Bowling

Press release:

The Pembroke Central School District added a team to its athletic lineup this school year in Unified Bowling. Special Olympics Unified Sports joins people with and without disabilities to play and compete on the same team to bolster friendship, understanding, inclusion, and tolerance in schools.

Through Unified Sports, regardless of any disability, all athletes matter and are provided opportunities to proudly wear their school uniform while having a chance to shine athletically.   

Pembroke was ready to field its first-ever Unified Basketball team last spring, but the pandemic and subsequent nationwide quarantine waylaid those plans. The school community was elated to learn that it could participate in Unified Bowling this season, even though everyone must wear masks and socially distance.

Section VI has graciously accepted Pembroke’s Unified team into its league, giving Pembroke athletes the chance to compete with schools that are geographically closer than some of its Section V counterparts.

This bodes well for some of Pembroke’s athletes who face unique transportation needs. When pandemic restrictions are finally lifted, the team will travel to its away matches at locations in Section VI. Until then, meets will continue to be held virtually.

The Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia has been a wonderful host for Pembroke Unified Bowling meets and has been very accommodating. Under normal circumstances, competitors travel to various bowling lanes in WNY to compete in person against other schools, but this season, all meets are completed virtually with each school bowling at their respective lanes and scores being reported online.

Unified Sports truly brings out the best in everyone, and Pembroke is honored to continue developing a school community rooted in inclusion, tolerance, and acceptance.

According to Principal Nathan Work, Ed.D., “Even though we all have masks on, you can still see the smiles shining through. There is not a day that goes by that one of these athletes or partners doesn’t inspire me and warm my heart; this is truly humanity at its finest.” 

There are 17 students on the team and they are coached by Alex Kaminski, Matthew Lingle, and Work. Pembroke’s next Unified Bowling meet is scheduled for Friday, March 19th at 3:30 p.m. 

The season runs from Feb. 23rd to March 25th and athletes will participate in a total of seven meets. School officials plan to add additional sports to Pembroke’s Unified Sports program as pandemic restrictions and resources allow. 

Without a doubt, Batavian Nathan Cordes is on a roll.

For the third straight week, Cordes led the way in the 12-team Toyota of Batavia Thursday 5-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

This time, the 31-year-old right-hander fired 247-235-279 for a 761 series, a bit better than his teammate, Rich Wagner, who posted a 748 series.

Last week, Cordes rolled a 300 game in a 754 series and the week before that, he had a 280 game in a 772 series. The recent outburst has raised his average to 220.

In other action in the Genesee Region USBC, Hall of Famer Fred Gravanda of Batavia popped a 275 game en route to a 748 series in the Turnbull Heating Triples League at Mancuso's.

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

GRUSBC Association Tournament Starts Friday

The 14th annual Genesee Region USBC Association Tournament gets underway at 7 p.m. Friday.

Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen is hosting the Team (four-person) event while Legion Lanes in Le Roy is hosting the Doubles & Singles events over the next two weekends.

Team squads are 7 p.m. on Fridays; noon and 3 p.m. on Saturdays; noon and 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 28. The Team event is limited to 80 teams.

Doubles & Singles squads are 7 p.m. on Fridays; 1 p.m. on Saturdays; 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 21, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 28. The D & S event is limited to 68 doubles teams.

Bowlers are urged to contact Mike Pettinella, Genesee Region USBC association manager, at mikep@bowlgr.com or at (585) 861-0404 as soon as possible to reserve their spots.

Already, the noon squad on Sunday, March 21 for the Team event is full.

The per person cost per event is $30. The All-Events (total of Team, Doubles and Singles) fee is $10.

Apparently teammate Rich Wagner's 899 series on Feb. 11 has inspired Nathan Cordes of Batavia in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 5-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Since Wagner's 300-300-299 feat, Cordes, a 31-year-old high-revving righty, has been on a hot streak.

On Feb. 25, Cordes rolled a 280 game in a 772 series and earlier this week he registered his sixth United States Bowling Congress-certified perfect game in a 754 series.

In other league action last week:

• Ken Wilson of East Bethany had one big game in the Antique World Tuesday Coed League at Mancuso's in his 617 series, that being a 298 -- 11 in a row before leaving two pins on the final ball.

• Mickey Hyde of Le Roy had the front nine strikes before being stopped, shooting 279 in a 743 series in the American Legion Thursday Night Men's League at Le Roy Legion Lanes. Fred Mathers also cracked the 700 mark with 713.

