Sports

The Byron-Bergen Lady Bees came back from a sluggish first half to beat Alexander 55-53 in girls basketball Wednesday night.

VanValkenburg scored 22 points, with 17 in the second half, to lead B-B.

For Alexander, Macie Riggs scored 15 points.

In my Jan. 18 column, I shared information about the reclassification of leagues by the United States Bowling Congress – the national governing body's analysis of bowler averages that could result in a “Standard (or House)” shot league being changed to a “Challenge” or “Sport” league based on data derived from bowlers who participated in multiple leagues during the 2016-17 season.

While I support the USBC in its effort to even the playing field when it comes to rating bowlers equal to their skill levels, I am not on board with the way the USBC handled a situation that targeted 704 leagues for possible reclassification.

USBC sent letters out of the blue to these leagues, causing a great deal of anger and confusion. This I know because I was copied on the letters from USBC to 39 leagues in New York State (and on several of the appeals from league officials that followed shortly thereafter).

What the USBC should have done was to inform its membership as a whole in advance about the process, letting everyone know that it had been studying averages from last season and that if a league had at least 20 percent of its members who bowled in multiple leagues, it could be subject to reclassification.

For the record, USBC’s research revealed that 99 leagues were statistically more difficult for bowlers with averages of 20 or more pins higher in a Standard or “house shot” league, which showed that those leagues were competing on “Sport” conditions.  It also found 605 leagues in which bowler averages were 10-19 pins higher in Standard leagues, which shows that those leagues were competing on “Challenge” lane conditions.

(Bowlers with league averages designated as “Sport” or “Challenge” are indicated as such on bowl.com, and are subject to using the conversion charts when entering leagues or tournaments bowled on “Standard” oil patterns).

So, instead of informing bowlers with a message on bowl.com and/or an e-mail blast that this was going to happen and of the appeal process, the USBC blindsided its bowlers (and this is not the first time). 

Only after witnessing the negative reaction from league officials for several days did the USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy then shoot off a letter explaining the rationale for its action and acknowledging that other factors could be involved in a league’s scoring pace (bad pins, faulty oil machines, inconsistent maintenance, etc.), before ending with “I hope this letter helps you understand what is going on.”

Talk about shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted!

To date as a result of appeals, the USBC has decided not to change many of the 700 leagues that were targeted. In New York, at least 22 of the 39 leagues identified for reclassification have been kept as "House" leagues.

In the future, I would hope that the USBC brain trust would think things through to avoid alienating its membership base, especially considering that a decade-long trend of declining membership continues.

TOURNEY RESULTS: ‘SENIOR’ FOURSOME 1^ST IN HAIGHT MEMORIAL

Results of tournaments in the Genesee Region over the past couple weeks:

Curt Haight Memorial 4-Person No-Tap
Mancuso Bowling Center, Jan. 20

Longtime Batavia bowlers Joe Trigilio, Fred Gravanda, Joe Mortellaro and Paul Spiotta teamed to place first, rolling a score of 3,187 to capture the $880 top prize.

The event drew 43 teams and raised $1,540 for Genesee Cancer Assistance.

Other cashers were as follows:

Kim Starken, Caycee Landers, Jeanette Sease, Tom Rohl, 2^nd, 3,139, $480; Jason Quilliam, Brian Green, Nate Wright, Mike Lambert, 3^rd, 3,097, $240; Justin Burdick, Jim Prucha, Jim Kessler, Steve Wenzka, 4^th, 3,069, $230.

Dennis Rogers, Mark Brown, Rob Sease, Chris Bardol, 5^th, 3,061, $220; Jen Wagner, Rich Wagner, Jason Gallo, Tony Gallo, 6^th, 3,050, $210; Ron Brown, A.J. Allenbrandt, Heather Johnson, Mike Johnson, 7^th, 3,033, $200.

Mount Morris Pepsi Open
Mount Morris Lanes, Jan. 19-21

Ricky Zinone of Rochester defeated Matt Burt of Buffalo, 192-174, in the title match to win the $1,500 first prize. The 40^th annual scratch tournament drew 108 entries.

