Bowling

When some of the best scratch bowlers in Western New York converge upon Legion Lanes in Le Roy for the annual Ron Riggi Memorial four-person handicap tournament, you can expect fierce competition and high scores.

Last weekend’s 18^th edition of the tribute to the late LeRoyan was no exception as it took a 228 average per bowler to win the team event and just shy of a 250 average to claim the singles title.

Thirty-eight teams competed over the three-day tourney and when the smoke had cleared, the JLU team of Jeanette Sease of Brockport and Rochesterians Traci Spanitz, Rob Gustke and Steve Meyer claimed the $1,000 top prize with a 3,628 score (all scratch).

In singles, Matt Balduf of South Byron led the way with a 995 (again, all scratch) for four games – a 248 average – to win $125.

Balduf also was a member of two cashing teams – third place with Jim Pursel of Batavia, Mark Brown of Attica and Scott Culp of Honeoye Falls and seventh with his wife, Darleen; Ron Brown of Bergen and AJ Allenbrandt of Le Roy.

Other teams cashing:

-- Rob Sease of Brockport, Mickey Hyde of Le Roy, Norm Bialuski of Rochester, Ryan Kretchmer of Rochester, 3,610, $500.
-- Pursel, Brown, Kai Clark of Rochester, Josh Elliott of Attica, 3,560, $230.
-- Derek Leach of Batavia, Nathan Cordes of Batavia, Devon Leach of Stafford, Paul Bacon of Lockport, 3,486, $220.
-- Bob Vitagliano of Niagara Falls, Kevin Volker of Tonawanda, Pete Maduri of North Tonawanda, Sam Capizzi of Rochester, 3,485, $210.

Brown placed third in the singles event with 976 while Hyde was sixth with 968.

On Feb. 8-9, Balduf and Elliott teamed with Mike Johnson of Batavia to win the Nunda Fire Department three-person no-tap tournament at Letchworth Pines in Portageville, recording 2,465 for three games to pocket the $750 top prize.

They were followed by the Letchworth-area team of Bob Gelser, Ryan Nugent and Craig Barkley with 2,377 ($375) and the team of Elliott, Tom Rohl of Le Roy and Brown with 2,374 ($255).

Sixty-three teams participated and raised around $2,000 for the Nunda FD.

BATAVIAN PAUL SPIOTTA MAKES SUCCESSFUL RETURN

Veteran Batavia right-hander Paul Spiotta returned to the lanes this past Sunday after a 40-day layoff due to serious medical issues by cashing in the highly-competitive Tommy Kress 60 & Over Tour “A Better Choice Pro Shop” tournament at AMF Gates Lanes in Rochester.

Spiotta, 62, rolled games of 205, 246, 227 for a 678 series to place in the top 16 and advance to the finals of the event, which featured some of the best 60-and-over bowlers in Western New York.

He followed that with a 206 game in the first round of the eliminator finals, but missed advancing further by about 20 pins. Still, the Genesee Region USBC Hall of Famer earned $150 for his efforts.

Fellow Batavian Fred Gravanda (Spiotta’s cousin) fell a bit short from advancing but did grab the final cashing spot ($80).

Rick Jewell of Rochester won the $1,000 first prize with a 227-181 win over John Rosati, also of Rochester. Jewell registered a 300 game during the qualifying round.

The Tour’s next stop is on March 15 at Miller Lanes in Honeoye Falls.

ALBION YOUTHS CAPTURE GR TRAVEL LEAGUE TITLE

The Oak Orchard Bowl I team of Bailee Snook, Jesse Keller, Ben Lennox and Paige Snook captured the 2019-20 Genesee Region Youth Travel League championship in a three-team race that went down to the wire.

Paige Snook rolled a 563 series, Keller had 557 and Lennox 553 during position-round action at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen last Sunday to upend Le Roy Legion Lanes, 16-12, and move past the LeRoyans for the title.

Oak Orchard Bowl I posted a 129-95 record, a point-and-a-half better than Mount Morris and two points ahead of Le Roy, which held the top spot going into the position round.

Individual season leaders are as follows:

Boys
High game scratch – Dennis Van Duser, Perry, 277 (recorded on the final day).
High series scratch – Gavin Baney, Oak Orchard Bowl II, 708.
High game handicap – Baney, 310.
High series handicap – Baney, 867.
High average – Van Duser, 199.

Girls
High game scratch – Jillian Menzie, Rose Garden Bowl I, 237.
High series scratch – Menzie, 647.
High game handicap – Corinne Saluste, Mancuso Strike Force, 268.
High series handicap – Brooke Jarkiewicz, Rose Garden Bowl I, 733.
High average – Menzie, 196.

The travel league’s no-tap tournament and banquet are scheduled for March 15 at Mount Morris Lanes.

In recent youth league competition at Rose Garden Bowl, Menzie rolled a 279 game and 653 series.

The Genesee Region USBC Youth Doubles Tournament is set for March 7-8 at Oak Orchard Bowl, with squads at 1 p.m. on both days. To enter, contact Tom Fluker at 585-354-2199.

GENESEE REGION USBC ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT NEARS

Entry forms for the 14^th annual Genesee Region USBC Association Tournament are available for download from the association’s website – www.bowlgr.com -- and at association bowling centers.

The tournament is scheduled for March 20-22, 27-29, with the Team event at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen and Doubles & Singles at Legion Lanes in Le Roy.

Several teams have already submitted their entry forms to the association office. In fact, the noon squad on Sunday, March 22 is full at eight teams.

To make reservations, call 585-861-0404 or send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com.

Four other local handicap tournaments are on tap for this weekend:

Mount Morris Lanes – 21^st annual Bob Bertram Memorial 5-person no-tap, this Friday through Sunday and next Friday through Sunday. First place is $1,000 guaranteed and the entry fee is $125 per team. Call 585-658-2540 to enter.

Medina Lanes – 8^th annual Mark Wengrzycki Memorial 3-person no-tap, Saturday, with squads at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Entry fee is $75 per team and first place is $750 (one in six teams will cash). Call 585-318-4474 to enter.

Perry Bowling Center – Sonny Yencer 3-person, this Saturday and Sunday with four squads on Saturday and two on Sunday. Entry fee is $75 per team. Call 585-237-6358 to enter.

Oak Orchard Bowl – The Gamerz 3-person no-tap fundraiser lists three squads on Saturday, starting at 12:30 p.m. The entry fee is $60 per team. Call 585-589-6900 to enter.

By the way, Oak Orchard Bowl celebrated its 60^th year in business earlier this month.

You can find a feature story about Elsie Boring, who has bowled in leagues there since the center opened, by going to www.orleanshub.com.

BELMONTE WINS 2020 U.S. OPEN, COMPLETES SUPER SLAM

After a pair of subpar performances in TV finals the previous two weeks, Australian Jason Belmonte added the U.S. Open title to his unbelievable Professional Bowlers Association Tour resume on Sunday with a 226-201 victory over top-seeded Anthony Simonson of Little Elm, Texas, at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Neb.

The victory was worth $30,000 for Belmonte, who has a record 12 major titles and now has 23 career victories on the PBA Tour.

It also enables him to join Mike Aulby as the only players in PBA history to complete the Super Slam, which includes the U.S. Open, USBC Masters, PBA Tournament of Champions, PBA World Championship and PBA Players Championship.

He sealed the win over Simonson, a fellow two-hander, by converting the difficult 3-6-9-10 spare in the 10^th frame.