In tournament competition, the team of Scott Culp, Matt Balduf, Darleen Balduf and Aaron Philp captured the $800 first prize at the annual Ron Riggi Memorial Handicap Tournament in Le Roy. Their winning score for the four games was 3,701. Culp also won the singles event with 1,042.

Mark Brown, Kai Clark, Chris Bardol and Dave Emler placed second with 3,565, winning $400, while Hyde, John Lowe, Shayne Herold and Tim Thomas finished third with 3,562, good for $320.

The T.F. Brown's Scratch Eliminator tournament is scheduled for March 12-13 at Mancuso's. First prize is $750 and a free entry to the Airport Lanes (Buffalo) Sweeper at 6 p.m. March 19.

Qualifying squad (four games) times for the Batavia event are 6:30 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. The entry fee is $65. One in five per squad will advance to the finals.

To sign up, contact Mark Brown at (716) 474-7960.

Batavian Tony Sprague came up a bit short in an attempt for his second United States Bowling Congress-certified perfect game last Sunday, rolling a 298 in the T.F. Brown's Adult-Child League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Sprague, a lanky right-hander who will be celebrating his 19th birthday in a couple weeks, left a 7-10 split on the final delivery as the ball came in just a little light of the 1-3 pocket. He finished with a 652 series.

Last February, he registered a 300 game as a youth bowler at Mancuso's and in early January of this year, posted a 299 in the T.F. Brown's league.

Other top series around the Genesee Region last week:

• Nathan Cordes of Batavia flirted with an 800 series in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 5-Man League at Mancuso's, starting with 268 and 280 before closing with a 224 game for a 772 series;

• Steve Krna of Alexander rolled a 758 series in the Antique World Tuesday Coed League at Mancuso's;

• Scott Briggs of Perry started with a 266 game en route to a 758 series in the Thursday Night League at Perry Bowling Center.

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

While league bowling in the Genesee Region last week produced its normal amount of 700 series from the adult ranks, a youth bowler from Warsaw deserves a bit of "press" as well.

Carter Armijo, a 9-year-old right-hander from Warsaw, rolled his first United States Bowling Congress-certified 200 game on Feb. 13 in the T.F. Brown's Adult-Child League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

Carter, bowling with his father, Chris, registered a 201 game in the doubles league and (see the photo above where he gets a lift from his dad up to the scoring monitor) outdid his dad in that game.

"He's been bowling for four years now and really loves it," said Chris, noting that Carter has not one, but three custom-drilled bowlling balls. "We're pretty committed to it."

Carter also bowls in the Turnbull Heating Junior League on Saturday mornings and has a very respectable 129 average in both leagues.

In adult league action, high scores for the week were as follows:

• Wayne Brett of Albion with games of 269, 258 and 242 for a 769 series in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

• Don Johnson of Scottsville with a high game of 289 in a 755 series in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

• Jason Quilliam of Batavia with a 279 game and 717 series in the Mancuso Real Estate League at Mancuso Bowling Center. Quilliam made a run at a third 300 game in consecutive weeks in the league but was stopped by a 10-pin in the seventh frame of the first game (279).

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

Batavian Jason Quilliam, who has rolled 300 games in league play on consecutive Mondays this month, placed second in the Super Bowl Singles Handicap Tournament at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Quilliam averaged 244 for his first six tournament games before slipping to a 179 game against Buffalo resident Andy Kaczorowski in the title match.

Kaczorowski fired a 270 game (255 scratch) against Quilliam to capture the $400 first prize.

He came in with a 200 average, receiving 15 pins, while Quilliam, who won $300, entered with a 215 average.

Handicap was based on 100 percent of the difference in the bowler’s average and 215. Bowlers with averages of 215 and higher received no handicap.

 “I was gassed once we got to the finals, lost focus and had my worst game of the tournament,” said Quilliam, whose perfect games came in the Mancuso Real Estate Doubles League on Feb. 1 and Feb. 8.

Kaczorowski advanced to the title match with a 219-185 win over high qualifier Rich Wagner of Batavia (of 899 series fame), while Quilliam advanced by defeating Marty Lindner of Scottsville, 222-182.

Wagner and Lindner won $150 apiece.