Zinone qualified in the eighth position with 949 for four games. Kevin Donovan of Painted Post was the high qualifier with 1,024.

Steve Santini of Mount Morris was the only Genesee Region USBC bowler to make the top 24, qualifying through the one-game, “last chance” squad with a 237.

The field included some of the top bowlers in New York State, including professional Ryan Shafer of Horseheads, Mike Rose Jr. of Rochester, Ken Muscato of Canandaigua and Dan Vick of Rochester.

Help-R-Heroes 4-Person No-Tap
Le Roy Legion Lanes, Jan. 26-28

The Le Roy team of Mickey Hyde, Naomi Hyde, Tom Rohl and Shayne Herold placed first in the handicap tournament with a 3,266 score, winning $600.

They were followed by Mark Brown, Kai Clark, Rob Sease and Norm Bialuski with 3,257, $480; Scott O’Neill, Ian Elliott, Dave Elliott and Bill Van Alst, 3,204, $300, and Tom Fluker, Mike Johnson, Mike Lambert and Nate Wright, 3,105, $200.

Proceeds went toward wounded soldiers returning home.

Baker Style Scratch Doubles
Mancuso Bowling Center, Jan, 27

The Lockport-area duo of Gary Kinyon and Jason Ciliberto defeated the Batavia-area duo of Matt Balduf and Rich Wagner, 465-395, to win the $700 first prize.

Thirty-one teams competed in the tournament, which featured six-game qualifying where bowlers alternate frames. From there, the top eight teams advanced to two-game eliminator style finals where half the field is eliminated in each round.

Balduf and Wagner earned $400 for placing second.

Other local teams cashing were Batavian Gregg Wolff and Brian Green. Tom Fluker of Batavia and his partner, Lowell Schoonmaker of Florida, combined for a 300 game.

MASTERS, CROSSROADS HOUSE TOP FEBRUARY SCHEDULE

-- Livingston Lanes in Geneseo will be hosting the 57^th annual Genesee Region USBC Masters Tournament on Feb. 10-11.

Open to current GRUSBC members with at least 21 games in a particular league, the tournament offers a first prize of $525 plus a champion’s ring (based on 80 entries).

Qualifying squads (four games) are set for 10 a.m and 1 p.m. Feb. 10, with the top 16 advancing to the four-game semifinals at 4 p.m. on Feb. 10. From there, the top eight bowlers (eight-game totals) will move on to the eight-game Peterson Point match play finals at 1 p.m. Feb. 11.

The entry fee is $50, and re-entry is allowed provided the re-entry does not prohibit a first-time entrant from competing.

To sign up, contact Paul Spiotta at 585-202-6458.

-- The 22^nd annual Betty Ellison Memorial “Strike Out for Crossroads House” benefit tournament is scheduled for Feb. 16-18 at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Squad times for the five-person handicap event are 6 p.m. Feb. 16, 3 and 6 p.m. Feb. 17 and 1 p.m. Feb. 18. As of Wednesday morning, openings remain on all squads except for the 6 p.m. Friday squad.

The entry fee is $110 per team until Feb. 9; after that date, it increases to $125.

Registration can be done online by going to www.crossroadshouse.com and choosing the Events tab.

All proceeds from the bowling as well as numerous raffles over the weekend will go to benefit Crossroads House, a comfort care home serving the residents of Genesee and Wyoming counties who have been medically determined to be in their last stages of life (three months or less).

For more information, call 585-409-0136.

-- The 12^th annual GRUSBC Youth Team Tournament is set for Feb. 17 at Le Roy Legion Lanes, with squads at noon and 3 p.m.

Only a few spots remain as the maximum number of teams in the event is 16. Each team consists of four bowlers.

The entry fee is $64 per team.  Scholarships will be awarded to the first-place teams in each of three divisions, based on team average.

To enter, contact Tom Fluker at 585-284-2637.

YOUTH TRAVEL LEAGUE BOWLS IN BATAVIA ON SUNDAY

The Genesee Region Youth Travel League returns to Mancuso Bowling Center at 12:30 p.m. this Sunday.