Belmonte had struggled on TV of late, having rolled a 185 game in a loss to eventual champion Bill O’Neill of Langhorne, Pa., in the finals of the PBA Players Championship on Feb. 15 at Wayne Webb’s Columbus (Ohio) Bowl.

O’Neill captured the title and $75,000 first prize by rolling two strikes and nine pins in the 10^th frame to edge EJ Tackett of Bluffton, Ind., 233-232.

This week’s finals of the PBA Indianapolis Open will be televised live at 8:30 p.m. Saturday on FS1.

The finalists for the show are as follows:

1, Jesper Svensson, Sweden.

2, Shawn Maldonado, Houston.

3, Anthony Simonsen, Little Elm, Texas.

4, Nicholas Pate, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

5, Tom Smallwood, Saginaw, Mich.

They say that “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” and that may be true when it comes to the various activities associated with the famed Las Vegas Strip.

But when you’re talking about the mega-tournament bowling that is a huge part of the Nevada city’s scene, good news travels fast.

Brockport’s Chris Bardol, a member of the Genesee Region USBC as a league bowler at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, enjoyed a profitable week in Las Vegas from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2 as an entrant in the 20^th anniversary True Amateur Tournaments national competition at the 70-lane center at The Orleans Hotel & Casino.

“The bowling and the brackets (side action) and the gambling were good,” said Bardol, the former three-time All-American at Robert Morris College who is celebrating his 32^nd birthday today.

Bardol flew into Las Vegas on a Tuesday and proceeded to bowl in tournament qualifiers and sweepers the next five days.

He bowled well enough to place first in the 35 & Under Scratch division -- earning a $5,000 check -- and to advance to the grand finals on Sunday with a chance to up that amount to a cool $25,000.

“There were five divisions and the winners of all five made it to the finals,” Bardol said. “From there it was just one more game, with the top score taking the $25,000.”

The other divisions were 189 & Under Handicap, 215 & Under Handicap, 36-50 Scratch and 51 & Over Senior Scratch.

Bardol said he averaged around 220 for nearly 40 games on challenging lane conditions throughout the week. In the grand finals, however, he posted a 180 game and finished in fourth place.

Still, he was able to increase his winnings from the $5,000 to $6,000.

Bardol said he also won an additional $3,000 in other events so, all in all, subtracting the $900 in entry fees and expenses, he flew back to Western New York in much better financial shape than when he left.

The TAT drew around 4,800 entries (spread across the five divisions) from the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Bardol said, noting that the overall champion, Rafi Shwartz, was one of 180 bowlers in one group that came over from south of the border.

Several other Genesee Region USBC bowlers competed, including Brian Weber, who cashed for $500.

LEROYAN TOPS FIELD AT SUPER BULL TOURNAMENT

LeRoyan Gary Brennan Jr. captured his first tournament title on Super Bowl Sunday when he defeated Scott Shields of Batavia, 180-178, in the finals of the Super Bull Handicap Singles event at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

Brennan, a 58-year-old right-hander, entered the tournament with a 179 average and proceeded to put together scratch games of 225, 201, 183 and 192 in the qualifying round. His 938 total with handicap placed seventh (out of 29 entries) and was good enough to advance to the match play rounds.

In match play, he upended Rick Underhill of Batavia and Chase Cone of Bergen, rolling scratch games of 201 and 179, to earn the right to face Shields, who was the eighth and final qualifier with 929.

Both bowlers struggled a bit in the title match but still went home with decent prize money, with Brennan earning $400 and Shields pocketing $300.

Brennan, a supervisor at Orleans Correctional Facility, said he doesn’t bowl in many tournaments – “only if it’s handicap and not on the first day of deer season.”

Other cashers were Devon Leach of Stafford and Cone ($120 each), and Vin Pontillo of Batavia, Mark Brown of Attica, Fred Gravanda of Batavia and Underhill ($90 each).

Pontillo was the high qualifier with a 1,003 total with handicap, a pin better than Underhill.

TONY SPRAGUE POSTS 685 IN ROCHESTER YOUTH TRAVEL

Batavian Tony Sprague put on an impressive shot-making display in front of the hometown fans last Saturday when Mancuso Bowling Center hosted the Rochester Youth Travel League.

The 17-year-old right-hander rolled games of 222, 220 and 243 for a 685 for the Mancuso’s team, which is in fourth place in the 10-team league.

In Genesee Region Youth Travel League last Saturday at Perry Bowling Center, Oak Orchard Bowl I of Albion moved within two points of first-place Le Roy Legion Lanes with a 20-8 victory over Rose Garden Bowl I of Bergen.

Le Roy, a 15-13 winner over Mount Morris Lanes, has a 115-81 record going into the league’s position round on Feb. 23 at Rose Garden Bowl.

Individually, Sprague had the high series for the boys with 597, followed by Trent Willis of Mount Morris at 591 and Dennis Van Duser of Perry at 563, while Emma Miller of Mancuso Strike Force led the girls with a 233 game and 576 series followed by Paige Snook of Oak Orchard I at 563.

FOX, CBS ELEVATE PRO BOWLING’S NATIONAL IMAGE

Fans of the Professional Bowlers Association Tour have to be pleased that major networks FOX Sports and CBS Sports have made a solid commitment to live broadcasting of PBA events.

In 2018, FOX Sports announced that it had acquired the television rights for the PBA Tour, replacing ESPN, and proceeded to give us 26 broadcasts on FOX Sports 1 and four on Fox in 2019.

That expanded coverage continues this season with six telecasts on FOX, the most PBA action on network broadcast TV since 1999. Plus, there will be 25 shows on FS1 and a total of 23 live broadcasts, the most in 12 years (up from 19 live shows last year).

Altogether, the 2020 TV schedule includes more than 60 hours of coverage.

CBS Sports Network’s contract with the PBA calls for the televising of 17 shows in 2020, including live coverage of seven PWBA stepladder finals in 2020, including all majors, plus four shows from the Intercollegiate Team and Singles Championships, the finals of all four divisions of the Junior Gold Championships, and the two title matches at the USA Bowling National Championships.

That’s a great deal of bowling on TV. Now, if the PBA can only find a partner to carry the PBA50 Tour, that would be icing on the cake.

Programming note: The finals of the PBA Players Championships will be televised live at 5:30 p.m. Saturday on FS1. A $1 million bonus will be paid if the winning player bowls a 300 game in the title match.

MEDINA PARTICIPATING IN UNIFIED BOWLING LEAGUE

Medina Central School once again is competing in the Unified Bowling League, which lists six matches in February (two of which have been completed).

The program consists of special education students bowling with general education students.

The schedule is as follows:

Feb.11 -- Akron @ Medina
Feb. 13 -- Medina @ Starpoint, Brad Angelo Lanes in Lockport.
Feb. 25 -- Medina @ Grand Island, Mallwitz's Lanes
Feb. 27 -- Medina @ Sweet Home, Manor II, Amherst.

The season ends with a "culmination event" on March 2 at AMF Airport Lanes in Cheektowaga..

Rochester left-hander Dan Vick showed once again why he is arguably the best bowler in Western New York as he captured the 42^nd annual Mount Morris Pepsi Open scratch singles tournament on Jan. 19 at Mount Morris Lanes.

The 33-year-old Vick, a former Rochester Institute of Technology bowling standout, made the flat 1:1 oil pattern look easy on his way to pocketing the $1,500 first prize.