Quarterfinal results had Kaczorowski beating Heather Roy of Rochester, 261-184; Quilliam topping Tom Baker of Pavilion, 259-178; Linder ousting Brady Weber of Perry, 198-192, and Wagner stopping Geoff Harloff of Batavia, 268-226.

Roy, Baker, Weber and Harloff won $100 each.

Wagner led the four-game qualifying round with a 989 score, while Quilliam was next with 984. Harloff secured the eighth and final spot with 928.

The tournament drew 42 entries.

From left, Jason Quilliam, Tournament Director Mark Brown, Andy Kaczorowski​. Submitted photo.

While Rich Wagner's mind-boggling 899 series dominated the bowling scene last week -- and will be talked about for years to come, a few other other Genesee Region USBC league bowlers rolled noteworthy games and series.

Wagner, a 38-year-old left-hander from Batavia, recorded 300-300-299--899 on Thursday night in the Toyota of Batavia 5-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center, posting 35 consecutive strikes before leaving a 6-pin on the final ball.

Meanwhile, Batavia right-hander Jason Quilliam posted his second 300 game in as many weeks, finding perfection once again in the middle game of a 676 series in the Mancuso Real Estate Doubles League at Mancuso Bowling Center on Monday night.

The previous week, he ended with 300 for a 781 series.

At Perry Bowling Center, Tim Grasby started with a spare before stringing 11 consecutive strikes for a 290 game in the Thursday Night League.

"I made a small adjustment after the first game, which was only 171, and from that point on, I couldn't miss," Quilliam said. "I got a break on the 11th ball, tripping a 9-pin."

At Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, Robbie Hanks fired a 797 series in the Sneezy's Monday Night League, missing an 800 series when he left a 10-pin in the final frame. Later in the week, he continued his fine bowling with a 778 series in the Thursday Men's Triples League at Oak Orchard Bowl.

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Wagner was looking to become the 37th kegler to post a United States Bowling Congress-certified 900 series, but his 899 is the highest three-game set in the nation this season (which runs from Aug. 1 through July 31).

Reflecting upon the achievement, Wagner, who has 43 perfect games, called it "an incredible experience."

"I made great shots and held my composure throughout and I will forever remember that moment. I don't think any other thing I do in bowling will compare to how awesome a moment that was, and I doubt I'll ever be as nervous bowling again as I was right there. So all things considered, I gave it one heck of a run."

Previously: Batavian Wagner rolls 300-300-299--899 at Mancuso Bowling Center

Entering tonight’s league bowling competition, 36 bowlers had registered 900 series – 36 consecutive strikes over three games – that have been offici

ally recognized by the United States Bowling Congress, the sport’s national governing body.

And if it wasn’t for one stubborn 6-pin on the final delivery of the final game, Batavian Rich Wagner, one of the best bowlers in the Genesee Region USBC over the past 20-plus years, would have added his name to the list.

The 38-year-old left-hander rolled games of 300, 300 and 299 for an 899 series while competing on lanes 23-24 for the Toyota of Batavia team in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 5-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

“On the last ball (on lane 24 at the 24-lane center), I was thinking just hit the head pin; don’t throw it in the gutter,” Wagner said. “My legs were shaking. I couldn’t feel them. I didn’t want to fall down on the lanes. It was just get it there. I tugged it just a little bit, but it could have gone.”

Wagner said he was grateful to have the opportunity to potentially etch his name into the record book.

“The more I’m thinking here, processing it a bit, I had a chance. I can’t complain,” he said. “I can’t get upset or anything like that.”

He said he used two different balls throughout the night -- a DV8 Turmoil II Solid on lane 23 and a Turmoil II Pearl on lane 24, balls drilled by Brian Green of Striking Effects Pro Shop last year.

“I was swinging 23 a little bit and I was pretty straight up the boards on 24,” he said.

Wagner said every ball was in the 1-2 pocket, some driving the 5-pin into the 10-pin (a “swishing” strike) but most packed solidly in the sweet spot. He said he caught a break in the sixth frame of game three.

“I drifted just a little to the right and hit the pocket a little soft, but a messenger came back (off the side wall) and ripped out the 7-pin,” he said. “Other than that, every shot – minus a few swishers – was just dead on.”

Wagner actually had three perfect games in a row in the league as he finished with a 300 last week in a 751 series on lanes 17-18. Ironically, he tripped a 6-pin on the last ball.

