By BILL SNIER
KENT — To say Field lapped the field in defending its OHSAA Northeast District Division II Tri-County sectional boys title would be an understatement.
After putting up 3,857 total pinfall a year ago at Spins Bowl Kent to claim their first sectional title in only their second season of high school bowling, the Falcons finished Friday with an amazing 4,458 at the same venue to earn their second straight title by 404 pins.
Field did it mostly during the six Baker System games, shooting 1,477, an average of 246.16, with a high of 280 and a low game of 221.
The Falcons will lead four teams and the four top iindividuals who were not members of those teams to the 10 a.m. Feb. 20 Northeast District tournament at Rebman Recreation in Lorain.
Joining the Falcons, who shot 601 pins higher than in 2025 to claim the 2026 title, will be Triway (4,054), Akron Springfield (4,017) and Lake Center Christian (3,871), which will be making its first team district appearance.
The Spartans rallied over their final four Baker games — averaging 230 with a high of 276 in Game 3 — to hold their spot in the top four after sitting just 11 pins into the cut after the three regular games.
Teams bowled three regular team games and six Baker System game during the event, with each team being on its own pair of lanes. Each moved after each regular game and after every two Baker games.
Lake Center Christian, which missed the cut to the top four by just four pins a year ago even though then juniors Tristan Roberts and Zeke Conley moved on as individuals, shot 213 and 200 its final two Baker games to earn the final spot by 22 pins over Rootstown. The Tigers were 64 pins out of the cut heading into the final two Baker System games.
Junior Peyton Hover led the Falcons with a tourney-high 743 series, with sophomore Benny Frampton adding 641. There were just two 600 series shot a year ago in this event; 11 finished over 600 this season, including a pair of 700 series.
Junior Daniel Holmes led Triway with a 613 series and junior Luke Carey added 595. Roberts topped Lake Center with 694 and Conley had 538. Sophomore Nathan Meyer was high for Springfield with 681 and freshman Dylan Wilson contributed 580.
INDIVIDUALS MOVE ON
Although Rootstown fell short as a team, the Rovers will be sending two individuals to districts in senior Caleb Stevens (707) and junior Tycho Smock (617), who earned the final spot by two pins over Woodridge’s Erick Ayala (615).
Also advancing are Canton South senior Derick Fowler-Keagy (635) and United Local senior Josh Hawkins (620).
The Division II Tri-County girls sectional is at 10 a.m. Monday also at Spins Bowl Kent. Again, the top four teams and individuals not on those teams will earn district berths.
NOTEBOOK: Stevens posted the day’s high game of 280 and Holmes had 263. … Defending sectional individual champ Rylan Slusser of Springfield shot 537 Friday to finish 22nd overall, but the Spartans advanced as a team this season. … Tickets for both sectional and district tournaments can only be purchased on line at https://www.ohsaa.org/tickets Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. No cash will be accepted at the door. … About 130 tickets were sold for Friday’s event.