In the four-game qualifying round, Vick posted a 910 total (227.5 average) to place second out of the 16 qualifiers – behind Rochester’s Mike Rose Jr.’s 917 – and went on to average over 200 in the finals, defeating Batavian Rich Wagner and Perry’s Brett Van Duser before topping Canada’s Dan McClelland, 219-187, in the title match.

Followers of the Professional Bowlers Association Tour may remember that McClelland, a former Canadian Bowler of the Year, finished fourth in the 2014 PBA Tournament of Champions.

Besides Wagner and Van Duser, Nathan Tackentien of Arcade also cashed at the tournament, which drew 87 entries.

In other tournament action:

-- Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia hosted the annual Curt Haight Memorial four-person handicap no-tap tournament on Jan. 18, drawing 29 teams. Proceeds from the event ($1,200) were donated to Genesee Cancer Assistance.

The team of Geoff Harloff, Tom McJury, Ed Doody and Scott Culp took the $600 top prize with a score of 3,291.

They were followed by the teams of Matt Balduf, Mike Johnson, Jim Pursel and George Beckman with 3,270 ($350); Jonnah and Tyler Whipple, Fred Blair and Judy Ward ($300); John Wolff, Steve Krna, Ron Lawrence and Bill Neubert ($250) and Sam Oddo, Alex Morris, Andrew Fowler and Chris Fowler ($200).

-- Le Roy Legion Lanes’ annual fundraiser – the Help-R-Hero’s four-person handicap no-tap tournament – attracted 37 teams last weekend and raised $3,000 for the cause, the most yet, according to Scott O’Neill, tourney director.

The top six teams cashed. The first three are as follows:

First place – Quiet Thunder (Blair, Ward, Whipple, Whipple), 3,282, $840. By the way, this combination has won and cashed in several tournaments this season.

Second place – Big Pocket (Mike Hackett, Ron Brown, Darleen Balduf, Sam Hilburger), 3,216, $580.

Third place – Sease (Rob Sease, Aaron Philp, Kai Clark, Dave Emler), 3,152, $320.

-- Two Genesee Region USBC bowlers – Bob Hodgson of Medina and Mike Pettinella of Batavia (this columnist) cashed at the Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour stop at Parkview Bowl in Rochester on Sunday afternoon.

Pettinella rolled 654 and Hodgson 641 during the qualifying round to advance but were eliminated in the first round of the finals, with Pettinella’s 205 missing out by four pins. Each earned $65.

Left-hander Gary Reynolds of Groton won three matches in the stepladder finals with games of 256, 246 and 233 to claim the $250 first prize.

The next event on the scratch singles tour schedule is the 3^rd annual Super Senior Championship sponsored by A Better Choice Pro Shop at 1 p.m. Feb. 23 at AMF Gates Lanes in Rochester.

First prize is $1,000 guaranteed and the entry fee is $70. The top 16 after the three-game qualifying round, including leaders of four age groups (60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75 & over), will advance to the eliminator finals.

To enter, contact Kress at 595-739-3097 or Kevin Martin at 585-355-7590.

The remainder of the 60-and-Over Tour schedule:

-- March 15, Miller Lanes, Honeoye Falls;
-- April 6, Pleasure Lanes, Hilton;
-- May 3, Brad Angelo Lanes, Lockport;
-- May 17, Sunset Lanes, Rochester.

SUPER BULL HANDICAP SINGLES SET FOR THIS SUNDAY

The T.F. Brown’s Super Bull Handicap Singles tournament is scheduled for noon Sunday at Mancuso Bowling Center, offering a top prize of $500 based on 30 entries. The entry fee is $45.

The format calls for a four-game qualifying round (just one round at noon) with one in four bowlers advancing to head-to-head match play (one game) until a winner is determined.

Handicap is based on 100 percent of 215, using last year’s highest average unless the current average is 10 or more pins higher.

To enter, contact Mark Brown at 716-474-7960.

GENESEE REGION’S 5-PERSON BAKER IS FEB. 8 IN GENESEO

With Batavian Paul Spiotta opting not to run the Masters scratch singles tournament this season, the Genesee Region USBC has replaced it with the first 5-Person Baker Scratch tourney, which is scheduled for Feb. 8 at Livingston Lanes in Geneseo.

A first-place prize of $1,000 is being offered, based on the maximum 32 teams. Entry fee is $100 per team.

Qualifying squads (max of 16 teams per squad) are set for noon and 2:30 p.m. Each team will roll five Baker-style games – where team members alternate frames – and one in four teams from each squad will advance to the finals.

It is important to note that the team average is capped at 1,075, using bowlers’ highest USBC average from either the 2017-18 or 2018-19 seasons.

For more information or to enter, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com.

LETCHWORTH PINES TO HOST NUNDA FD NO-TAP EVENT

On Feb. 8-9, Letchworth Pines is hosting a three-person handicap no-tap tournament to benefit the Nunda Fire Department.

First place, based on 40 entries is $700 and one in 10 entries will cash. The entry fee is $75 per team.

Squad times are noon, 2 and 4 p.m. on Feb. 8 and 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. on Feb. 9.

Contact Dana Cotton at 585-261-5799 to enter.

ALBION YOUTH POSTS 700 SERIES IN GR TRAVEL LEAGUE

Gavin Baney of Albion, a member of the Oak Orchard Bowl youth program, is still looking for his first 600 series, but he’s not too concerned about it after recording his first United States Bowling Congress-certified 700 series last Sunday.

The 14-year-old right-hander exploded for games of 206, 257 and 245 for a 708 series while competing in the Genesee Region Youth Travel League at his home center.

Baney raised his average from 151 to 168 with the big series and helped his Oak Orchard Bowl II team defeat Mancuso’s Strike Force, 21-7. He now has the league’s high scratch and handicap series (867) and high handicap game (310).

First place Le Roy Legion Lanes defeated Oak Orchard Bowl I, 17-11, to stay on top but Mount Morris Lanes gained a lot of ground with a 25-3 win over Rose Garden Bowl I. Josh Morris and Trent Willis paced Mount Morris with 596 and 571, respectively, while Jillian Menzie rolled a 592 series for Rose Garden Bowl I.

The league bowls again on Feb. 9 at Perry Bowling Center.

PBA ROUNDUP: RASH WINS; T OF C FINALS ARE FEB. 9

Sean Rash of Montgomery, Ill., posted his 15^th career title by winning four consecutive matches on Sunday, defeating top qualifier Ryan Ciminelli of Lancaster, S.C. (formerly of Cheektowaga), in the finale, 289-234, of the PBA Oklahoma Open.

The victory was worth $30,000 while Ciminelli took home $15,000.

The next stop on the 2020 Go Bowling PBA Tour is the PBA Jonesboro Open at Hijinx in Jonesboro, Ark. The finals will air live on FS1 Saturday at 4:30 p.m. EST. All preliminary rounds are being livestreamed by FloBowling.com.

AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn, Ohio, will host the PBA Tournament of Champions from Feb. 3-9, with the finals of the major tournament airing live at 5 p.m. on Feb. 9 on FOX.

Australian Jason Belmonte will attempt to defend his title. He is the career leader in major titles with 11, having moved past PBA Hall of Famers Earl Anthony and Pete Weber, who each have 10 major tournament victories.

The winner of this year’s T of C will earn $100,000. In fact, three PBA majors are offering 100 grand on top with the World Championship and Playoffs being the others.