Tonight’s outburst raised his league-leading average to 236, and shattered his previous high series of 812.

Mancuso Bowling Center manager Mike Sputore called the feat of 35 straight strikes "the most impressive three-game set I'll ever see."

"It was unbelievable and I'm really glad for Rich as he's just a great guy," he added. "You could see how very humbled he was by it, which says a lot about his character."

A sergeant at Albion Correctional Facility, Wagner said he appreciated the support he received from his teammates – Tom Fluker, Matt Buckley, Leon Hurd and Nathan Cordes – as well as from the other league bowlers.

His team won its match against the Eastown Beverage team of Geoff Harloff, Jim Pursel, AJ Allenbrandt, Mike Johnson and Matt Balduf -- rolling 3,334 scratch with Cordes chipping in with 697. Pursel rolled 697, starting with a 279 game, for Eastown Beverage.

“It didn’t get all quiet. They kept it loud and not making it as nerve-wracking, even though it was,” he said, adding when the messenger took out the 7-pin in the sixth frame, “I didn’t feel my legs the rest of the night.”

One of those who was looking on was Wagner’s wife, Jenn, who bowls with another team in the league.

“I hid behind two people so he wouldn’t see me,” Jenn said. “It was pretty amazing. Afterwards, I told him it didn’t matter whether he got that last strike or not because it was incredible either way. It’s bittersweet, but incredible at the same time.”

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• The previous all-time high series in the Genesee Region USBC was an 858 rolled by lefty Brian Cline of Middleport on Jan. 13, 2018, also at Mancuso Bowling Center. His games were 279-279-300.

• Wagner, who burst onto the bowling scene as a preteen and has competed in Professional Bowlers Association events, upped his 300 game total to 43.

After having little success with a urethane ball at the outset of the Sneezy’s Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion earlier this week, Ricky Daniels figured it was time to switch to another ball.

“I was really struggling and in the eighth frame I switched to a (Brunswick) Cutting Edge Pearl,” the 60-year-old right-hander said. “It took a couple shots to get lined up and then I struck out in the 10^th frame in that lousy first game (a 151).”

Daniels’ fortunes changed dramatically from that point on as he proceeded to roll 12 consecutive strikes in the second game for his first United States Bowling Congress-certified 300 game after about 35 years of organized bowling.

“Once I changed balls, I felt comfortable and every ball was right there,” said Daniels, who said he was playing just outside the second arrow with a down-and-in shot. “And I wasn’t nervous at all, which shocks me, because I had eight in a row before and got very nervous.”

Daniels, a sub on Gary Gilman’s team, finished the night with a 177 game for a 628 series. His previous high game was 290. He has a 195 average for about 30 games in the league and also as a regular in the Thursday Men’s Triples League at his hometown lanes.

Married with six children, Daniels works at Ideal Innovation, a machine shop in Lockport.

Elsewhere around the Genesee Region USBC:

-- Batavians Jason Quilliam and Rich Wagner registered perfect games in the Mancuso Real Estate Monday Doubles and Toyota of Batavia Thursday 5-Man leagues, respectively, at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

Quilliam, a 41-year-old righty, started a bit slowly with a 213 before catching fire for 268 and 300, posting the last 17 strikes in a row on lanes 11-12, and finishing with a sparkling 781 series.

He said he used a new Hammer Black Widow 2.0 ball drilled by Brian Green of Striking Effects Pro Shop, located at the bowling center.

A sales manager for One Touch Direct (T-Mobile internet sales), Quilliam now has three certified 300 games to go with his high series of 805.

Wagner, a 38-year-old lefty, recorded his 41^st perfect game to cap a 751 series on lanes 17-18.

He said he was lucky to add to his list of 300 games as he pulled the final shot, tripping a 6-pin. The big night raised his league-leading average to 232.

-- At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Churchville resident William Yates continued his hot streak with a 776 series on games of 280-248-248 on lanes 3-4 in the Thursday Owls League. The 776 raised his average to 218.

Yates had a 299 game and 760 series the previous week.

For a list of high scores from last week, including the Genesee Region Youth Travel League, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

Press release from Genesee Region USBC:

A little more than 14 months after recording his first United States Bowling Congress-certified 800 series, Albion resident Brandon Gurnsey has a 300 game to go along with it.

