Sports

Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good.

While four-time Professional Bowlers Association Tour champion Marshall Kent of Yakima, Wash., is very “good,” he also was more than a bit “lucky” en route to capturing the PBA Clash -- a made-for-TV, winner-take-all event that aired on FOX Sports over the Christmas holiday.

Kent left the Kegel Training Center in Lake Wales, Fla., with $25,000 more in his bank account after surviving two elimination roll-offs and catching a huge break late in the title match, a 218-215 win over Dom Barrett of England.

The PBA Clash featured eight of the world’s best players – Andrew Anderson, Holly, Mich.; Anthony Simonsen, Austin, Texas; Jakob Butturff, Chandler, Ariz.; Jason Belmonte, Australia; Stuart Williams, England; EJ Tackett, Bluffton, Ind., Barrett, and Kent -- in a unique format that included an opening 10^th frame round, five one-ball, low-man-out rounds, and a full-game final match.

Kent began in fine style with three strikes in the first round and struck in the first one-ball round to advance to round three. In that round, the 2014 PBA Rookie of the Year crossed over to carry a strike and advance.

In round four, the right-hander’s delivery sailed wide right, leaving the 1-2-4. He managed to survive, however, when Simonson left the 2-8-10 on his shot to set up a roll-off between the two. In the roll-off, Kent struck, and then Simonson broke for six pins.

In the fifth round, Kent went to the “Brooklyn” side again, leaving the 9-pin, but advanced as Butturff left the 4-7.

Barrett, Williams and Kent all struck in round six and in the ensuing roll-off, Kent and Barrett struck while Williams left a pocket 7-10.

So, it was Barrett versus Kent for the title.

Trailing by 19 pins heading into the ninth frame, Kent tripped the 9-pin for a strike and then got the biggest break of all by taking out the 4-6-7 split on a shot that went right to the nose. He finished with two more strikes, which meant that Barrett needed the first strike in the 10^th to win.

When Barrett left a weak 10-pin, it was Kent who wound up hoisting the trophy.

FOX is broadcasting the PBA Tour in 2019, with most of the telecasts on FS1.  Go to pba.com for the complete schedule.

BATAVIAN LEADS QUALIFYING AT 60-AND-OVER

Batavia right-hander Paul Spiotta has found a “home away from home” in Bowl-A-Roll Lanes.

For the second straight 60-and-Over Tour event at the 32-lane center on Jefferson Road in Rochester, Spiotta led the qualifying round – topping the field of 57 bowlers with a 761 three-game series – in a tournament on Sunday (Dec. 23).

Spiotta rolled an 802 series last November in taking high qualifier honors at Bowl-A-Roll.

This year, after the 761, he rolled a 225 game to advance to the second round of the finals, before bowing out in the third round with a 202 game. He earned $110 for his effort.

Kevin Gray Sr. of Honeoye Falls also qualified with a 700 series, before being eliminated in the first round of the finals.

The next 60-and-Over Tour event is set for Jan. 27 at Parkview Bowl in Rochester.

PERRY TO HOST SCRATCH MEMORIAL SINGLES JAN. 5-6

Scott Culp of Lima is prepared to defend his title at the 65^th Genesee Region USBC Scratch Memorial Tournament on Jan. 5-6 at Perry Bowling Center.

Culp, a high-revving righty, actually has won the tournament, which features two different oil patterns, the past two years.

Qualifying squads (four games) are set for noon, 3 and 6 p.m. on Jan. 5 and 10 a.m. on Jan. 6, and will be contested on a 40-foot oil pattern. The semifinals and finals will start following the 10 a.m. squad on Jan. 6 and will be bowled on a 45-foot oil pattern.

The winner will receive $1,000 (based on 80 entries) and one in five will cash. The Genesee Region USBC is adding $400 to the prize fund.

The entry fee is $55 and re-entry is permitted.

To sign up in advance, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com.

OAK ORCHARD BOWL TEAMS CLIMB TO THE TOP

The two Oak Orchard Bowl teams in the Genesee Region Youth Travel League stand atop the standings at the mid-season break, with Oak Orchard II in first at 78.5-41.5 and Oak Orchard I close behind at 75-42.

Rose Garden II (Bergen), which has led for much of the season, is in third place at 74-46.

In action from Dec. 16 at Livingston Lanes in Geneseo, Ben Lennox (178 average) rolled a 545 series Tyler Brett (143 average) rolled a 524 series to lead Oak Orchard II to a 19-5 win over Mount Morris.