The origin of what is now called the Genesee Region USBC Scratch Memorial Tournament is part of the legacy of the former Perry Bowling Association, which provided service for many years to bowlers in Wyoming and Livingston counties.

The scratch singles event continues today as a major tournament of the GRUSBC bowling association, an organzation of around 1,800 certified league bowlers with an expanded service area that also includes Genesee and Orleans counties.  But, as recent history shows, bowlers from the founding counties have been quite reluctant to let their neighbors from the north walk away with the first-place trophy.

Such was the case this year as high-revving right-hand Scott Culp of Honeoye Falls, a regular league bowler at Livingston Lanes in Geneseo, captured his fourth Scratch Memorial title on Jan. 5 at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

Culp, 41, has won three of the past four tournaments, while third-place finisher Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw was the champion in 2016 and 2019.

In fact, the last seven winners of the tournament have hailed from Wyoming or Livingston county. You have to go back to 2013 to find a winner from Genesee or Orleans county when the late Bob Foss Jr. (Medina) captured the crown.

This year, it was Culp posting a wire-to-wire victory as he led the qualifying round on Jan. 4 with an 888 four-game total and came back to lead the semifinal round on Jan. 5 with a 919 four-game total to earn the No. 1 seed for the five-bowler stepladder finals.

In the title match, he defeated the second-seeded John LaGeorge of Retsof, 215-174, for the $500 first prize.

LaGeorge, who won this tournament in 2001, pocketed $300 for placing second in this year’s event, which was contested on the Kegel Mercury 40-foot challenge pattern (qualifying rounds) and Kegel Route 66 V2 45-foot challenge pattern (semifinals and finals).

Defending champion Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw placed third, defeating fourth-place Scott Allis of Medina in the second stepladder match, 204-179, before falling to LaGeorge, 227-172, in third match. Gray also won this tournament in 2016.

Allis took the fourth spot with a 197-191 win over this bowling columnist in the first stepladder match, rolling a double in the 10th frame.

Gray won $250, Allis $200 and I took home $140.

Also cashing (in the top eight who advanced to the semifinal round) were Nathan Cordes of Batavia ($100), Brian Weber of Perry ($90) and Rick Pernicone of Dansville ($85).

The tourney drew 36 entrants.

Photo: Finalists in the Genesee Region USBC scratch memorial, from left, Mike Pettinella (tournament director), Scott Culp, John LaGeorge, Kevin Gray Jr. and Scott Allis.

MOUNT MORRIS PEPSI OPEN IS THIS WEEKEND

Some of the best scratch bowlers in Western New York and beyond will converge upon Mount Morris Lanes this weekend to vie for the $1,500 first prize on the 42^nd annual Mount Morris Pepsi Open.

Qualifying squad (four games) times are 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday. A “last chance” squad for those not qualifying is set for 4 p.m. Sunday, and the eliminator-style finals will begin around 5:30 p.m.

The entry fee is $70 ($50 to re-enter). One out of every five bowlers will cash. To enter, call 585-658-2540.

Legion Lanes in Le Roy is hosting the Help-R-Heroes 4-person handicap no-tap tournament on Jan. 24-26 with squad times at 7 p.m. on Jan. 24, noon and 3 p.m. on Jan. 25 and noon and 3 p.m. on Jan. 26.

First place, based on 40 teams, is $1,000 and the entry fee is $100 per team. Call 585-409-0459 to sign up.

SPARE SHOTS: MOUNT MORRIS TEAM SETS RECORD

-- Last January (Jan. 20 to be precise), the Toyota of Batavia team set a Genesee Region USBC five-person team scratch series record by posting a score of 3,580 in the league of the same name at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Well, almost a year later, the Medical Services team from Mount Morris went 30 pins better than that during competition in the Wednesday Night Classic League at Mount Morris Lanes.

Led by Dave DiSalvo’s 802 series, the team recorded 3,610 on scratch games of 1,200, 1,229 and 1,181 on lanes 5-6 on Jan. 8.

Fellow lefties Chad LaPiana and Bob Santini added 748 and 706, respectively, while righties Dan Shull and Steve Paddock posted 710 and 644, respectively. The 710 was Shull’s first 700 series at Mount Morris Lanes.

-- Word that Batavia High School has started an intramural bowling program at Mancuso Bowling Center has fueled (once again) talk that maybe BHS eventually would be able to field a team in the Monroe County League.

About a dozen students are participating in the bowling club, which will meet after school on Mondays and Wednesdays in January and February. Physical education teachers Teresa Morrill and Paul Pedersen are running the program.

The instructors said that the purpose of the program is to see if it can develop into a team that could compete against Rochester-area schools (hopefully starting next winter). It is a student-driven effort, with much of the impetus coming from BHS Co-Mayor Macayla Burke’s petition drive during her campaign.

-- Kevin Sass, owner of Letchworth Pines, completed his fourth year as proprietor of the Portageville facility and continues to promote his literacy program at area libraries.

Sass reported that he has reached out to public libraries in Castile, Warsaw, Nunda, Fillmore and Gainesville with the goal of inspiring students to read more. The incentive? Free game of bowling coupons to kids for every book they read, and a pizza party for classes that reach their reading goals.

He also is trying to get local schools on board, but so far as had mixed results.

Sass should be commended for his efforts in linking bowling – a family-oriented and lifetime sport – with higher education.

-- Finals of the PBA Hall of Fame Classic, the first event on the 2020 Go Bowling PBA Tour season, will air live on FS1 at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The tournament is taking place at bowling’s International Training and Research Center in Arlington, Texas, and coincides with PBA Hall of Fame ceremonies on Saturday night. Tommy Jones, a 19-time PBA Tour winner, and former PBA owners Mike Slade and Rob Glaser are this year’s inductees.

All qualifying and match play rounds will be covered live by PBA’s online livestreaming partner, FloBowling. For subscription and schedule information visit www.flobowling.com. Results also will be posted as they happen on pba.com’s Live Scoring feature.

Just reported:

Matt Slocum of Perry finished in second place in the annual Mike and Ruth Rose scratch tournament at Bowl-A-Roll Lanes in Rochester on New Year's Day.

"Strapper" (as he is known) lost by one pin to PBA member Jason Sterner, 212-211, in the title match, but still earned $1,000 for his efforts.

Sterner won $2,000, while Rochester's Dave Werner placed third for $500 and Buffalo's Pete Maduri was fourth for $350.

The tournament drew 250 entrants.

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For many years, Genesee Region USBC Director Jerry Davis has performed lane inspections as required by the United States Bowling Congress.

When he heard at the end of November that the USBC would no longer compel local association personnel to conduct these annual check-ups, his first thought was one of relief – not surprising, considering that crawling onto the lanes and pin decks to make sure everything is level and within guidelines is quite strenuous.

What the USBC’s Equipment Specifications Committee has determined – after collecting and analyzing much data – is that the current lane inspection process is not working.

“Very few centers actually meet 100 percent of the current specifications,” said Andrew Cain, committee chairperson during a conference call with the media last month. “At the end of our analysis of the data, it is apparent that the current model does not work, and our stakeholders – local associations, proprietors and technical consultants -- are guiding us to a better program.”

That program is a “tiered center certification” plan that will be fully developed over the next year, with final details scheduled to be announced at the 2021 USBC Convention.

Until then, bowling centers will have a grace period for two years -- no inspections necessary and no fees for inspections due for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. After that, all lane inspections will be performed by a national USBC inspection team.