Rose Garden Bowl I continues to lead the 13-team league by 4.5 points over Batavia Strike Force, with Oak Orchard Bowl I another 13 points back.

In recent action, Josiah Yantz of Scopano’s Lanes led the way for the boys with a 242 game and 682 series, while Paige Snook of Oak Orchard Bowl I led the girls with a 214 game and 563 series.

CHECK OUT THE NEW ‘PIN POINTS’ SPONSOR: NEO-TAC

I'm pleased to welcome a new "Pin Points" sponsor this week – Neo-Tac, Inc., which is owned by scientist and avid bowler, Frank Bernabei of Middleport.

Bernabei’s company specializes in bowling ball surface management products, such as Hook-It, Renew-It and Liquid Nitro, as well as lane conditioners and cleaners. Just click on his ad to learn more.

And while you’re at it, click on all of the ads on this page and support those businesses that help keep the sport of bowling in the news.

From Coach Matt Holman:

Alpine Ski Results for Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018 at Swain Resort:

Deep ruts and warm temperatures dominated conversation of athletes and spectators as the Southern Tier Race League completed a two-run slalom race on Wheels Run. Despite the conditions, it was a much faster-paced race completed in just 1 hour and 40 minutes.

 

Top finishers for the Batavia Boys were Brandon Bradley (15th), Alec Wagner (18th) and Matt Grover (25th).

 

The girls also had top 20 finishers in Aubrey Towner (18th) and Lily Whiting (19th).

 

The next race is Thursday, January 25th at Swain.

Le Roy beat Pavilion Wednesday night 72-31 in boys basketball.

Reece Tresco scored 12 points, hauled in nine rebounds and had one assist. Tyler Rider scored 10 points and was five for five from the field. Tim McMullen scored nine points, hitting three three-pointers.

Cody Penders had seven points for Pavilion.

Although he has racked up numerous local, regional and state tournament titles in recent years, Scott Culp of Lima – champion of the Genesee Region USBC Scratch Memorial on Jan. 7 at Letchworth Pines in Portageville – says he prefers to stay in the moment.

“(Tournament victories) is not a statistic that I keep track of,” the 39-year-old right-hander said. “What I try to do is bowl good in every tournament I enter.”

Culp accomplished just that and more at the Pines by conquering two “Sport” oil patterns – averaging 221 for eight games – before defeating Jerry Blair of Le Roy, 215-180, in the title match to earn the $600 top prize.

The longtime employee of Gleason Works in Rochester said he has worked on his game over the years “to be able to execute on different patterns and use multiple lines (to the pocket).”

“I feel that versatility is one of my strengths – being able to play near the gutter on shorter patterns and inside, keeping the ball in a contained area, on long patterns,” he said.

He said he learned how to bowl growing up in Honeoye Falls at Brongo Ball, where he developed his unique style of walking from right to left on the approach and utilizing an extra-high backswing.

“It sort of came naturally,” he said, pointing out that as a younngster he was enamored with the style of PBA star Pete Weber.

“Plus, we used to bowl after several leagues before us, and there wasn’t a lot of oil on the lanes, so I had to get to the left and find what little oil there was in the center of the lane. I bowled a lot with Ryan Kretchmer (another great bowler out of Honeoye Falls) and he takes that big step to the left, too.”

Culp, holder of the GRUSBC league average record of 242 for a full season, successfully defended his Scratch Memorial crown with the win over Blair, who had advanced through the step-ladder finals with victories over Brady Weber of Perry, Don Parrott of Warsaw and Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw.

He receives ample support – and help with getting all of his bowling balls into the center – from Colleen Harrington, his girlfriend of 10 years and teammate on a league at Roseland Bowl in Canandaigua.

While the results of the tournament were posted previously by me on The Batavian, I’d like to give a “shout out” to Dean Cadieux Jr. of Oakfield, who advanced to the semifinals despite an opening 117 game in the four-game qualifying round.

Cadieux kept his composure, moved his line farther to the right, changed balls and registered 676 for the next three games to take the third and final qualifying spot from his squad.

Many others may have hung their heads and gave up after such a tough start, but give credit to Cadieux for figuring it out and, ultimately, earning a check for his efforts.

