Medina Lanes

For the second straight year, the Karl Marth Cup came down to the final match and for the second straight year, the BBA North team came out on top.

In competition on Saturday at Medina Lanes, the North squad, comprised mostly of bowlers from the Medina and Oakfield area, defeated the South team of mostly Batavia-area bowlers by a score of 62.5-60.5.

Points were awarded for winning scores in Doubles, Singles, Baker Doubles and Baker Team events. The North team now holds a 17-12 advantage in the series, which began in 1994 as a Batavia versus Albion match in the former Batavia Bowling Association.

This year, the North withstood a spirited rally by the South, surviving by taking one of three closing Baker team events. The North came out hot, winning all six Doubles matches.

The teams split the points in Singles and Baker Doubles, and the South won two of the three Baker Team events but just fell short.

Last year, the North won, 62-61, at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Individually, Alex Allis of Medina earned the Scott Wright Memorial Award by winning three of his four matches for the North. The South’s Paul Bacon received the Joe Trigilio Memorial Award, also taking three of his four matches.

Scott Gibson and Jake Rosenbeck each averaged 229 for the day to lead the North while Scott Culp’s 225 and Mike Johnson’s 223 paced the South.

The annual Karl Marth Cup challenge match takes place this afternoon at Medina Lanes with the BBA South team hoping to avenge a narrow defeat last year and close the gap in the all-time series against the BBA North squad.

Dedicated to Karl Marth, a Batavia Bowling Association Hall of Famer who died in 2003, the event also keeps alive the memory of the former BBA, which listed bowling centers in Genesee and Orleans counties.

Competition takes place in Doubles, Singles, Baker Doubles and Baker Team. In Baker-style bowling, bowlers alternate frames.

In 2022, the North edged the South, 62-61, and now leads the series, 16-12.

Today’s match is scheduled for 1 p.m. and is open to the public.

Members of the North team are Hayden Allis (captain), Alex Allis, Scott Allis, Roger Allis, Scott Gibson, Garrett Gibson, Jim Foss, Brian Cline, Jason Mahnke, Jake Rosenbeck, Dean Cadieux Jr. and Ray Neuman.

Members of the South team are Ed Doody (captain), Fred Gravanda, Matt Balduf, Dave Montemarano Jr., Scott Shields, James Townsend, Geoff Harloff, Steve O’Dell, Mike Johnson, Paul Bacon, Rick Underhill and Scott Culp.

Once an outstanding youth bowler in the Oakfield junior program run by his father, Garrett Gibson is making his mark on the adult league and tournament bowling scene.

Gibson, now 30, posted his third United States Bowling Congress-certified 300 game yesterday morning while competing in the Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes -- a weekly singles competition that also includes his dad, Scott.

The right-hander fired games of 243-300-246 for a 789 series to lead all bowlers.

In April of this year, he recorded a perfect game at the New York State Open Championships at Bowl-A-Roll Lanes in Rochester. His first 300 game came in 2015 at Scopano's Lanes (now StrikeForce Lanes) in his hometown of Oakfield.

Garrett is employed as an electrical engineering technician at MGA Research Corp. in Akron.

In other league action around the Genesee Region USBC, Middleport left-hander Brian Cline continued his stellar bowling with a 280 game and 761 series in the Mancuso Real Estate Doubles League at Mancuso Bowling Center. Cline is averaging over 230 in the league.

For a list of high scores for the week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Curtis Foss of Medina closed out the Sneezys Monday Night League season at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion on a high note last week by rolling an 808 series -- his seventh 800 in league play since last October.

The right-hander's games were 260-290-258.

In the Wednesday Men's Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Josh Elliott posted 258--733 and Frank Jarkiewicz shot 278--723.

In league play at Medina Lanes, Amy Allis rolled 279--717 on April 4 and followed that up with 256--735 on Thursday night.  A solid 10-pin in the 10th frame of the 279 cost her a chance at a perfect game.

ROCHESTER BOWLER TRIUMPHS

Nicholas Manioci of Rochester claimed the $750 first prize in the Hop Between Singles Handicap Tournament at Medina Lanes, defeating Hayden Allis of Medina, 206-204, in the title match. Allis earned $500.