Noting that the change is “quite the paradigm shift for us,” Cain reported that the USBC:

-- Will enlist a team of paid national inspectors that will be accountable to the national governing body;
-- Will publish the centers’ tier ratings (for example, Tier I, Tier II, Tier III) to get this information directly into the hands of membership;
-- Will not force proprietors to make repairs, but are banking on the owners’ desire to want to make the necessary improvements;
-- Will work over the next year to formulate operational details and “will make it the best it can be” prior to the announcement at the 2021 USBC Convention.

Some of the questions that came up during the conference call, which also included USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy and other USBC officials, focused on whether local associations were going to be phased out and what went into the Equipment Specifications Committee’s decision.

Murphy said there is no truth to rumors that the USBC is looking to eliminate local associations.

“We value our local associations and always have,” Murphy said, adding that the USBC has been proving that by offering Association Leadership Academy training for local association leaders at no charge.

Danny Speranza, senior director with the USBC Equipment Specifications team, said that “spot checking” was conducted by the USBC at nearly 4,000 bowling centers covering 85,000 lane beds in 2018 and at 3,300 centers covering 70,000 lane beds in 2019.

The outcome was that the USBC found a large discrepancy from the data reported by the local associations – and that very few centers met all specifications.

It is unknown at this time whether a bowling center’s tier ratings will be tied into bowler average classifications (regular, classified or sport), but that is a probable assumption.

Most local associations have their own inspection tools, which cost hundreds of dollars, and now are wondering what to do with them. That’s a question that Davis asked in communication with other Genesee Region USBC officers and directors.

The USBC is offering a buyback program to offset some of the cost for inspection equipment purchased since 2017, but that doesn’t help the Genesee Region USBC, which bought its equipment several years ago.

So, probably the best answer to that question is to hold on to everything for now and have the tools available for local bowling center proprietors that may want to check their lanes on their own or take tape readings to measure the amount and placement of oil on their lanes.

TWO ‘FRIENDS OF BOWLING’ PASS AWAY ON CHRISTMAS

Two people who had a positive impact upon the local bowling scene for many years have passed away.

Carmella “Millie” (Mortellaro) McVay, 82, and Henry “Hank” Valerych, 92, left us on December 25^th. It’s sort of ironic that they died on Christmas Day since they embodied such a “spirit of giving.”

Millie co-owned Joe’s Pro Shop & Trophies since 1975 (which is now operated by her son-in-law, Marty Hein). She always had a smile on her face and a plate of goodies on the table at the Ellicott Street store.

I remember fondly as she and her late daughter, Kathie, assisted the youth bowling program at Mancuso Bowling Center while I was the manager there, and worked tirelessly to churn out the trophies for all the participants.

She retired several years ago to a quiet yet active life, focusing on her loving family that included nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. And no matter where I would run into her, she always was ready to offer a hug and a good word.

Hank simply was the engine that powered the charitable giving arm of the Arc of Genesee Orleans, helping those with developmental disabilities by chairing the organization’s membership drive, and Bowl-A-Thon and bowling tournament.

An estimated half-million dollars were raised through Hank’s efforts, much of that through the Bowl-A-Thon. Like clockwork, Hank would travel to Mancuso’s and the other Genesee County bowling centers each year, explaining how the Bowl-A-Thon worked, signing the kids up, collecting the pledges and awarding the trophies to the top fundraisers.

He never pushed, but was very effective. His obituary said it best, “He was a quiet, gentle man, but a force for change, love and respect.”

Speaking for the bowling community, our heartfelt condolences to the families of Millie and Hank.

OAK ORCHARD TO HOST SCRATCH MEMORIAL THIS WEEKEND

Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw will attempt to defend his title this weekend as the 66^th Genesee Region USBC Scratch Memorial Tournament unfolds at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

Gray, 38, defeated Rich Wagner of Batavia in a battle of left-handers last year for the title at Livingston Lanes in Geneseo.

Also signed up to bowl is Kevin’s father, Kevin Sr. of Honeoye Falls, who placed first in the Christmas Eve (morning) tournament at Domm’s Bowling Center in Rochester. Kevin Sr. rolled 268 and 220 in qualifying and went on to win four matches for the $700 top prize.

Frank Jarkiewicz of Byron and Julianna Allis of Medina also cashed, with Allis’ earning going into her SMART scholarship account.

Qualifying squads are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday (and will be done before the Buffalo Bills game at 4:35 p.m.) and 10 a.m. on Sunday, with the semifinals and finals to follow. Re-entry is allowed.

The scratch singles event offers a $1,000 first prize (based on 80 entries) and features competition on two different oil patterns -- a 40-foot "Challenge" pattern during the qualifying rounds and a 45-foot "Challenge" pattern during the semifinals and finals.

The entry fee is $55. To enter, give me a call at 585-861-0404 or send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com.

TOURNEYS SET FOR CALEDONIA, ALBION, LE ROY, MOUNT MORRIS

Raiders Lanes in Caledonia, Oak Orchard Bowl, Mount Morris Lanes and Le Roy Legion Lanes will be running tournaments this month.

-- The 6th annual Genesee Region USBC Adult-Junior Doubles handicap tournament will take place on Jan. 10-12 at Raider Lanes. Squad times are 7 p.m. on Jan. 10, noon and 3 p.m. on Jan. 11 and noon and 3 p.m. on Jan. 12. The entry fee is $45 per team. Competition will be held in two divisions -- 12 & under and 13 & over. Contact Tom Fluker at tfstrikeforce@msn.com.

-- The 8^th annual Scott Whittier Memorial 3-person handicap no-tap tournament is set for Saturday, Jan. 11 at Oak Orchard Bowl with squad times at 1, 3, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Entry fee is $60 per team and first place is $600. Call 585-589-6900 after 6 p.m. to sign up.

-- The 42^nd annual Mount Morris Pepsi Open scratch singles tournament is scheduled for Jan. 17-19 with qualifying squads at 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 17, 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 18 and 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Jan. 19. Finals are set for 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 19. Entry fee is $70 ($55 re-entry fee). Call 585-658-2540 to enter.

-- The Help-R-Heroes 4-person handicap no-tap tournament is slated for Jan. 24-26 at Legion Lanes, with squad times at 7 p.m. on Jan. 24, noon and 3 p.m. on Jan. 25 and noon and 3 p.m. on Jan. 26. First place, based on 40 teams, is $1,000 and the entry fee is $100 per team. Call 585-409-0459 to sign up.

Sometimes in sports, defense is the best offense.

That was the strategy employed by South team captain Ed Doody on Nov. 7 at the 26th annual Karl Marth Cup challenge match at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Doody, as the home team captain, had the responsibility of selecting the oil pattern for the tournament against the North team, and he chose a 39-foot Sport condition.

Since the pattern was much “flatter” than the normal house shot, it took away bowlers’ ability to swing the ball to the right (or left for the left-handers) and watch the ball roar back to the pocket.

Simply put, the advantage moved to those who could play straighter on the lane and not to those used to covering a lot of boards.

As a result, scores were much lower than in past years, with many matches won with games in the 170s and 180s.

For Doody, it was a bold move for sure and caused a bit of a stir as it took the North team by surprise.

The maneuver worked, however, and the South (primarily Batavia-area bowlers) took control early and rolled to an 89-34 victory, based on points awarded in Doubles, Singles and Team events.