Gurnsey, a 32-year-old right-hander, rolled games of 201-300-221 for a 722 series this week on lanes 9-10 in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at his hometown bowling center, Oak Orchard Bowl.

It was on Nov. 25, 2019 when Gurnsey, a bus mechanic for the Spencerport Central School District, posted an 812 series at Oak Orchard Bowl with games of 276-279-257.

In Monday's action, he said he moved a few boards right on the approach after the opening 201, placing his Roto-Grip Halo ball between the second and third arrows. He proceeded to guide the next 11 balls to the pocket for strikes before tugging the 12th shot and coming up high.

"I could hear people in the background who were videotaping (the last frame) on their phones yell out, 'Oh no,' " Gurnsey said, realizing that he pulled the ball left of target. "I left the 6-7-10 split, but the 6-10 fell over and then the 7-pin somehow fell off the back of the deck."

Bowling for the Brooklyn Bombers team, Gurnsey raised his average this season to 219, his best ever. His previous high game was 299, which he achieved on two occasions.

In other action around the Genesee Region:

• William Yates of Churchville just missed perfection, leaving a 7-pin on the final ball for a 299 on lanes 1-2 in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen. The 64-year-old right-hander started with 228 and finished with 233 for a sparkling 760 series.

• Diane Hurlburt of Warsaw continued her stellar bowling of late with a 694 series in the Thursday Night League at Perry Bowling Center. The previous week, Hurlburt registered a 738 series.

• In action from the previous week, Curtis Foss of Medina rolled his third 300 game of the season en route to a 775 series in the Thursday Men's Triples League at Oak Orchard Bowl.

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

Press release:

Two members of the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 5-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center found perfection last week -- each right-hander registering their third United States Bowling Congress-certified 300 game.

On lanes 15-16, 40-year-old Justin Burdick of Olean fired 300 for the Ken Barrett Chevy team while on lanes 17-18, 63-year-old Ron Lawrence of Batavia did the same for The Expendables team.

Both 300 games came in game two of their respective series, with Burdick finishing with 734 and Lawrence ended with 701.

Top series honors for the night went to Tom Baker of the Eastown Beverage team with a 738.

Elsewhere around the Genesee Region, Rick Saunders of Batavia finished with a 278 game and 775 series in the Turnbull Heating Triples League at Mancuso's, while Rob Husted of Bergen posted a 258 game and 771 series in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

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

Scott Gibson rolled a 300 game this past week in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl -- the first at the Bergen bowling center after several perfect games at the former Scopano's Lanes in his hometown of Oakfield.

The 55-year-old right-hander started with 12 strikes in a row on lanes 1-2 before posting games of 231 and 199 for a 730 series. He is averaging 220 in the league after posting a 223 average last season.

In other action, Tony Sprague of Batavia fired a 299 game on Sunday in the T.F. Brown's Adult-Child League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

Last season, Sprague, 18, rolled a 300 game as a youth bowler at Medina Lanes. He now is bowling as an adult.

For more high scores around the Genesee Region, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

Jake Rosenbeck of Medina, bowling in just his third scratch singles event, captured the 67^th Genesee Region USBC Scratch Memorial Tournament on Sunday with a 233-212 victory over top-seeded Matt Balduf of Batavia.

Rosenbeck, a strong right-hander with a high-powered release, struck on six of his last eight deliveries – including three strikes in the 10^th frame – to close out Balduf for the $600 first prize.

Balduf was the tournament’s high qualifier with an 893 four-game series on Sunday morning, and followed that up with an 882 four-game series in the semifinals to earn the No. 1 seed. He earned $340.

The two-day tournament at Perry Bowling Center drew 58 entries – up from 37 when it was held at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion last year. Thirteen of the bowlers – five from the Saturday 12:30 p.m. squad, four from the Saturday 4 p.m. squad and four from the Sunday 10 a.m. squad -- advanced to the semifinals.

Rosenbeck, 34, a manufacturing group leader at General Motors in Rochester, qualified off the Saturday 12:30 p.m. squad with 859 for four games and then posted 778 in the semifinals to earn the No. 3 seed for the five-bowler stepladder finals.

In the first match, four-time champion Scott Culp of Honeoye Falls defeated 18-year-old Dennis Van Duser of Perry, 231-170, before dropping a 209-185 decision to Rosenbeck.

Rosenbeck then knocked off second-seeded Brady Weber of Perry, 224-186, before meeting Balduf in the title match.