Individually, Dennis Van Duser of Perry Bowling Center took top honors for the week with a 602 series, while Trent Willis of Mount Morris had 558, Samantha Hyde of Le Roy Legion Lanes 540 and Madelynn Pimm of Rose Garden I 518.

The league bowls again on Jan. 20 at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND THE GENESEE REGION

-- Chris Haigh of Canandaigua, a former Turnbull Heating Junior League member and Batavia native, recorded his first USBC-certified 300 game on Nov. 21 while competing in the Canandaigua Merchants League at Roseland Bowl.

Haigh, 27, cut his teeth at Mancuso Bowling Center under the guidance of his father, Gary, an avid bowler, and participated in the youth program there for many years. He and his dad also bowled in the adult-child league in Batavia.

Now a financial advisor for Northwestern Mutual, Chris averaged 197 in league play last season.

A call to him had not been returned by the time this column was posted.  

-- The Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes resumes with its second 10-week season on Jan. 6, with those interested having to sign up by Jan. 4.

Bowlers roll three games against others from the same average group and advance to a semifinal and final round each week. For more information, call Medina Lanes at 318-4474.

-- Entries are filling fast for the fifth annual GRUSBC Adult-Junior Doubles Tournament on Jan. 11-13 at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

The Jan. 13 squad at 3 p.m. is already full. Other squad times are 7 p.m. Jan. 11, noon and 3 p.m. Jan. 12 and noon Jan. 13. The entry fee is $45 per team and at least one in five teams will cash.

Competition will take place in two divisions – 12 & under and 13 & over. To enter, send an email to tfstrikeforce@smn.com.

-- Mancuso Bowling Center is hosting a four-person handicap no-tap benefit tournament for Jim Pursel Jr. on Jan. 13, with squads at 1:30 and 4 p.m. First place, based on 48 teams, is $700 and one in eight spots will cash.

The entry fee is $120 per team with a third of that going to support Pursel, who is recovering from injuries suffered in a work accident on Dec. 7.

To enter, contact Mike Johnson at 585-297-6040 or Mark Brown at 716-474-7960.

-- Word out of Caledonia is that Raider Lanes (formerly Cal Bowl) is open for business and actively recruiting league bowlers.

Owner John Kabrovsky said that efforts are being made to start a Wednesday women's league and weekend mixed leagues over the next couple weeks. Currently, the 12-lane center is being managed by Devin Doolittle of Rochester and is open from Wednesday through Sunday.

-- Rob Stefani of Batavia put forth a better effort with a 202 game but went down to defeat during his Beat the Champ TV show appearance that was aired on Dec. 22-23 on WBBZ-TV (MeTV).

Stefani lost to Pat Brick of Buffalo, who rolled 247 and, by the way, will be inducted into the New York State Hall of Fame on June 1, 2019 in Syracuse.

Press release:

Team New Era will hold tryouts for its 8U and 9U Rookie Program Jan. 12th and 19th at 1 p.m. at its Depew Facility. For more information or to register see www.teamnewerabaseball.com or contact Rich Wozniak at 716-681-3001.

The high scores keep rolling in at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.

In the Sneezy's Monday Night League last week, proprietor Randy Hanks recorded his second 300 game in four weeks -- 300-259-228--787, and in the Friday Night Mixers League, Curtis Foss posted 278-248-275--801.

At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Chris Bardol registered a 299 game en route to a 780 series in the Tuesday G&W Vending League.

For a list of high scores from the Genesee Region, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of this page.

Mike Pettinella's next Pin Points column is scheduled for this Thursday.

Merry Christmas to all!

Photo of Cheyenne Louie with driver Drew Monti.

By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs

On a night when Drew Monti was to be honored as the top driver of the 2018 Batavia Downs meet, he put on a clinic and showed why he toted home the hardware again as he won seven races on Saturday night (Dec. 15).

Also it was no surprise that trainer JD Perrin, who Monti regularly drives for and was also honored as the top conditioner of the session, sent out six winners of his own.

Those winning connections put the exclamation point on their stellar season as they watched Cheyenne Louie cruise to the easiest of victories in the $20,000 Dash for the Holiday Cash late closer final, which was the feature race of the night.

Cheyenne Louie (Drew Monti) left strong and grabbed the lead past the eighth pole and from there the race was history. Cruising along in level fractions of :28.2, :58.2 and 1:27.4, Monti had the field stacked up behind as he sat chilly in the bike. At the top of the stretch several horses fanned wide to try and close the gap but Cheyenne Louie was four-lengths gone and under wraps when he hit the wire first in 1:57.