Previously, the North (primarily Medina-area bowlers) claimed the Cup in 2017 and 2018 – and had won seven of the last eight matches.

Individually, Batavian Jim Pursel received the Scott Wright Memorial Award by averaging 203 and dominating his doubles and singles matches while Doody garnered the Joe Trigilio Memorial Award for becoming the first participant ever to capture all of his points.

The North team still leads the series, 15-11, and I’m sure will be fired up for the 2020 competition at its home center -- Medina Lanes.

Photo at top: Members of the winning South team are, front from left, Nathan Cordes, Geoff Harloff, Steve O’Dell, Mike Johnson; back, Josh Elliott, Dean Cadieux Jr., Paul Spiotta, Ed Doody, Scott Culp, Kevin Gray Jr., Matt Balduf, Jim Pursel.

SEASE, KRETCHMER TEAM UP FOR LE ROY DOUBLES VICTORY

Rob Sease of Brockport and Ryan Kretchmer of Rochester defeated Rochester residents Brandon Iamele and Emily Notebaert to claim the $800 first prize at the Striking Effects Pro Shop scratch doubles tournament on Saturday (Dec. 14) at Legion Lanes in Le Roy.

Sease and Kretchmer qualified off the first squad with a 920 two-game score and went on to top LeRoyans John Lowe and Tom Rohl, and Buffalo-area bowlers Bobby Vitagliano and Matt Burt to reach the finals.

Iamele and Notebaert tied for the final qualifying spot on the second squad and advanced due to having the higher game.  They went on to beat Rochester’s Rick Zinone and Josh Curtiss, and Dan Keenan and Kyle Keegan to reach the final round. They earned $400.

The tournament attracted 29 teams.

GENESEE REGION USBC LISTS TWO EVENTS IN JANUARY

The Genesee Region USBC is gearing up to host a pair of tournaments on the first two weekends of January.

The 66th Scratch Memorial is scheduled for Jan. 4-5 at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

The scratch singles event offers a $1,000 top prize (based on 80 entries) and features competition on two different oil patterns -- a 40-foot "Challenge" pattern during the qualifying rounds and a 45-foot "Challenge" pattern during the semifinals and finals.

Qualifying squads are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 and 10 a.m. on Jan. 5, with the semifinals and finals to follow.

The entry fee is $55.

For more information, contact Mike Pettinella, association manager, at mikep@bowlgr.com.

The 6th annual Adult-Junior Doubles handicap tournament will take place on Jan. 10-12 at Raider Lanes in Caledonia.

Squad times are 7 p.m. on Jan. 10, noon and 3 p.m. on Jan. 11 and noon and 3 p.m. on Jan. 12.

The entry fee is $45 per team, and competition will be held in two divisions -- 12 & under and 13 & over.

For more information, contact Tom Fluker, association director, at tfstrikeforce@msn.com.

Tournament entry forms are available at Genesee Region USBC bowling centers or can be downloaded by going to the association website – www.bowlgr.com.

LEGION LANES, ROSE GARDEN BOWL TIED FOR FIRST PLACE

The Le Roy Legion Lanes defeated Rose Garden Bowl I, 20-8, to move into a tie for first place with the Bergen team in the Genesee Region Youth Travel League.

In recent action, at Legion Lanes, the hometown squad triumphed behind Aaron Leone’s 546 series. For Rose Garden Bowl I, Jillian Menzie posted a 593 series.

Oak Orchard Bowl I of Albion moved into third place, one point behind, with a 24-4 victory over Mount Morris Lanes. Ben Lennox led the way with a 231 game and 645 series.

Other high scores: Dennis Van Duser (Perry), 258 game, 605 series; Corinne Saluste (Mancuso’s), 226 game and 555 series.

The league is on a holiday break until Jan. 19 when it competes at Oak Orchard Bowl.

BELMONTE SELECTED AS PBA POY FOR FIFTH TIME

One for the thumb.

Australian two-hander Jason Belmonte captured his fifth Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year award last week and now is third in that category behind legends Walter Ray Williams Jr. (seven) and Earl Anthony (six).

In voting for other awards:

-- Mykel Holliman of Collierville, Tennessee, was recognized as 2019 Harry Golden PBA Rookie of the Year;

-- Bowl 4 Life founder Chuck Gardner of Charlotte, North Carolina, was named recipient of the 2019 Tony Reyes PBA Community Service Award;

-- Sweden’s Martin Larsen became the first international player selected by his peers as winner of the Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award twice.

The 36-year-old Belmonte dominated in 2019, winning the PBA Tournament of Champions for a record-tying third time and then winning the PBA World Championship to set the PBA record with 11 career major titles.

He also became the first player to reach the championship finals in four majors in a single season for the second time, finishing second in the PBA Players Championship and fourth in the U.S. Open to equal a feat he first accomplished in 2013.

Belmonte led the PBA Tour in earnings with $288,290 and points, and finished in the top five in 12 of the 18 tournaments he entered.

The four award winners will be honored on Jan. 18 during PBA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Arlington, Texas.

SPARE SHOTS: PBA LEGEND ROTH SUFFERS SETBACK

-- PBA publicist Bill Vint reports that Mark Roth, PBA and New York State Hall of Famer, suffered another stroke recently and has been placed in a long-term care facility in New York. Fans are invited to send best wishes through Mark’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook/com/mark.roth374? or send a card to Mark Roth, 821 Forest Ave., Fulton, NY 13069.

-- I have been waiting to report on a change of ownership at Medina Lanes (something that had been in the works since the beginning of this season), but word out of the Orleans County village is that any potential deal has fallen through. Earlier this week, Jerry Allen said that the ownership group that has been in place for the past several years is still intact.

-- In case you didn’t know, the PBA has a YouTube channel and currently is running a segment called “Friday Five – the worst breaks of 2019. To re-live an emotionally painful collection of five of the most heart-breaking tough luck shots of the 2019 Go Bowling! PBA Tour season, click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEnpOd9CHaI.

-- The Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour lists two tournament stops in January: Jan. 5 at Doug Kent’s Rose Bowl Lanes in Newark and Jan. 26 at Parkview Bowl in Rochester. In action earlier this month at Bowl-A-Roll Lanes in Rochester, Bob Hodgson of Medina and Bill Neubert of Batavia were among the cashers.

-- Mancuso Bowling Center is promoting a new doubles league for 6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 7 and already has a sponsor for the league – longtime bowling supporter Turnbull Heating & Air. The handicap league is set up to bowl 14 weeks (ending April 7), will be USBC- certified and will offer prize money to all participants. For those wishing to pick up another league or those looking for a way to prevent “cabin fever,” this could be the perfect opportunity. To sign up, contact Mike Sputore at 585-343-1319.

-- This is the final column for this year -- and for the decade for that matter. We'll be back with another edition of Pin Points on Jan. 2, 2020. Until then, to all my readers, have a Merry and Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year. Peace on Earth and good will to all men, women and children.

Brunswick’s purchase of Ebonite International last month was more than surprising to a Professional Bowlers Tour standout who has represented the Ebonite bowling ball brands for the past 26 years.

“It was such a well-kept secret and it was news to me as well. It definitely was a shock-and-awe moment,” said Jason Couch, a 16-time champion on the PBA Tour, speaking by telephone on Friday from his home in Clermont, Fla.

Couch, a PBA and United States Bowling Congress Hall of Famer, is best known for his “three-peat” in the PBA Tournament of Champions, winning the major tournament in 1999, 2000 and 2002 (it wasn’t held in 2001).