The 25-year-old Weber, who rolled a 275 final game in the semifinals to advance, won $260, while defending champion Culp, 42, pocketed $225 and Van Duser won $200.

He said he was expecting a challenging oil pattern – which it was – and had the mindset to not give away the 1-3 pocket and pick his spares.

“I knew that it was going to be a tough condition out there – as it should be for a scratch tournament -- and I was just trying to make my spares – fill the frames,” Rosenbeck said. “I figured that being on the plus side of 800 after four games would put me in a pretty good spot.”

Using a Roto-Grip Halo throughout the tournament, he played around the third arrow, staying behind the ball for maximum forward revolutions.

“My game is up and in -- not to covering a lot of boards – and that’s where I get my best carry,” he said. “The big hook is not my game. I try to stay behind the ball and not get around it too much.”

The stepladder finals featured a variety of styles – Rosenbeck staying behind the ball; Balduf off the side more; Weber utilizing the contemporary pro release; Culp as the prototypical power player; and Van Duser, a two-hander.

Rosenbeck competed in the tournament last year, but didn’t make the cut. He finished in second place two years ago in the GRUSBC Masters at (then) Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield.

He and his wife, Kayla, have a son, Henry, almost 2, and are expecting another child in April. He bowls in the Thursday Firefighters League at Medina Lanes.

Balduf, 52, registered several big games, including 253 in qualifying (his 893 was good for a $25 bonus) and 259 and 269 in the semifinals.

Geoff Harloff of Batavia, the leader of the Saturday 4 p.m. squad with 872, fell one pin short of tying Van Duser and Culp for the fourth and fifth spots in the stepladder finals – shooting 771 in the semis. He earned $130.

Mickey Hyde of Le Roy placed seventh at 765 in the semifinal round and won $120.

Other cashers were Brian Weber of Perry, $110; Mike Pettinella of Batavia, $105; Mike Johnson of Batavia, $100; Don Parrott of Warsaw, $95; Chris Huntz of Castile, $90, and Kevin Reigle of Elba, $90.

For tournament statistics, go to www.bowlgr.com.

The Genesee Region USBC Masters is scheduled for Feb. 13-14 at Letchworth Pines in Portageville.

Photo: From left, Jake Rosenbeck, Matt Balduf, Brady Weber, Scott Culp and Dennis Van Duser. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

Update 6 p.m.:The 12:30 p.m. squad is currently full at 28 bowlers.

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Press release:

The Genesee Region USBC is kicking off the new year with the 67th Scratch Memorial Tournament on Saturday and Sunday at Perry Bowling Center.

The singles event features three four-game qualifying squads -- 12:30 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday -- followed by the semifinals and finals on Sunday afternoon. Entry fee is $55 ($50 for reentry).

Currently, 24 bowlers are signed up for the first squad, which means that four openings remain. Plenty of openings are available on the other two squads.

One in five bowlers from each squad (rounding up) will advance to the four-game semifinals. Bowlers with the top five semifinal scores will advance to the stepladder finals.

The top 60-and-over bowler not making the cut will advance to the semifinals unless a 60-and-over makes the cut outright.

To enter, contact Mike Pettinella, GRUSBC association manager, at: mikep@bowlgr.com or at (585) 861-0404.

Batavians Paul Spiotta and Kyle Kraus flirted with 300 games this week, reaching 10 strikes in a row before being stopped despite putting the ball in the 1-3 pocket on the 11th delivery.

Competing against each other in the Turnbull Heating Triples League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, both right-handers rolled 289 games -- with the 63-year-old Spiotta's coming in the third game to cap a league-high 775 series and the 35-year-old Kraus' coming in the first game en route to a 694 series.

Spiotta (who posted 238-248 in the first two games) was stymied by a stubborn 7-pin while Kraus (who finished with 231-174) left a 4-pin.

Also in the league, Chris Bailey of Le Roy finished with a 273 game for a 736 series.

Note: The three-person team league has an opening for one team when it begins its second half on Jan. 5. Call Mancuso's at 343-1319 for details. 

Elsewhere around the Genesee Region USBC, Rodney Jopson kept the hot hand with 277--741 in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, where he is aveaging 231, and Tony Sprague made it two straight 700 series with a 750 effort in the T.F. Brown's Adult-Child League at Mancuso's.

