NORTH CANTON — Newcomers performing in key situations was the theme of the day for the four team finalists during Saturday’s Stark County High School Bowling Conference Early Bird Kickoff tournament at Park Centre Lanes.
In the boys division, one team used a pair of freshmen in their first varsity action to secure a title against another team whose coach had just taken over the program less than a month ago.
And in the girls division, the defending Division II state champions were down one player due to a conflict and used a pair of seldom-used bowlers to accomplish their goal against a rival that also put a freshman and sophomore out for the first time.
But with fans back in the building for the first time in three years, Carrollton’s boys grabbed the title by stopping GlenOak in a five-game Baker System final 3-2. And Triway, with its whole team returning after claiming the OHSAA title a year ago, defended its tourney title with a 3-1 win over Carrollton.
BOYS DIVISION
During the boys title match, it seemed to come down to which team was bowling on the left lane.
The Warriors shot 192 and 219 on that lane to win two games; the Golden Eagles had 172 and 247 in their wins. But Carrollton made the right lane work for it with a 223-158 win in the finale.
“I really don’t think we did anything different on that lane the last game. They just decided it was hooking a little more, moved a little left and threw it slower,” Carrollton coach Dr. Greg Fair said. “It just all clicked for us. The other team was trying to do the same thing, but it didn’t click for them.
“You know when one bowler does something good in Bakers, and then someone else does something good, it all seems to snowball from there.”
The Warriors, the No. 4 seed following the qualifying round, stopped Hoover (2-0) and top-seeded Lake (2-0), in their earlier matches.
Fair cited a pair of freshmen — Noah Hudson and Jace Eckinger — for their contributions.
“We had three returning bowlers, but the two freshmen stepped up and made it a good day,” Fair said. “Our top guys started well and led the younger guys, and the younger guys went along for the ride.”
Kobe Green led the Warriors during qualifying with a 478 two-game series, followed by Bryce Taylor with 421 and Brant George with 408.
GlenOak first-year coach Jossett Petrick, who just took over the program in mid-October, said her team still is trying to figure things out.
“Some of the boys came to me and said they needed a coach. I told them I wouldn’t let them down, that if they couldn’t find anyone, I would do it. So here I am,” Petrick said. “The boys really worked well together. It was nice that none of them really played the same line so we weren’t burning a spot out on the lane.
“Everything just seemed to jell today. They picked up spares and they had great attitudes. It worked out well for them.
The Eagles were led by Alex Howard and Dylan Petrick, Jossett’s son, with 418, and Nate Davis with 412.
Petrick admitted her practices have been “kind of a hodge podge” early, blending varsity with junior varsity players.
“It gives them a chance to see things from a different perspective. We want to see their attitudes when they are moved to different spots,” Petrick said. “It’s nice to see how the experienced players step up to help the newcomers. But we’re still working on a routine that works for us.”
Petrick felt a lack of experience hurt her team in Game 5 of the title match after the second-seeded Eagles had swept Conotton Valley and McKinley in their opening matches.
“I think maybe nerves and a little anxiety crept in … they were trying a little too hard,” Petrick said. “But it’s something we are going to deal with as we get them into more tournaments and gain more experience.”
TWO IN A ROW FOR TRIWAY
Experience is not a problem for Triway, which returns its entire team following the Titans’ 2022 OHSAA Division II title. But the Titans were down one key player, Danielle Densmore, who was unable to participate due to a band commitment.
“We just grinded through it again. It’s like I told the girls, everything we do is geared toward the postseason,” Triway coach Corby Anderson said. “Danielle was not here, and that’s taking a 200 average out of our lineup.
“But we had a couple of girls who usually don’t get much playing time look good. One girl off of the JV team threw some great Baker shots for us.”
After winning its first two games, the Titans struggled to a 138 in dropping Game 3 of the title match with Carrollton.
“I told them we had to buckle down. In Baker matches, you have come in with the attitude that every shot is going to be the shot that wins a match,” Anderson said. “We kind of slacked off a bit in Game 3, and I told them we had to do it now.”
The third-seeded Titans topped Lake and East Canton, both 2-1, to reach the finale.
Emma Yoder led the Titans in qualifying with a 445 series, followed by Kennedy Finley with 391, Lindsay Miller with 365, Addy Meshew with 363 and Sydney Wile with 359 as all of Triway’s starters finished in the top 20 individually. Wile took Densmore’s spot while Allysa Luhring was a Baker contributor.
“I’ve talked to them, and they know what our goal is and that they have targets on their backs,” Anderson said. “But when we come to a tournament, we’re concentrating on what we have to do. But other teams are also concentrating on what we’re doing and what they are doing. You have to look at it that way.”
Carrollton coach Wendy Russell also had a freshman and sophomore in her lineup for the first time in a tourney setting.
“We never expect anything coming in. It’s just do the best you can, make adjustments and learn from it,” said Russell, who also guided the Warriors two a state appearance a year ago. “It’s the first time this group has bowled together, and they did real well today.
“You can see the team camaraderie is there, and you really can’t place that together. They have set a goal of returning to state, but my goal is to see them improve.”
Abby Natcher led the Warriors with a 425, followed by Aubrey Taylor (417) and Hailee Ulman (348).