Ranked 10^th in all-time PBA earnings, the left-hander turned 50 on Nov. 8 and said he is gearing up to compete in the PBA50 Tour starting in April.

He also is trying to get his head around the Brunswick-Ebonite development that has resulted in the loss of many jobs and closed down the Ebonite plant in Hopkinsville, Ky.

“It’s heartbreaking, especially for the 171 people who lost their jobs,” Couch said. “That’s corporate America, though … merging companies and getting bigger themselves.”

Couch said the bowling ball industry is highly competitive as sales have fallen off dramatically in recent years.

“Sales have declined for quite a while now,” he said. “It’s not like the good old days. I think there were 1.5 to 1.6 million (balls) sold worldwide last year (down from 2 million sold 15 years ago). That’s not a lot, especially when you’re looking at eight or nine brands.”

As a result of the acquisition, Brunswick now controls the manufacturing of its Brunswick, DV8 and Radical brands as well as the Ebonite, Hammer, Columbia 300 and Track brands that previously were part of the Ebonite lineup. All of those balls will be made at Brunswick’s plant in Reynosa, Mexico.

The industry’s other major ball manufacturers – Storm and MOTIV – will continue to make their products in the United States.

Couch noted that he was set to take on a new role with Ebonite – as the company’s PBA50 Tour rep – starting Jan. 1 and is hoping that those plans don’t change.

“I signed on to supply balls on the PBA truck (to PBA50 members) and keep inventory for those four (Ebonite) brands,” he said. “But I am waiting to find out what is going on.”

He said that Brunswick may be hiring some of the Ebonite staff, and put in a plug for Randy Teitloff, Ebonite’s vice president of research and development.

“Randy is the lead chemist at Ebonite and I really hope that Brnswick offers him a position. Randy is fantastic,” said Couch, who also has represented Turbo 2-N-1 Grips and Dexter shoes since the 1990s.

Brunswick CEO Corey Dykstra stated that Brunswick is extending severance pay to the 171 employees until Jan. 13 and will be looking to add jobs in management, marketing and distribution -- and that bodes well from some of the displaced Ebonite workers.

With more bowling balls being made outside of the United States, MOTIV President Scott Wilbur responded to a request for comment from this writer by emphasizing his company’s mission.

“In light of this news, we continue to look forward to the opportunity to showcase our exceptional line of bowling equipment to those of you who may be looking to support a company and workers making great bowling balls right here in the USA,” Wilbur said. “We are one of the largest producers of balls exclusively made in the USA..”

On a local level, Brian Green, owner of Striking Effects Pro Shop at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, said he doesn’t see the acquisition “as a bad thing.”

“I think this turns into an exciting time if you are a Brunswick or Ebonite International fan,” he said. “I personally have had success with all the Brunswick brands and the EBI brands over the years shooting several honor scores with them all.”

Green said he is worried over the “very high potential to have a lot of bowling balls having overlapping reactions when you have seven brands made by one manufacturer.”

“But with Brunswick being the leader in coverstock technology, I really feel the sky is the limit as to what we may see on the lanes in the future.”

Brad Buckert, owner of Begin’rs to Pro’s in Rochester, said Brunswick should be able to “ramp things up” since both plants weren’t running at full capacity, but he is saddened by the move out of the United States.

“I personally don't like the fact that more industry is leaving the U.S. I don't want to get political, but I hate the fact that these will be made out of the USA and like everything else the price won't show the impact of the company’s lower costs and greater profits,” he said.

With the purchase, Ebonite brands now would be subject to re-approval per the USBC Equipment Specifications and Certifications Manual.

The manual states that if manufacturing equipment of a previously approved product changes locations, that product must be re-submitted for approval testing, and all testing fees shall apply, and that any ball model which has shifted manufacturing facilities must be re-submitted for approval testing, and all testing fees shall apply.

Footnote:

Thanks to Batavia native Ray San Fratello for setting up the phone interview with Jason Couch.

Ray moved to Clermont 15 years ago after a successful tenure as the president of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce. He served in a similar capacity in Clermont, as president of the South Lake Chamber of Commerce for 12 years -- helping the Central Florida community grow in population from 15,000 to 40,000.

I was able to catch up with Ray last week during a “magical” trip to the Orlando area and am glad to report that he and his wife, Carol, are doing well – and that Ray is working part-time as a support staff member for the City of Clermont.

He is a bowling fan, having developed friendships with both Couch and PBA Hall of Famer Norm Duke, another Clermont resident.

BROCKPORT LEFTY CAPTURES ‘JOE TRIG’ MEMORIAL

Jim Donk of Brockport defeated Greg Voytovich of Kenmore, 252-206, to win the Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour’s “Joe Trigilio Memorial” scratch singles tournament on Nov. 24 at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

Donk, a 66-year-old left-hander, advanced to the eliminator finals by posting a 630 series in the three-game qualifying round, and then added 215 and 259 to earn the No. 1 position for the four-man stepladder finals.

In the stepladder finals, Voytovich upended Bob Wiley of Victor, 258-194, and Wayne Potter of Shortsville, 228-185, to earn the right to face Donk in the title match.

The tournament, which attracted 44 bowlers, featured an appearance by Joe’s wife, Kathy, who presented the championship plaque to the winner, as well as special prizes donated by Batavia- and Rochester-area businesses as well as Mount Morris Lanes & Pro Shop.

Local bowlers who cashed were Batavians Gregg Wolff and John Wolff (no relation).

Photo – Kathy Trigilio presents the championship plaque to Jim Donk, center, as Tommy Kress looks on.

SOUTH RETOOLS IN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN MARTH CUP

South team captain Ed Doody has brought in some new faces this year as his Batavia-area squad attempts to knock off the Medina-area squad in the 26^th annual Karl Marth Cup challenge match at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mancuso Bowling Center.

“After a few tough losses, there was a lot of chatter that we needed some fresh blood on the team,” said Doody, a Batavia native now residing in Pavilion. “After consulting with members of the team, some very strong additions have been made.”

Doody said it was “difficult” to free up some spots on the 12-member squad, but nevertheless said he is confident that the 2019 version “gives us the best chance to compete against the firepower from the North.”

Additions include tournament tested Scott Culp of Honeoye Falls and Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw, along with three guys who bowl regularly (and consistently well) at Mancuso’s – Matt Balduf of South Byron, Josh Elliott of Attica and Nate Cordes of Batavia.

Rounding out the South team are Mancuso bowlers Jim Pursel, Geoff Harloff and Mike Johnson, all of Batavia, and longtime members Steve O’Dell and Dean Cadieux Jr., both of Oakfield, and Paul Spiotta of Batavia (the only person to participate in all 25 events).

Doody mentioned that one position opened this year by the untimely passing of South bowler Joe Trigilio, and said both teams are dedicating this year’s event in Joe’s memory.

Tom Allis of Medina once again is (non-competing) captain of the North team, which has won the past two years and seven of the last eight meetings. Overall, the North leads the series, 15-10.

Five other members of the Allis family are on the team – Roger, Hayden, Mike, Scott and Alex.

They will be joined by longtime North members Scott Gibson of Oakfield, Scott Shields of Batavia, and Aaron Verheyn, Jason Mahnke, Jim Foss, Mike Lavender and Rich Culver, all of Medina.

The participants will compete in Singles, Doubles, Baker Doubles and Baker Team events.