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

SCRATCH MEMORIAL IS NEXT WEEKEND

The 67th GRUSBC Scratch Memorial Tournament is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Perry Bowling Center.

Squad times for the singles tournament are 12:30 and 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday, with the semifinals and finals to follow.

Entry fee is $55 and first place, based on 72 entries, is $800. To enter, contact Mike Pettinella at (585) 861-0404 or by email at: mikep@bowlgr.com.

Press release from Genesee Region USBC:

Mickey Hyde of Le Roy was a model of consistency on Sunday as he captured the Genesee Region USBC Senior Masters Bowling Tournament for the second straight year, this time at his hometown Legion Lanes.

Hyde pocketed the $250 first-place check along with a plaque and paid entry to next month’s GRUSBC Scratch Memorial Tournament with a 200-184 victory over Batavian Mike Pettinella in the title match.

The 54-year-old right-hander, manager of Tompkins Bank of Castile in Le Roy, won the 2019 event at Mount Morris Lanes.

Pettinella, a two-time GRUSBC Senior Masters champion (2007 and 2011), earned $150 for placing second.

Hyde led the three-game qualifying round with a 626 score, one of only five series of 600 or better on challenging lane conditions.

He went on to post 466 in the 12-bowler, two-game second round and then rolled a 181 game in the six-bowler, one-game semifinals to earn the No. 1 seed in the three-bowler stepladder finals based on his six-game total.

Six of the 12 bowlers advanced in the second round and three of the six remaining bowlers advanced in the semifinals.

In the title match, Hyde doubled in the eighth and ninth frame to secure the victory after a pocket split in the eighth frame hurt Pettinella’s chances.

“I thought the shot was very tough but it was really fair, and there was less oil than normal,” said Hyde, who is the secretary of the Thursday night American Legion Men’s League in Le Roy. “It was fair because you were penalized if you missed your mark.”

He said he used a Hammer Black Widow ball during the qualifying round and a Black Hammer urethane ball for the second round and finals.

“I liked my chances because I knew it wasn’t going to be a carry contest and you had to be able to pick your corner pins,” he said. “It was a nice surprise to win and thanks to Paul Spiotta for running a great tournament.”

Pettinella qualified in the 10^th position with a 563 series but then posted 418 in the second round (to capture the sixth and final spot) and 224 in the semifinals – the only bowler of the six to hit the 200 mark.

In the opening match of the finals, the second-seeded Pettinella, a GRUSBC Hall of Famer, defeated No. 3 seed Brett Van Duser of Perry, 202-192, with Van Duser being victimized by a split in the 10^th frame.

Van Duser won $100 for his third-place finish.

Other cashers were as follows:

John Lowe of Le Roy, Rick Pernicone of Dansville (who had the high second-round score of 499), and Al Vlietstra of Geneseo, $70 each.

Spiotta of Batavia, Matt Balduf of South Byron, Jim Pursel of Batavia, Mike Johnson of Batavia, John LaGeorge of Retsof, Paul Bacon of Lockport, $50 each.

Mike Kime of Honeoye Falls, $35 (lost to Van Duser in a one-game rolloff after tying for the 12^th and final qualifying spot).

The tournament drew 34 entries.

Submitted photo -- Mike Pettinella, left, and Mickey Hyde.

ALBION DUO WINS NO-TAP EVENT

Bill Logan and Jim Passarell of Albion combined for a 1,725 score with handicap to win the first GRUSBC No-Tap Doubles Tournament on Saturday at Medina Lanes.

Logan rolled 890 and Passarell had 820 for 1,710 scratch in the event, which awards a strike for a first ball of nine or 10 pins. The victory was worth $320.

Seven other teams (out of the 33 entries) cashed as follows:

Kyle and Mike Johnson, Batavia – 1,596 -- $220;

Chase Cone, Bergen, and Josh Elliott, Attica – 1,592 -- $160;

Tom Rohl, Le Roy, and Mark Brown, Attica – 1,586 -- $130;

Samantha and Mickey Hyde, Le Roy – 1,576 -- $120;

John Wolff and Bill Neubert, Batavia – 1,571 -- $110;

Gary Kuchler, Batavia, and Frank Jarkiewicz, Byron – 1,569 -- $100;

Paul Bacon, Lockport, and Derek Leach, Batavia – 1,567 -- $90.