Rounding out the top five were Derek Leach of Batavia ($350), Teagan Miller of Albion ($250) and Chris Foss of Medina ($175).

Eighteen of the tournament's 60 bowlers cashed.

Mancuso Bowling Center will be hosting a three-person handicap no-tap tournament on April 30, with squad times at noon and 2 p.m. The entry fee is $75 per team and first place, based on 40 entries, is $750. Call 716-474-7960 to enter.

Batavian Jeremy Vallance came oh so close to his first United States Bowling Congress-certified 800 series in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 5-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center. 

The 44-year-old right-hander posted games of 257-259-279 for a 795 series. A 4-pin in the ninth frame of the third game stopped him from the 800 and also from a chance at a 300 game.

Lefty Mike Johnson of Batavia was next for the night with a 742 series.

In other Genesee Region USBC league action, Keith Czamara rolled a 746 series in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.

For a list of high scores for the week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

MEDINA HOSTING TOURNAMENT SATURDAY

Medina Lanes will be running the Hop Between Singles Handicap Tournament next weekend with qualifying squads (three games) at noon and 3 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Finals are scheduled for noon Sunday. The top 18 bowlers will advance to the eliminator finals, where half the field advances each game.

The top two places are guaranteed -- $750 for first and $500 for second. The entry fee is $55.

To enter, call 585-318-4474.

For the second straight week, Medina's Hayden Allis posted a United States Bowling Congress honor score in the Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes.

The 25-year-old right-hander rolled games of 255, 269 and 290 for an 814 series on Feb. 6. It is his second 800 in a row, having recorded an 805 series on Jan. 30, and his third overall.

In other Genesee Region USBC action over the past couple weeks:

• Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw fired a 289 game and 780 series in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen;

• Rich Wagner of Batavia had a 299 game in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League at Rose Garden Bowl;

• Jim Pursel of Batavia started with a 290 game en route to a 754 series in the Toyota of Batavia 5-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Second cousins Hayden and Alex Allis lit up Medina Lanes on Sunday morning, rolling an 805 series and 300 game, respectively, in the Sunday Rolloffs League.

Hayden, a 25-year-old right-hander, posted games of 289, 258 and 258 for his second United States Bowling Congress-certified 800 series. His high series is 822.

Alex, a 22-year-old righty, fired his second USBC-certified 300 game en route to a 777 series. He previously rolled an 834 series.

Roger Allis, Hayden's father, was third on the list of high scores in the league with a 259 game and 734 series.

In the Thursday Ladies League at Medina Lanes, Amy Allis, who is Hayden's cousin and Alex's aunt, led the way with a 268 game and 704 series.

Elsewhere around the Genesee Region USBC last week, Chris Bailey of Batavia just missed an 800 series -- rolling 32 strikes in a 298-228-267--793 effort in the Turnbull Heating Triples League at Mancuso Bowling Center.

Bailey, who turns 41 on Tuesday, left a pocket 7-10 split after 11 in a row in the first game, had 10 strikes in the second game around a split and an open frame, and came back with 11 strikes in the third game, including the final nine after an open in the third frame.

In the Mancuso Real Estate League on Monday, Devon Leach of Batavia started with a 300 game in a 748 series. Leach, winner of the GRUSBC Scratch Memorial Tournament earlier this month, had an 802 series in October.

At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Nathan Cordes of Batavia recorded a 289 game and 784 series in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League.

For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Press release:

Batavia native Pat Donaghue returned to Mancuso Bowling Center on Sunday and picked up his first Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour victory.

The 62-year-old right-hander, who has enjoyed much success in the Rochester area where he has lived for many years, struck out in the 10^th frame for a 226 game to defeat Batavian Fred Gravanda (214) and Rochester’s Rick Jewell (178) for the title.

The victory was worth $330 while Gravanda earned $250 and Jewell took home $170.

Donaghue qualified fifth (the top 12 advanced) and then rolled 256 and 247 in the eliminator rounds leading up to the finals.