Dan Keenan enjoyed ‘to the max” a break from the toils of being a bowling weekend warrior by rolling a 300 game and capturing the 12^th annual Triple O Mechanical Singles Handicap Tournament last Sunday at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

Keenan, a 37-year-old right-hander, defeated Ricky Zinone, a 33-year-old left-hander, 227-225 in a battle of Rochester bowlers in the title match.

The victory was worth $370 while Zinone took home $190 for placing second.

“I really like the format (three games of qualifying followed by eliminator-style finals) and it’s something fun to do on a Sunday – on a house pattern – which gives us a little break from the grind,” Keenan said.

In becoming the 12^th different champion of the event, Keenan used a Radical Conspiracy Pearl ball for all seven of his tournament games – averaging a lofty 254 for the day.

After posting 258-268-238—761 in qualifying, he went on to roll 300, 246 and 244 before posting 227 in the final game.

“This ball allowed me to get through the fronts but have enough roll – not to flippy on the back end – and the right angle to kick out the 10-pin,” he said.

Still, he figured his efforts were going to fall short after finishing with 227 and seeing that Zinone, who rolled 737 in qualifying, needed a strike on his first ball in the 10^th frame to win.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it would be enough, especially against a real tough competitor in Ricky,” he said.

Zinone put the ball firmly in the 1-2 pocket but was thwarted in his attempt for victory when the 7-pin failed to go down.

Both Keenan and Zinone bowl in leagues in Rochester and are regulars on the weekend bowling tournament circuit that features the best bowlers from miles around.  In fact, both of them cashed in the Livingston Lanes Open on Nov. 9 (see story below).

While Keenan grabbed the headlines at the Triple O event, 66-year-old Ray Bardol of Brockport became another storyline with his performance.

Bardol, the former longtime proprietor at Brockport Bowl, made it to the semifinals – along with his son, Chris – by rolling 632 scratch (752 with handicap)  in the qualifying round and following that with scratch games of 173 and 212 (213 and 252 with handicap) to reach the final four.

He ran out of gas, however, in the semifinals – exiting with a 151 scratch (191 with handicap).

Ray had been sidelined with serious vision issues stemming from diabetes.

He is blind in his right eye and has macular degeneration in his left eye, conditions that forced him to look at an area on the lane, just past the foul line.  When he leaves pins standing, fellow bowlers inform him of what the pins are to help him line up properly.

The Bardols each earned $85 for reaching the semis.

Other cashers were Brady Weber of Perry (the high qualifier with 792), Rodney Jopson of Belfast, Bob Wiley of Rochester and Sam Capizzi of Rochester, $65 each, and Gary Kinyon of Lockport, Frank Jarkiewicz of Byron, Kevin Gray Sr. of Honeoye Falls, and Rochester residents Frank Fitzmaurice, Pete Pilaroscia, John Martorella Sr., Steve Meyer and Bill Stoddard, $50 apiece.

Photo at top: Tom Sardou, proprietor; Dan Keenan, Ricky Zinone and Mike Pettinella, tournament director, following the Triple O Mechanical Singles Handicap tournament on Nov. 17 at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

KIME, LAGEORGE, DAVIS COMBINE FOR ‘MORASCO’ TITLE

The team of veteran bowlers Mike Kime of Honeoye Falls, John LaGeorge of Retsof and Jerry Davis of Pavilion – all who have been involved in bowling center management over the years – took top honors at the annual Brian Morasco Memorial three-person handicap no-tap tournament on Saturday at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

The trio registered a score of 2,535 (845 per man) for the three games to outdistance the second-place team of Tyler and Jonah Whipple and Fred Blair of Rochester by 42 pins.

Kime, LaGeorge and Davis earned $200 each for their efforts, while second place paid $300.

Also cashing were Adam Philp, Brady Weber and Brian Cline with 2,456, $200; Alex Morris, Mike Johnson and Jason Quilliam, 2,426, $180; Rob Sease, Jen Schwaed and Roger Thaine, 2,416, $170, and John Lowe, Scott O’Neill and Sam Steffenella, 2,414, $160.

The tournament drew 38 teams and raised $1,270 for charity.

Sease was part of the winning team the previous weekend, along with Kai Clark and Mark Brown, at the fifth annual PAWS triples no-tap tournament at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

The trio shot 2,581 with handicap – 46 pins more than second-place Sidney Scott, Michelle Pierce and George Pierce Jr., and 95 more than third-place Tyler Hartigan, Alex Allis and Scott Allis.

Sixty-five teams generated $2,300 to benefit the PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion.

DAN VICK WINS $3,000 AT LIVINGSTON LANES OPEN

Rochester lefty Dan Vick, arguably the best left-hander in New York State, added another jewel to his tournament victory crown on Nov. 9 by winning the Livingston Lanes Open in Geneseo.

Vick registered games of 253 and 298 to coast past Dan McClelland of Canada and Jason Sterner and Matt Wallace of Rochester. McClelland and Sterner are PBA members.

The star-studded field included PBA member Brad Angelo of Lockport, PBA50 standout Brian LeClair of Albany and just about all the top amateurs from the Rochester area.

LE ROY TEAM ADVANCES BEHIND LEONE’S 685

Sparked by Aaron Leone’s 685 series, the Le Roy Legion Lanes team moved into third place on Nov. 10 in the Genesee Region Youth Travel League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

Leone posted a 255 game in the big series as Le Roy downed Rose Garden Bowl II, 18-10, to jump into the third spot – four points behind Rose Garden Bowl I and 11 in back of Oak Orchard Bowl I.

Other high scores for the week:

Boys – Dennis Van Duser, Perry, 627, and Tony Sprague, Mancuso’s, 601.
Girls – Emma Miller, Mancuso’s, 533, and Brooke Jarkiewicz, Rose Garden Bowl I, 518.

The next league session is scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 1 at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

To see the complete standings and individual scores, go to www.bowlgr.com and click on the Jr. Travel League tab.

MANCUSO’S TO HOST 60-AND-OVER TOUR THIS SUNDAY

A special tribute to Joe Trigilio, Batavia area bowling legend who passed away on Sept. 1, will take place during this Sunday’s Tommy Kress 60-and-over Tour event at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Joe competed regularly on the Tour, winning a couple tournaments and cashing numerous times. He became a popular member of the group, just as he was in the Genesee Region and throughout New York State.

Some local businesses have donated gift certificates that will be awarded after the competition, and I have confirmed that Joe’s wife, Kathy, will be there to congratulate the champion of this memorial event.

The annual Legion Lanes Scratch Doubles Tournament is set for Dec. 14 with qualifying squads at 1:15 and 2:45 p.m. First place, based on 32 teams, is $800, and the entry fee is $80 per team.

To enter, contact Penny Brown at 716-474-7960.

BRUNSWICK ACQUIRES EBONITE INTERNATIONAL

Another significant development in the bowling industry took place last week in the form of Brunswick’s acquisition of Ebonite International. The purchase transfers all assets of EBI to Brunswick and shuts down the Ebonite plant in Hopkinsville, Ky. – ending a 52-year business in that community and resulting in the loss of more than 150 jobs.

Ebonite brands include Columbia 300, Hammer, Ebonite, Track, Power House and Robby’s. Brunswick officials reported that they will continue to offer these products, but manufacturing will now move to Brunswick’s plant in Reynosa, Mexico.

Watch for more details – including reaction from local and national bowling industry personnel – in my column on Dec. 5.