Carrollton, the No. 5 seed, advanced after stopping another 2022 Division I state qualifier Green 2-0 before going three games to defeat North Canton Hoover 2-1. The two teams tied in Game 1 of the latter match, with the Warriors losing two-frame rolloff 28-27.
“The girl I had do the rolloff really didn’t want to do it, but I thought she was the best person for it,” Russell said. “But after that, I just tried to pump then up. Essentially, it was a solid game on both sides.”
One of many in the 36-team opening event to kick off the conference’s 21st season.
ROCKETS EARN TROPHY
But there still was one other trophy to be presented — for the top overall girls and boys champion combined, based on qualifying pinfalls.
In the closest race in the tourney’s history, Conotton Valley took home that trophy with 6,966 total pins, just five pins ahead of Triway (6,961), with Carrollton taking third with 6,776 and Lake fourth at 6,639.
NOTEBOOK
Individual champions were Lake’s Zac Abbott (494) in the boys division and Conotton Valley’s Mylie Galigher (460) among the girls. The top five individuals on both sides made up the all-tournament teams. … Triway’s Yoder had the high girls game — and top game overall — of 269. Lake’s Brady Tompot and Triway’s Brandon Rich tied for boys honors with 268. … Th conference’s 21st season kicked off Monday with regular-season matches. … The SCHBC wished to thank new Park Centre owners Angela and Charles Smith for their assistance in the event, and Frank and Mandi Testa of Ten Back Pro Shop for contributing a bowling ball to raise funds for the conference.
STARK COUNTY KICKOFF EARLY BIRD TOURNAMENT
(Saturday at Park Centre Lanes)
BOYS
Qualifying results: 1, Lake 3,815 total pinfall; 2, GlenOak 3,704; 3, Triway 3,657; 4, Carrollton 3,581; 5, North Canton Hoover 3,529; 6, McKinley 3,414; 7, Conotton Valley 3,394; 8, Lake Center Christian 3,164; 9, Canton Central Catholic 3,152; 10, East Canton 3,143; 11, Jackson 3,142; 12, Green 3,132; 13, Sandy Valley 2,999; 14, Perry JV 2,956; 15, Massillon 2,822; 16, Louisville 2,785; 17, Marlington 2,331; 18, Lake Center Christian JV 2,327.
Championship round
Quarterfinal matches (best-of-three Baker System): GlenOak (166-188) d. Conotton Valley (151-179) 2-0; Lake (237-150-216) d. Lake Center Christian (143-256-149) 2-1; Carrollton (237-207) d. Hoover (181-182) 2-0; McKinley (118-198-211) d. Triway (213-172-196) 2-1.
Semifinals: (best of three Baker System): Carrollton (206-219) d. Lake (159-138) 2-0; GlenOak (225-237) d. McKinley (177-175) 2-0.
Championship (best of five Baker system) Carrollton (156-192-169-219-223) d. GlenOak (172-145-247-158-169) 3-2.
GIRLS
Qualifying results: 1, Conotton Valley 3,572; 2, Sandy Valley 3,342; 3, Triway 3,304; 4, Green 3,205; 5, Carrollton 3,195; 6, Lake 3,024; 7, East Canton 2,868; 8, North Canton Hoover 2,790; 9, Perry JV 2,462; 10, Jackson 2,447; 11, Canton Central Catholic 2406; 12, Louisville 2,306; 13, GlenOak 2,298; 14, McKinley 2,289; 15, Lake Center Christian 2,283; 16, Marlington 2,021; 17, Massillon 1,944; 18, Lake Center Christian JV 1,812
Championship round
Quarterfinal matches (best of three Baker System) Hoover (167-203-155) d. Conotton Valley (199-176-134) 2-1; Triway (145-178-172) d. Lake (16-158-142) 2-1; East Canton (221-180-167) d. Sandy Valley (162-191-158) 2-1; Carrollton (157-162) d. Green (148-148) 2-0.
Semifinal matches: (best of three Baker System) Triway (163-166-180) d. East Canton (125-169-161) 2-1; Carrollton (201-200-172) d. Hoover (201-167-138) 2-1 (Hoover won two-frame rolloff 28-27 after Game 1).
Championship (best of five Baker System): Triway (191-205-138-177) d. Carrollton (177-182-182-161) 3-1.
Individual results
(Two-game totals)
BOYS
1, Zac Abbott (Lake) 494; 2, Brady Tomato (Lake) 485; 3, Kobe Green (Carrollton) 478; 4, Brandon Rich (Triway) 477; 5, Cole Hapstak (Hoover) 464; 6, Zachary McCutchan (McKinley) 460; 7, Bobby Brennan (Conotton Valley) 449; 8, Austin Crowe (Hoover) 440; 9, Nic Templeton (Lake) 434; 10, Angelio Pallotta (Green) 433.
GIRLS
1, Mylie Galigher (Conotton Valley) 460; 2, Haleigh Leggett (McKinley) 451; 3, Daphne Stuber (Connotton Valley) 446; 4, Emma Yoder (Triway) 445; 5, Miah Delaney (Sandy Valley) 427; 6, Delilah Williams (Conotton Valley) 426; 7, Marissa Perrine (Green) 425; 8, Abby Natcher (Carrollton) 425; 9, Madison Perrine (Green) 423; 10, Aubrey Taylor (Carrollton) 417.