It was the seventh win of the year for Cheyenne Louie ($3.20) whose share of the purse pushed him to $26,983 for 2018. Cheryle Perrin owns the winner that is trained by JD Perrin.

Then the same driver/trainer pair hooked up to win the $11,000 overnight featured Open Handicap pace with Lucky McTrucky.

Getting away fifth in the short field of five, Lucky McTrucky tracked the early pace before pulling past the half, tipping three deep at three-quarters and clearing the front at the top of the lane to win by three in 1:55.2.

It was the 56th career win and 14th tally of the year for Lucky McTrucky ($5.70) who is now only $1,095 shy of $100,000 in earnings for 2018. Tessa Roland owns the 9-year-old McCardle gelding.

Other winners Monti steered besides the aforementioned Cheyenne Louie and Lucky McTrucky were with Cobble Beach (1:57.2, $4.70), Rock To Glory (1:56.4, $3.10), RM Hawk (1:55.3, $4.10), Heaven Rocks (1:56.3, $3.70) and OK Galahad (1:57, $4.10).

Perrin's training double Hat Trick consisted of five that Monti drove (Cheyenne Louie, Lucky McTrucky, Rock To Glory, RM Hawk and Heaven Rocks) along with Foreign Officer (1:56.4, $7.70) who was driven by Ray Fisher Jr.

After the 11th race this dynamic duo was named top driver and trainer of the Batavia Downs meet by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA).

 

This is the second driving title for Drew Monti (in photo above with trophy) at Batavia Downs and third overall of his career. The 24-year-old Monti put together another stellar year in the bike; to date starting 572 times, winning 122 races, finishing second 90 times and third 72 times. Those starts earned his connections $724,805 in purses and earned himself a Universal Driver Rating (UDR) of .337.

JD Perrin (above, center) won the training title at the Downs three straight years from 2014-2016 making this his fourth title at the track. With 208 starts, Perrin trainees have won 61 times with 31 seconds and 19 thirds giving him a Universal Trainer Rating (UTR) of .409. His stable banked $333,648 for the session.

Batavia Downs will resume live racing in 2019 on Wednesday (July 24) and is the host track of the New York SIre Stakes (NYSS) Night of Champions which will be held on Saturday (Sept. 14).

By Tim Bojarski, president, UNY USHWA

The final weekend of racing at Batavia Downs kicks off on Friday (Dec. 14) and although 26 more races are yet to be contested, there are two that have already been settled. 

The dash winning driver and trainer for the 2018 meet are Drew Monti and JD Perrin.

This is the second driving title for Drew Monti (inset photo, right) at Batavia Downs and third overall of his career.

The 24-year-old Monti put together another stellar year in the bike; to date starting 560 times, winning 115 races, finishing second 89 times and third 72 times.

Those starts earned his connections $686,305 in purses and earned himself a Universal Driver Rating (UDR) of .337. 

Those numbers were solid additions to Monti’s overall figures for the year where he has 252 wins, 194 seconds and 174 thirds out of 1,260 starts with more than $1.52 million in earnings and a UDR of .332. 

JD Perrin (inset photo, below left) won the training title at the Downs three straight years from 2014-2016 making this his fourth title at the track.

With 192 starts, Perrin trainees have won 55 times with 31 seconds and 19 thirds giving him a Universal Trainer Rating (UTR) of .409.

His stable banked $298,248 for the session. 

Perrin’s annual numbers show 442 starts yielding 126 wins, 68 seconds and 51 thirds earning his group $633,623.

Also, Perrin currently ranks fourth in North America for UTR among trainers with less than 500 starts this year. 

Drew Monti and JD Perrin will receive their trophies in the Purple Haze Winner’s Circle at Batavia Downs after the 12^th race on Saturday night (Dec. 15).

Please note that post time for Saturday’s card is early at 4:45 p.m.

Also on Saturday night, there are many opportunities for the fans to take advantage of before the lights go off for the last time this year. 

The $20,000 final of the Dash for the Holiday Cash series is the feature event and goes as the sixth race. 

There is a free Pick-6 contest with a mandatory payoff of $1,000.

The Pick-6 starts in race four and runs through race nine.

Entry blanks can be picked up at Players Club and can be deposited with your selections prior to the start of the fourth race.

Entries are limited to one per person. 

The Pick-6 is cosponsored by the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s Association. 

Then there will be a random drawing from all the Pick-6 entries to win 10 “Driver of the Meet” Drew Monti bobble heads and 10 official Dan Patch Awards baseball caps.

Ten winners will be drawn and each will receive both prizes. 