Batavian Mike Pettinella placed fourth and earned $120, as did fifth-place finisher Steve Nowicki of Rochester and sixth-place finisher Bob Hodgson of Medina.

Bill Logan of Albion was one of six bowlers cashing for $70.

Submitted photo above: Tournament director Pete Nashburn, left, congratulates Pat Donaghue on his Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour victory Sunday as runner-up Fred Gravanda looks on.

LEROYAN TAKES TOP SPOT IN MEDINA

Samantha Hyde of Le Roy (with tournament director Tom Allis in submitted photo) claimed the $600 top prize in the New Year’s Day Eliminator Tournament at Medina Lanes.

Hyde rolled a 259 game with handicap in the final round to edge Batavian Mike Johnson by 10 pins. Maddie Whiteman of Albion (233) and Vicki Charache of Medina (219) finished third and fourth, respectively.

Press release:

Middleport left-hander Brian Cline added another jewel to his illustrious bowling resume on Jan. 9 when he set a Medina Lanes record with an 847 series.

Cline, who has more than 40 800 series and around 60 perfect games, posted 279-269-299 in the Thursday Firefighters League. The previous record was held by Mike Lavender of Medina with 846.

Cline also held the record at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia with an 858 series in January 2018 until it was eclipsed by fellow lefty Rich Wagner's 899 last February.

In other action at Medina Lanes last week, Ray Neuman rolled 300 in the Wednesday Community League -- his second perfect game in three weeks -- and Mike Schepis fired 299--763 -- three days after registering 300--797.

At Mancuso Bowling Center, Batavian Mike Pettinella took top honors for the week with 238-290-266--794 series in the Turnbull Heating Doubles League.

Darleen Balduf rolled her third straight 600 series -- 623 -- in the Wednesday Night Ladies League at Mancuso's.

For a list of high scores around the Genesee Region USBC, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

The BBA South rallied in the final event – four-man Baker-style Team – to upset host BBA North, 64-59, in the 27^th annual Karl Marth Cup bowling competition Saturday at Medina Lanes.

The win is the second straight for the South squad, which is comprised mostly of bowlers from the southern portion of the former Batavia Bowling Association. The match did not take place last year due to COVID-19.

Still, the BBA North, consisting of bowlers from the northern part of the former BBA, has the upper hand in the series, 15-12.

The Baker teams of Mike Johnson, Paul Spiotta, Geoff Harloff and Jason Quilliam, and Jim Pursel, Scott Culp, Fred Gravanda and Matt Balduf swept their matches to earn 18 points, while the other Baker team of Ed Doody, Steve O’Dell, Josh Elliott and Rick Underhill managed to take two of seven points as the South came back from a 52-44 deficit.

The South opened with an 13-11 advantage in Doubles, before the North took the Baker Doubles competition, 15-9, and the Singles events, 26-22.

Individually, Jake Rosenbeck of Medina earned the Scott Wright Memorial Award by averaging 259 – including a 299 game – while winning three of his four matches. Teammate Brian Cline averaged a whopping 265 for his matches, but only compiled a 2-2 records as he went against the South’s Scott Culp (238 average) each time.

The South’s Jason Quilliam, making his Marth Cup debut, received the Joe Trigilio Memorial Award by averaging 221 en route to winning three of his four matches.

Submitted photo: Members of the BBA South team are, front from left, Geoff Harloff, Jason Quilliam, Matt Balduf, Steve O'Dell; back, Josh Elliott, Jim Pursel, Mike Johnson, Scott Culp, Ed Doody (captain), Paul Spiotta, Rick Underhill and Fred Gravanda, posing together after win.

Jim Foss, who took over as proprietor of Medina Lanes prior to the 2021-22 season, rolled a 300 game on Sunday morning in the Sunday Rolloffs League at his hometown bowling center.

The right-hander's perfect game came in a 648 series, and that gives him about a dozen 300 games for his career.

Top honors in the league went to Tom Allis, with a 697 series.

Elsewhere around the Genesee Region United States Bowling Congress, Jim Pursel of Batavia set the pace in the County Line Friday Trios at Mancuso Bowling Center with a 746 series.