TWO ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENTS IN JANUARY

Three GRUSBC tournaments are on next month’s schedule:

-- Jan. 2-3, Scratch Memorial at Perry Bowling Center;

-- Jan. 9-10. Adult-Junior at Mount Morris Lanes;

-- Jan. 23-24, Youth Team at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

For more information, go to www.bowlgr.com.

Youth bowlers stole the spotlight in Genesee Region USBC league bowling action this week.

In the Saturday Junior Mixers League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, 13-year-old Ryleigh Culver put together games of 266, 247 and 238 for a 751 series -- his first USBC-certified 700 series.

Bowling on lanes 5-6, the Medina right-hander had no open frames over the three games using two new 15-pound bowling balls he got as early Christmas presents from his dad and grandfather -- the Storm Axiom and Roto-Grip Hustle.

In the T.F. Brown's Adult-Child League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, 18-year-old Tony Sprague of Batavia fired 268-224-255--747 to lead all bowlers.

And in the Genesee Region Youth Travel League today at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, 15-year-old Gavin Baney of Holley finished with a 278 game for a 729 series to lead the Oak Orchard Bowl tream over Oak Orchard Bowl II by a 26.5-1.5 margin. His first two games were 221 and 230.

Teammate Jesse Keller chipped in with a 649 series, his best three-game set ever.

In adult competition, William Yates of Churchville rolled a 299 game and 760 series to lead the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl. 

The 64-year-old right-hander left an 8-pin on a light hit on the final ball.

In the Turnbull Heating Triples League at Mancuso's, Nate Cordes of Batavia started with 266 and 287 en route to a 763 series. 

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

Jeremy Vallance of Batavia doubled his pleasure on the bowling lanes this week, registering a 300 game, 290 game and two outstanding three-game series while competing in two leagues at Mancuso Bowling Center.

The 43-year-old right-hander began the week with a 290-236-258--784 effort in the Mancuso Real Estate Monday Doubles League -- using a Storm Crux Prime ball for his highest series ever -- and followed that up with a 300-214-262--776 performance in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 5-Man League -- using a DVD Turmoil. The perfect game is his third United States Bowling Congress-certified 300.

An employee of Summit Lubricants in Batavia, Vallance, a bowler for more than 30 years, raised his average ot 231 in the Monday league.

Vallance was one of several Genesee Region USBC bowlers who put up gaudy numbers over the past seven days.

• Frank Jarkiewicz of Byron notched his first certified 300 game in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, posting 258-300-213 for a 771 series on lanes 3-4.. A furniture delivery driver for W.B. Mason, the 50-year-old righty used a Brunswick Melee Jab bowling ball.

• Laurie Morgante of Bergen fired a 258 game and 716 series to lead the way in the Wednesday Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl.

• Mike Pettinella of Batavia had games of 276 and 269 in a 772 series in the Turnbull Heating Triples League at Mancuso's, using the just-released MOTIV Fatal Venom ball to raise his average to 234.

• Mark Brown of Attica finished with a 290 for a 762 series in the Toyota of Batavia league, while Rich Wagner of Batavia and Rick Underhill of Batavia each recorded 731 series while Mark Bisig of Le Roy rolled 731.

• In senior league action at Gates Bowl in Rochester, Kevin Gray Sr. of Honeoye Falls, a GRUSBC member, notched a 300 game on Thursday, his seventh.

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

Two Genesee Region USBC tournaments are on this weekend's schedule -- a handicap no-tap doubles at Medina Lanes and the Senior Masters at Legion Lanes in Le Roy. Also, the GR Youth Travel League will be bowling on Sunday afternoon at Rose Garden Bowl.

For more information, go to the Genesee Region USBC website.

Four bowlers came oh so close to 300 games and 800 series last week in Genesee Region USBC league bowling action.

At Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, 22-year-old James Townsend and GRUSBC Hall of Famer Fred Gravanda each recorded 299 games with Townsend leaving a wobbly 4-pin and Gravanda leaving a solid 10-pin on their final balls.

Townsend came within 15 pins of an 800 series -- adding 232 and 254 for 785 -- while Gravanda finished with a 714 series.

At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, William Wood rolled a 298 game, being stymied by a 7-10 split on the final ball. Still, he finished with a 734 series.

At Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, Robbie Hanks, who posted a 300 game the previous week, put together games of 268-278-245 for a 791 series in the Sneezy's Monday Night League.

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