The bobble head and baseball cap give away is sponsored by the Upstate New York Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) and TAG Jewelers. 

Friday night (Dec. 14) is the UNY USHWA Night of Distinction awards presentations at Batavia Downs that will take place in the winner's circle between races. Post time on Friday is 6 p.m.

North Stars -- Members of the North team, which continues to domilnate the Karl Marth Cup challenge match, are from left, Mike Allis, Jake Rosenbeck, Rob Sease, captain Tom Allis, Alex Allis, Hayden Allis, Scott Gibson, Jason Mahnke, Rich Culver, Aaron Verheyn, Mike Lavender and Roger Allis. Scott Shields also is on the squad.

The North’s blowout of the South on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Medina Lanes has brought the Karl Marth Cup series to a crossroads.

With its seventh win in the past eight years, Captain Tom Allis’ squad held onto its grip of the annual competition between bowlers from the Medina-Albion and bowlers from the Batavia area and points south and east of the city.

Sparked by 22-year-old Hayden Allis -- who averaged 240 and won all four of his matches -- the North rolled to a 76.5-46.5 victory. For his efforts, Allis was named the Scott Wright Memorial Outstanding Bowler.

The North’s dominance (it won five of six doubles matches and eight of 12 singles matches) left Paul Spiotta of the South team, the only bowler to participate in all 25 tournaments, wondering where to go from here.

The North leads the series, 15-10.

“I was watching some of their rev rates, especially the younger kids, and they we’re throwing pins all over the place,” said Spiotta, the only bowler to participate in all 25 tournaments. “Some of our guys just don’t have the rev rate and were leaving weak 10-pin after weak 10-pin.”

Tom Allis concurred with Spiotta’s assessment, adding that ball speed is a major factor in today’s game.

“Speed, even more than rev rate, is the key factor when bowling on lanes with a lot of backend,” said Allis, a bowling ball driller for many years.

Spiotta also noted that the North has infused its lineup with younger, stronger players, such as Hayden Allis, 19-year-old Alex Allis, and “thirty-somethings” Jake Rosenbeck and Mike Allis (who subbed for Scott Allis).

In fact, the average age of the North squad this year was 41, compared to the South’s average age of 51 ½.  The only South bowler under the age of 40 was Matt Slocum.

“We’re at a point where we have to decide whether this is a serious thing for bowlers who want to represent Batavia and points south or a casual thing where the losers buy dinner (for the winners),” Spiotta said. “The initial concept was that it was a competitive thing, and personally, I would like to keep it that way.”

For the latter to happen, the South may have to look to some of the up-and-coming younger bowlers in Batavia, Bergen, Le Roy and even to the Wyoming and/or Livingston county bowlers (as in the case of recent additions Slocum and Brett Van Duser, both of Perry).

With the competition set for Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, which has become a left-hander’s paradise in recent years, the South would be wise to recruit Rich Wagner (245 average) and some of his southpaw mates such as Jason Gallo (233) and Tom Baker (224).

Mike Johnson, another lefty who is averaging 215 at Mancuso’s, was on the South team this year.

Other Mancuso bowlers deserving of consideration include Mike Sputore (214), Nate Cordes (213), Matt Balduf (213), Steve Krna (213), Rob Stefani (211) and Alex Morris (211) and lefty Brian Green (208).

Chris Bardol has been tearing it up in Bergen for the past few years – and has fared well in tournament play at Mancuso’s – while Frank Jarkiewicz, Jerry Menzie Jr., Jason Heimlich and Rob Husted are among others who could be considered.

Just how to weave in some fresh faces into the mix is something that Ed Doody, the current South captain, and Spiotta will have to figure out.

Summarizing this year’s event, Alex, Roger and Hayden Allis won all four of their matches (two doubles and two singles), averaging 221, 216 and 240, respectively, for the North. Rob Sease, Mike Lavender and Mike Allis each went 3-1, with Sease averaging 231 and Lavender 223.

Other members of the winning team were Rich Culver, Scott Gibson, Aaron Verheyn, Scott Shields and Jason Mahnke.

Johnson led the South with a 227 average while Spiotta averaged 220, Slocum 218 and Gregg Wolff 216. Slocum had the high game of the day – 289.

Other members of the South team were Todd Mortellaro, Rick Saunders, Geoff Harloff, Steve O’Dell, Joe Trigilio and Jim Pursel.

On a sad note, Pursel, a self-employed contractor, suffered broken ribs, neck fractures and bruises last Friday when he fell from a ladder while working.  The 51-year-old Batavian returned home yesterday after several days at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

Speaking (writing) for the bowling community, we all wish “Jimbo” a speedy and full recovery and hope to see him back on the lanes before the end of the season.

