triple O Mechanical Singles Handicap Tournament. Photo by Mike Pettinella.