STRUTHERS — After hitting the practice pair to prepare for the title match, Perry High School boys bowling ooach Alex Lincoln was ready to make a change in his lineup.
“We kind of had a lineup set. We were going to put someone in who hadn’t bowled all day because he threw eight strikes in a row on the practice pair,” Lincoln said.
“But when we got on the title pair, they were hooking way earlier. So our lineup wasn’t even close to what we had thought about. But it worked out.”
Despite missed spares in the ninth and 10th frames of the deciding Game 3 of the best-of-three title match, the Panthers were able to hold on for a 188-185 win over North Canton Hoover on Saturday during the 15th annual Super Bowl Baker Blowout at Holiday Bowl.
After winning Game 2 185-165, the No. 2-seeded Vikings had missed spares in the second and sixth frames of the finale along with a 4-6-10 split in the ninth as the top-seeded Panthers gained the victory.
In the girls division, top-seeded Fairport Harbor Harding delivered four strikes to close Game 3 to gain a 2-1 win over third-seeded Boardman.
The event featured 15 Baker System games during the qualifying on the OHSAA sectional-district oil pattern before the field was cut to the top five for a best-of three Baker stepladder finals.
PERRY HOLDS ON
The Panthers boys finished with 2,995 total pinfall to earn the No. 1 seed by 93 pins over Hoover. Perry had games of 246, 237, 235 and 235 in four of their final six games before closing with 145 to top the field.
“We carried a lot, and it’s a good thing because we did not spare a lot when we didn’t carry,” said Lincoln, whose team has split two regular-season Federal League matches against Hoover and lost to the Vikings in a Muskingum University Invitational event.
“I think out of 18 Baker games we had one clean game. But we did have five games over 230 so we threw a lot of strikes, but didn’t make a lot of spares.”
Hoover lost Game 1 against Perry 209-199 as the Panthers delivered the last six strikes. But the Vikings delivered four strikes to close Game 2 to even the match with a 185-165 win.
“It’s just those darn spares. I really think part of it was nerves,” Hoover boys coach Austin Crowe said. “After all the practice we do, it’s nice to get on a pattern like this and get some games on it.
“But we can’t replicate this type of situation at our home place. The guys stayed with it all day.”
Lincoln said what happened in Game 3 showed how the day had gone for the Panthers.
“We would throw four or five in a row and then follow that up with a nine miss or a chopped spare,” said Lincoln, whose team has seen this oil pattern four tines. “We’ve gotten better in different aspects. One tourney, we do this well and this badly and the next one it’s different.
“Today, our spares weren’t that good, but we made a lot better shots overall going forward. If we can hit our targets, that’s half the battle.”
Lincoln saw an overall team effort from his team, with Kaleb Corrin at anchor most of the day, and solid play from Nick Harmon, Carson Pressuti, Nick Goebeler and Cameron Hervey at different points.
“It seemed like everyone I put in there threw the ball well on the first shots,” Lincoln said.
Crowe cited the play of anchor Chase Wensel, Austin Crowe and Jack Wells, but added the Vikings moved a lot of people around during the course of the day.
“We were switching guys in and out, but pretty much stuck with our main six,” said Crowe, adding his son was bowling with a thumb injury that had to be patched. “As we move on, I think we are going to do well (in tournaments) if we keep our nerves and our attitudes. We just have to stay calm and take what they give us. If we do that, I feel we have a good shot.”
But Crowe is concerned about his team’s slow starts on the oil pattern.
“Bowling Bakers is a little different because they don’t break down as fast. Once it breaks down, these guys get better,” Crowe said. “They do struggle on the fresh (oil) so we have to figure out something to get us out of the gate. As the day goes on, it gets better.
“But they made good shots when we needed to.”
During the semifinals, the Vikings fell in Game 1 247-187 before rallying for a 181-148 win in Game 2. Then, they threw eight strikes during a 254-177 win in Game 3 to stop No. 3 seed Canfield.
FAIRPORT ON ROLL
In the girls division, the Skippers 131, 135 and 148 in Games 12 through 14, but still gained the No. 1 seed with 2,542, 14 pins ahead of Perry.