YOUTH ROUNDUP: YBT AT MANCUSO’S, GR TRAVEL LEAGUE

Some of the best young bowlers from upstate New York converged upon Mancuso Bowling Center on Sunday, Dec. 2 for a Youth Bowlers Tour event and five of them traveled home knowing they had qualified for Junior Gold competition.

Earning spots for the national Junior Gold tournament in Detroit next July were Anella Tillman of Keuka Park (U12 Girls), Kenny Haslip of Hilton (U15 Boys), Nicholas Santacroce of Utica (U17 Boys), Kaylee Hodson of Auburn (U20 Girls) and Zack Day of Victor (U20 Boys).

YBT champions for the day were Kenny Muhleisen of Arkport, handicap division; Edward Pietrasz of Dryden, scratch division, and Connor Brink of Penfield, classic division.

In Genesee Region Youth Travel League action on Dec. 2 at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, Oak Orchard I moved into first place with a 20-4 win over Rose Garden Bowl I as Dallas Ecker notched a 507 series – well above his 136 average.

Perry Bowling Center went into second place with a 16-8 win over Rose Garden Bowl II behind Dennis Van Duser’s 227 game and 565 series.

High series: Trent Willis, Mount Morris, 621; Ben Lennox, Oak Orchard II, 619.

The league bowls again on Dec. 16 at Livingston Lanes in Geneseo.

GRUSBC LISTS TWO TOURNAMENTS IN JANUARY

The 65^th Genesee Region USBC Scratch Memorial Tournament is scheduled for Jan. 5-6 at Perry Bowling Center.

The singles tournament features qualifying squads (four games) at noon, 3 and 6 p.m. on Jan. 5 and 10 a.m. on Jan. 6. Semifinals and finals will follow.

First prize, based on 80 entries, is $1,000, and one in five bowlers will cash. Re-entry is allowed. The entry fee is $55.

Two oil patterns will be used – a 40-foot pattern during qualifying and a 45-foot pattern during the semifinals and finals.

Scott Culp of Lima won the tournament in 2017 and 2018.

To enter, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com.

The fifth annual GRUSBC Adult-Junior Doubles Tournament is set for Jan. 11-13 at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

Squad times (three games) are 7 p.m. Jan. 11, noon and 3 p.m. Jan. 12 and noon and 3 p.m. Jan. 13. The entry fee is $45 per team and at least one in five teams will cash.

Competition will take place in two divisions – 12 & under and 13 & over.

To enter, send an email to tfstrikeforce@smn.com.

Entry forms for both tournaments can be downloaded from www.bowlgr.com.

TONAWANDA BOWLERS CAPTURE LE ROY SCRATCH EVENT

Pete Maduri of North Tonawanda and Kevin Volker of Tonawanda posted a wire-to-wire victory Saturday in the Le Roy Scratch Doubles tournament at Legion Lanes.

Maduri and Volker shot 980 in the two-game qualifying round to lead the field of 30 entries, and went on to win three single-game matches for the $800 first prize.

Rob Sease of Brockport and Ryan Kretchmer of Rochester placed second, good for $400, while Rochester’s Sarah Germano and Dan Vick, and Sam Capizzi and Shannon Chapelsky took the third-fourth spots for $200 each.

In the Brian Morasco Memorial tournament last month at Mancuso Bowling Center, the trio of James Townsend, Matt Temple and John Wolff took the $640 top prize with a 2,351 no-tap score.

They won by a single pin over Dennis Maid, Tim Maid and Chase Cone ($320), and 16-pins over third-place Leon Hurd, Recco Jewell and Tony Gallo ($210).

The event drew 43 entries and raised more than $2,000 for Genesee Cancer Assistance.

MORE THAN THEIR ‘FAIR’ SHARE OF GREAT BOWLING

To say that bowlers in the Fairview Juniors and Fairport High varsity bowling programs have a bright future wouldn’t do them justice because for these talented individuals, the future is now.

A quartet of teen bowlers from the Rochester suburb had been nothing short of amazing thus far this season.

-- Alex Linnenbrink, 16, has games of 298, 299 and 300 with high series of 834 and 829 since the start of the high school campaign just a few weeks ago.

-- Bentley Hilbert, 15, and Stefano Cittadino, 17, notched their first perfect games during high school competition.

-- And Michael Eichner, 16, rolled a 300 last Friday in the junior league.

The success of these boys – and of boys and girls in our area as well – gives me hope that there truly is a “future for our sport.”