For a list of high scores for the week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.

Medina’s Curtis Foss captured his sixth Genesee Region USBC Masters Tournament title on Sunday at Medina Lanes, holding off a spirited challenge from Batavian Jim Pursel to claim the $550 first prize.

Foss, 34, took a 53-point edge over Pursel into the position round final game of the eight-player Peterson Point round-robin match play finals. That meant that Pursel, 54, would have to beat Foss by 24 pins in the last game to claim his first Masters crown.

In Peterson Point competition, bowlers receive 30 points for a victory and plus or minus points based on their score when compared to 200.  So, if a bowler rolls a 220 game and wins the match, he would get 50 points.

Pursel, who averaged 247.7 for his eight games yesterday, defeated Foss, 238-237, in the decisive game, but it wasn’t enough to win the tournament as Foss finished with 572 Peterson Points to 550 for Pursel, who earned $280.

The final match was close throughout with both bowlers registered a string of strikes in the last half of the game. Foss entered the 10^th frame on a three-timer and then spared and got nine on the last ball for the 237.  Pursel also had three in a row going into the 10^th, and added two more strikes and nine for the 238.

“It was exciting,” said Foss. “Jim kept the pressure on me that’s for sure.”

Foss started the day with a bang by topping Scott Culp of Honeoye Falls, 267-234, in the opening match between No. 1 and No. 2 seeds from Saturday’s semifinals.

The high-revving right-hander went on to win six of his next seven matches, including a 279-214 victory over Pursel in game six.

Culp, the 2016 Masters champion, kept on his heels, however, riding a 289-258 win over Batavian Geoff Harloff in game six to pull within 50 points of Foss.

Game seven was a big one for Pursel as the 109 Peterson Points earned for his 279-160 win over Medina’s Hayden Allis put him within striking distance of Foss, who gained just 33 points with his 203-180 victory over Alex Allis of Medina.

Using Roto Grip Idol Pearl and Storm Axiom Pearl balls in the finals, Foss – who didn’t miss a spare in his 16 tournament games -- pointed to games six and seven as keys to his victory.

“The sixth game was huge, especially because Scott started with the first 10 strikes (en route to the 289), so I needed a big score,” Foss said. “In the seventh game (against Alex Allis), the pair we were on, 17-18, was really tricky and I was able to get four strikes at the end to get to 200 (actually 203) and win.”

Pursel put up big scores throughout the day, but ran into tough luck in his first three matches, losing 215-211 to Harloff in game one, 254-247 to Culp in game two and 269-255 to Jim Foss of Medina in game three before rallying to win four of his last five matches.

“I bowled well; a couple carries here and there could have made the difference, but all the bowlers got tapped at times,” said Pursel, another bowler who generates a lot of revolutions on the ball. “Give Curtis credit, he’s a horse and he’s tough to beat in these things. I have no problem losing to Curtis.”

Batavian Jason Quilliam placed third with 443 points, averaging 226 for the finals while compiling a 7-1 match play record. He posted victories over Culp in games seven and eight to jump into the third spot, good for $220.

Culp placed fourth with 433 points and won $190. He was followed by Jim Foss (321 points, $180), Harloff (304 points, $170), Alex Allis (182 points, $160) and Hayden Allis (177 points, $150). All of the finals are right-handers.

Other cashers from Saturday’s semifinals were Mark Brown of Attica, $110; John Ross of Middleport, $100; Matt Balduf of South Byron, $90, and Devon Leach of Batavia, $80.

Curtis Foss won his first Masters tournament in 2008 at Mancuso’s, and followed that with victories in 2009 at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, 2014 at Medina Lanes, 2015 at Letchworth Pines in Portageville and 2019 at Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield. The tournament did not take place in 2020.

The two-day tournament drew 42 entries.

Previously: Culp, Foss are 1-2 heading into Masters bowling finals

Submitted photo: Mike Johnson, center, Genesee Region USBC president, congratulates Curtis Foss, left, and Jim Pursel after an exciting Masters Tournament finals.