“It was a solid day overall … we never fell out of first,” said Fairport Harbor Harding first-year coach Emily Eldridge, who was a member of the Skippers’ 2018 Division II state championship team.
“On the title pair, it hooked a little less than the practice pair, so we had to move everyone right so they could get to the pocket.”
Boardman, which had stopped Struthers (2-1) and Perry (2-0) to reach the title match, fell behind with a 200-177 loss in Game 1, But the Spartans rallied for a 220-172 win in Game 2 to set up the deciding Game 3.
In the finale, anchor Jillian Justinger struck out in the 10th frame to lead the Skippers to a 170-158 win, part of a closing four strikes in a row.
“We came here with the intention of winning,” said Eldridge, who also cited the play of Mackenzie Pilny. “The 10th frame got a little scary because I wasn’t sure Jillian’s first shot was going to carry. But nothing really surprises me about this team.
“The ultimate goal remains going to state.”
Boardman won its opening match by throwing six strikes to close Game 3 in a 2-1 win over No. 4 seeded Struthers. The Wildcats had advanced with three strikes in the 10th frame to stop No. 5 seed East Canton 2-1 after losing Game 1 232-118.
The Spartans got in a roll in their second match, rolling 211 and 227 to stop No. 2 seed Perry in two games as the Panthers had 157 and 148.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team. They grinded their way out all day,” Boardman coach Justine Cullen said. “Every team we faced was a tough matchup. We came on at the perfect time.”
Cullen cited the play of sophomore anchor Kaitlyn Greenaway, who seemed to strike out in every match to keep the Spartans’ hopes alive.
“She’s just a special bowler. She finished sixth in the state last year as a freshman,” Cullen said. “I’m excited because we are starting to catch fire at the right time.
“We had a couple of rookies and newbies getting their sea legs early, but you can see their confidence growing and their spare conversions are higher. We’re just really coming on at the perfect moment.”
And with sectional action beginning next weekend, the race to state is ready to begin.
HOLIDAY BOWL SUPER BOWL BLOWOUT
(At Holiday Bowl, Struthers)
BOYS
Final qualifying results (after 15 Baker System games): 1, Perry 2,995 total pinfalls; 2, North Canton Hoover 2,902; 3, Canfield 2,895; 4, Boardman 2,838, 5, Struthers 2,806; 6, GlenOak 2,776; 7, Canton McKinley 2,658; 8, Hubbard 2,604; 9, East Liverpool 2,482; 10, Austintown Fitch 2,474; 11, Jefferson Area 2,464; 12, Unite Local 2,408; 13, North Allegheny (Pa.) 2,335; 14, Lakeview 2,328; 15, East Canton 2,231; 16, Warren Harding 2,116.
Stepladder finals
Match 1: Boardman (213-188) d. Struthers (167-140) 2-0
Match 2: Canfield (214-215) d. Boardman (187-182) 2-0
Match 3: North Canton Hoover (187-181-254) d. Canfield (247-148-177) 2-1
Championship: Perry (209-165-188) d. North Canton Hoover (199-185-185) 2-1.
GIRLS
Final qualifying results (after 15 Baker System games): 1, Fairport Harbor Harding 2,542; 2, Perry 2,528; 3, Boardman 2,503; 4, Struthers 2,377; 5, East Canton 2,362; 6, East Liverpool 2,148; 7, Warren Howland 2,145; 8, Hubbard 2,144; 9, North Canton Hoover 2,042; 10, GlenOak 2,029; 11, Warren Harding 1,963; 12, Canton McKinley 1,928; 13, Austintown Fitch 1,875; 14, United Local 1,798.
Stepladder finals
Match 1: Struthers (118-157-171) d. East Canton (232-144-169) 2-1
Match 2: Boardman (148-151-215) d. Struthers (176-127-167) 2-1
Match 3: Boardman (211-227) d. Perry (157-148) 2-0
Championship: Fairport Harbor Harding (200-172-170) d. Boardman (177-220-158) 2-1.
Here are the complete results from the event: