By BILL SNIER
NORTH CANTON — TJ Charles was the No. 1 overall pick as the Northeast Ohio Travel League held its 36th annual player draft Saturday at Park Centre Lanes.
League president Joe Altimore III, who had that first overall selection, said there were 43 applicants for the 16-team trio league’s 32 open positions.
The order for the first round was determined based on each team captain’s 2023-24 league average (lowest picking first), with the second round determined on the combination of the captain’s average along with that of his first-round selection.
Charles led the league in average this season (237.05) and was named both the Ed Limbach Sportsman of the Year and Andy Lillo Most Valuable Player — the first player in the league’s history to earn both honors.
“He’s just a great guy. Obviously watching him throw a bowling ball is just crazy. He’s so strong,” Altimore said. “He doesn’t miss very often.”
Other players picked in the top five included Sean Rich, Justin McIlvain, Jordan Norris and recent Louisville High School graduate Michael Emerick Jr.
But Altimore wanted to make something clear to those draft applicants who were not selected.
Be ready to be called during the season.
“They are critical to our league. They are part of the pool that we pull our substitutes from and that’s kind of a big deal,” Altimore said. “We want to make sure that, if they are called, it’s a great opportunity for them because the captain gets to see you and what you are capable of doing.
“They get to see your temperament, if you are a cheerleader or a ho-hum kind of bowler or down in the dumps. It’s important. Unfortunately, things happen to players at the last minute and they can’t make it and the captain has an hour to find someone. We’re very appreciative that we have bowlers at the drop of of a dime that will step in. It’s huge.”
Eight bowlers who were in the league last season chose not to return; five, who bowled as subs, were drafted this season.
“We always lose players through attrition. Some guys find out Friday morning comes really early,” Altimore said. “There are a ton of guys we would love to have who are unbelievably great bowlers. But with work issues and the time, we understand that.”
The league again will operate with four four-team divisions and bowl on Thursday evenings, with starting times ranging from 8 to 9:30 p.m.
Altimore admits bowlers have questioned changing the league time or night to accommodate late-night issues.
“We would love to do that, but the bowling centers aren’t going to give us a Friday or Saturday for travel league on their big-money nights,” Altimore said. “We’re not on one of their peak nights, so we get a good rate and it makes sense.
“Unless you’re going to move to a regular-shift type of thing, pay more in league fees and cut your prize fund. It would be a mess. It just doesn’t work out really well. It’s not like other leagues on early shifts are going to take nights off when we go there. We can’t expect them to be here 30 times a year and take off three nights. Why give up their nights?”
The league’s list of centers will remain the same for the 2024-25 season, Altimore said.
“I do need to have some discussions with both Spins (Kent and Akron). Apollo 3 (former Turkeyfoot) is telling me they will be good to go,” Altimore said. “We had them on our schedule last season, but they kept having problems and were unable to open. Hopefully, they we be ready to go.
“We also hope to talk to Station 300. We were there two times last season when Apollo 3 was unable to host us. But the issue there is the Rock 107 league of 30 teams, and we weren’t able to get on the lanes until super late. We might want to go there before that league starts and maybe after it finishes.”
League problems also have prevented the NEOTL from using either AMF Hall of Fame or AMF Riviera Lanes, Altimore said.
“Ideally, we would like to have three stops at 10 centers, but it doesn’t always work out that way,” Altimore said. “Both Spins would like to have more dates. I’ve got a lot of calls to make.”
The eight centers used last season included Park Centre and Eastbury In Stark County; Wayne Lanes in Wayne County; Wabash Lanes in Tuscarawas County; Clutch Lanes and Sports Center, Station 300 and Spins Bowl Akron in Summit County; and Spins Bowl Kent in Portage County.
League fees will remain at $25 per week.
Going into its 36th season, Altimore also realizes new blood is needed for it to endure.
“I know personally that my days are numbered. It’s just a physical thing; mentally, my heart and brain are still in,” Altimore said. “That’s what I keep telling the younger guys. You are the future of the league.
“You may not be a captain now, but you’re going to be so just hang tight, Several of us are getting up there and I don’t know how much more we can do. I’m only bowling one night a week right-handed with my elbow. My arm feels like its 114 years old.”
Altimore said he is unaware of the league losing any of its main sponsors for 2024-25. That list includes Roto Grip, Track, Triway Lanes, Mulligans Restaurant and Pub, Poling Painting, Park Centre Lanes, WagRich Excavating, Storm, Fred Olivieri Construction, Eastbury Bowling Center, Integrity Aquatic, KS Machinery, Ace Mitchell, R.J. Flooring, Diehl Auto Group and Key Reality.
However, captains and players have the option to add individual sponsors for their teams.
“We’ve opened up the opportunity for teams to add extra sponsors to put on their shirts,” Altimore said. “Every little bit helps, and that stays with the teams so you reap the benefits.”
With rosters set, more work still is ahead.
“We’re happy with where the league is,” Altimore said. “But we have a lot of phone calls to make, and this isn’t a great time of year for that.”
NOTEBOOK: Last year’s champions, R.J. Flooring, will have a new roster, with captain Josh Haddad being joined by J.D. Jones and Chris Logan this season. … Only one woman was chosen in the draft, Kara Kutz, who was a member of R.J. Flooring’s 2023-24 title team. … The league also selected its division placements for next season prior to the draft. .. The league will begin play Sept. 5, with the schedule to be released at a later date. It will bowl for 30 weeks. … League officers for next season include Altimore, vice president Mark Suchan, secretary Michael Emerick Sr. and treasurer Bill Reese.
2023-24 NORTHEAST OHIO TRAVEL LEAGUE ROSTERS
(Captains are listed first)
American East
* Mark Suchan, Tony Wagner, Jason Gribble
* Richard Stoffer, Sean Rich, Scott Vandegrift
* Brett McCourry, Adam Kutz, Jason Fugate
* Jeff Mowls, Eric Long, David Mramor Jr.
American West
* Doug Rich, Ryan Trowbridge, Tony Sutcliffe
* Josh Haddad, J.D. Jones, Chris Logan
* Matt Frock, Kevin Schott, Jeff Alford
* Michael Emerick Sr., Michael Emerick Jr., Richard Elliott III
National East
* Gary Liber Jr., Jason Bogavich, Kara Kutz
* Eric Randazzo, Devin Stewart, Richard Elliott II
* Tony Confalone, Jordan Norris, John Randolph
* Jeff DiMarzio, Chase Barstow, Chance Mattern
National West
* Dustin Dingler, Justin McIlvain, David Randazzo
* Jim Fellows, Troy Wilt, Scott Hopkins
* Joe Altimore III, TJ Charles, Ryan Suter
* Bill Reese, Austin Reese, Louis Stansbury
(Team sponsors to be determined at later date)