PURSEL POPS 827; CLINE SETS RECORD WITH 858

It has been said that “life begins at 50.”

While Batavian Jim Pursel has been a good bowler for many years, he has definitely stepped up his game after reaching that milestone last June.

“Jimbo,” as he is affectionately known, is wreaking havoc on the lanes throughout Western New York – posting a 300 game at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia in November and a 300 at Transit Lanes in Buffalo in December -- and, most recently, rolling an 827 series in the Storm Bowlers Choice Pro Shop Senior League at Transit Lanes.

Pursel’s first 800 series – he has several 300 games – came in the finals of the league’s weekly match play and propelled him to his third victory of the season.

His games were 278 and 270, which were rolled on one pair of lanes, and 279, which came in the final match on a different pair of lanes. All told, he had 31 strikes – leaving just 5 10-pins along the way.

“Things have been going well lately,” Pursel said. “At Transit, I’m concentrating more; bowling with better bowlers has made a difference.”

Pursel is averaging 218 in the league, six pins less than his average in a league at Clarence Bowling Academy on Monday nights. He also substitutes in The North Pole league at Mancuso’s on Thursdays.

The 827 eclipses his previous high series of 799, and he also had a 794 back in 2005.

Brian Cline of Williamsville, one of the best left-handers in New York State, set a Genesee Region USBC Association record on Saturday when he posted an 858 series in the Adult-Youth Doubles Tournament at Mancuso’s.

Cline, 39, rolled 279-279-300, leaving a 10-pin in the first game and the second game. His effort is 10 pins better than the 848 registered by another lefty, Darrow Rumsey of Batavia, at Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield in 2000.

In league play, Diane Hurlburt of Warsaw overcame a shaky start to roll 11 strikes in a row for a 277 game in the Monday Nite League at Perry Bowling Center this week.

Hurlburt, who is averaging a sparkling 207 in the league, started with a 2-8-10 split, and missed them all for 7 pins in the first frame before striking the rest of the way. She finished with a 658 series.

BELMONTE BACK ON TOP AS PBA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Victory in the season-ending World Championship has propelled Australia’s Jason Belmonte to rarified air – recipient of the Chris Schenkel Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year for the fourth time.

Belmonte was a landslide winner in voting by the bowling news media (including myself) and his fellow competitors.

Other honorees are Matt Sanders of Indianapolis, as the 2017 Harry Golden PBA Rookie of the Year; Chris Loschetter of Avon, Ohio, as the Steve Nagy PBA Sportsmanship Award winner, and PBA Hall of Famer Del Ballard Jr. of Keller, Texas, as the recipient of PBA’s Tony Reyes Memorial Community Service Award.

They will be recognized at the Go Bowling! PBA 60th Anniversary Celebration Dinner and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Indianapolis Marriott North. The entire celebration dinner will be live streamed on PBA’s online bowling channel, Xtra Frame.

Belmonte is the first player in PBA history to win three major championships among his four titles in 2017. At age 34, he joins Mark Roth as a four-time winner of the award.

Walter Ray Williams Jr. is the all-time leader with seven Player of the Year Awards, followed by the late Earl Anthony with six.

Belmonte, the best two-handed player ever, led the PBA in earnings ($238,912) and scoring average (a PBA record 229.39 for 380 games bowled). The PBA World Championship title is his ninth major and was his third major victory in 2017, along with the Barbasol PBA Players Championship and his fourth United States Bowling Congress Masters.

He now has won the Player of the Year award in four of the past five years, missing out last year when E.J. Tackett of Huntington, Ind., captured the prize.

USBC TO RECLASSIFY MORE THAN 700 LEAGUES

The United States Bowling Congress, in a continuing and more intensive effort to ensure bowler average integrity, is reclassifying more than 700 leagues to either the Sport or Challenge designation.

According to a USBC press release, data compiled from bowlers who competed in multiple leagues during the 2016-17 season reveals that the lane conditions of 704 leagues nationwide were more difficult than Standard (or House) leagues.

As a result, 605 leagues will now be reclassified as Challenge leagues and 99 will be reclassified as Sport leagues based on data that showed the scoring pace was significantly different from the scoring pace its members had on Standard league conditions.

The averages of the bowlers in those leagues now will carry a Sport or Challenge designation on Find A Member on bowl.com. If they have no other average, the bowlers will need to follow Rule 201 and use the Sport or Challenge conversion charts when entering leagues or tournaments bowled on Standard conditions.

I have not seen that any leagues in our area are being reclassified, but I believe that some in local halls with more difficult scoring conditions should be. I have seen that a few leagues in Rochester have been reclassified.

Last year, the USBC bridged the gap between Sport and Standard leagues by introducing the Challenge league designation for leagues using tougher, though not Sport, lane conditions.

Compared to Standard lanes conditions (house shot), bowlers in Challenge leagues have averages that are 10-19 pins lower than averages on a house shot. Averages in Sport leagues are 20 or more pins lower.

MOUNT MORRIS, MEDINA, BATAVIA HOSTING TOURNAMENTS

Tournaments this weekend:

Friday, Jan. 19-Sunday, Jan. 21
40^th annual Mount Morris Pepsi Open
A $1,500 guaranteed top prize awaits the winner of this scratch singles event, which features qualifying squads at 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 one-game “last chance” squad is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday, followed by eliminator-style finals.

The entry fee is $70, with a re-entry fee of $50.  One in five bowlers will cash.

For more information or to enter, call 585-658-2540.

Saturday, Jan. 20
Curt Haight Memorial 4-Person No-Tap, Mancuso Bowling Center, Batavia.

A $1,000 first prize, based on 48 teams, is being offered at this annual handicap event conducted in memory of the late Curt Haight, who was an avid Batavia bowler.

Squad times are noon and 3 p.m. The entry fee is $100 per team and one in six teams will cash.

To enter, contact Matt Balduf at 585-415-2964 or Mancuso’s at 585-343-1319.

Saturday, Jan. 20
8^th annual Winter Classic, Medina Lanes

First place is $600, guaranteed, and one in five bowlers will cash in this scratch singles tournament.

Squad times are 1 and 3:30 p.m., and will be followed by a one-game “last chance” squad for those missing the cut. A head-to-head match play finals will determine the champion.

The entry fee is $50. Call Medina Lanes at 585-318-4474 to enter.

Le Roy held off Warsaw's scoring barrage in the 4th quarter, when Warsaw hit 24 points, to manage a one-point victory in boys basketball on Tuesday night, 53-52.

Reece Tresco scored 18 and had six rebounds. Canyon Roster, 15, and Bobby Locke, six points and seven rebounds.  

Ben MacConnell scored 17 for Warsaw and Ethan Grawe hit five threes for 15 total points.  He hit three of those threes in the last 25 seconds of the game, the last one with one second left.

Dana VanValkenburg hit five three-pointers to help lead Byron-Bergen to a 53-31 win over Lyndonville on Tuesday night. 

It was the seventh-straight win for the Lady Bees, who are now 7-3.

VanValkenburg finished with 23 points.

Julianna Amesbury scored 14.

Byron-Bergen hosts Elba on Thursday and then faces Le Roy and Notre Dame on the road next week.

Press release:

The Genesee Community College women's basketball team started its game against the Herkimer Generals with an 11-0 run and never looked back in a 78-35 win. The 43-point differential was Genesee's second-best this season as was its 78 total points and 28 points in a single quarter. Both the latter two categories were set against Mercyhurst with an 81-point total and 31 in a single quarter.

The Cougars out-scored the Generals by the half with 36 as four Cougars recorded double-digit point performances and two of those four ended the game with double-doubles.

TaLia Burgess and Rosalyn Sealey each scored 20 points, while Reika Murota added 17 and Kierra Perl 11. Both the former and latter had double-doubles with Burgess adding 19 boards and Perl 10.

Jasmine Holmes finished with 14 rebounds and two blocks, while Sierra Chudy had a team-high six steals for Genesee. In addition to Burgess' team highs in points and rebounds, she also led the team with five steals and co-led the team in assists with five and blocks with a pair. Sealey also had five assists and Murota added three steals.