Batavian Jim Prucha enjoyed a "career night" earlier this week as he rolled a pair of 279 games in a 764 series in the Mancuso Real Estate Monday Doubles League at Mancuso Bowling Center.
The 60-year-old right-hander started with 279 and finished with 279 (posting 11 strikes in a row after an open) to record his highest three-game series ever. He went into the night with a 188 average.
Prolific left-hander Brian Cline of Middleport continued his assault on the pins with games of 236, 266 and 288 for a 790 series, raising his average to 236.
In other Genesee Region USBC league action:
--James Townsend of Batavia registered a 278 game in a 753 series in the Toyota of Batavia 4-Man League at Mancuso's.
-- Bill Neubert of Batavia finished with a 297 game -- leaving the 3-6-10 on the 12th ball -- for a 755 series in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.
-- At Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, Reid Cole of Albion fired 279-279-247--805 in the Every-Other-Saturday League, and John Beadle of Brockport tallied 244-279-278--801 in the Thursday Men's Triples League.
For a list of high scores for the week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
If the Genesee Region USBC awarded rings instead of plaques, Scott Culp’s victory at the 70th Scratch Memorial Tournament at Mount Morris Lanes would have been “one for the thumb.”
The 45-year-old high-revving right-hander showed that he continues to be at the top of his game by winning his fifth Scratch Memorial crown, defeating Pat Stefanik of Williamsville, 244-165, in the title match.
Culp, a Honeoye Falls resident, started the championship match with six strikes. He earned $650 while successfully defending the title he won iln 2023. He also won this event in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
“It’s so exhilarating,” said Culp, when asked how it feels to win five times. “There are a lot of good bowlers who compete in the Genesee Region association.”
Culp posted an 817 score in the Sunday morning qualifying squad – the third of three four-game squads to determine who would advance to the four-game semifinals. He said he was fortunate to move on.
“The way the day started out, I wasn’t sure if I would make it past the qualifying round,” he said. “But once the semifinals started, I decided to push everything to the right and fortunately it worked out for me.”
Usually, Culp, known for his high backswing, stands on the left side of the approach, using an inside line. His adjustment led to semifinal games of 244, 221, 198 and 266 for a 929 total on the challenging 39-foot Middle Road V2 oil pattern that gave him the No. 1 seed for the five-bowler stepladder finals.
Perry father-son duo of Brian and Brady Weber earned the No. 5 and No. 4 seeds, respectively, with Brian topping Brady, 210-143. From there, the third-seeded Stefanik, the lone lefty in the finals, edged Weber, 169-159.
Stefanik then defeated Adam Philp of Batavia, 201-173, to advance to the title match against Culp. Stefanik won $350 while Philp took home $240, Brian Weber $200 and Brady Weber $180.
Three other Genesee County bowlers cashed in the event – Batavians Mike Pettinella and Gregg Wolff and Mickey Hyde of Alexander.
The tournament drew 65 entrants and paid out $3,000 in prize money, including $300 added to the prize fund by the GRUSBC.
Philp and Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw led the Saturday 10 a.m. qualifying squad with lofty 956 totals and split the $25 bonus as the tournament’s high qualifiers. Gray finished with a 279 game (the event’s high game) but unfortunately suffered an arm injury in the second game of the semifinals and had to withdraw.
Also qualifying off the Saturday 10 a.m. squad were Pat Donaghue of Pittsford (914), Brian Weber (886), Matt Slocum of Perry (841) and Hyde (836).
Qualifying off the Saturday 2 p.m. squad were Shawn Better of Geneseo (924), Stefanik (889), Dana Nowak of Livonia (860) and Brady Weber (844).
Qualifying off the Sunday 10 a.m. squad were Pettinella, who led the squad with 820, followed by Culp (817), Dennis Van Duser of Perry (803), Mark Brown of Attica (793) and Wolff (791).
In the semifinals, Philp recorded 891, Stefanik 872, Brady Weber 807 and Brian Weber 794.
Donaghue had 787 to place sixth overall, followed by Better, Hyde, Pettinella, Nowack, Wolff, Brown, Van Duser, Slocum and Gray Jr.
Several bowlers topped the 700 mark in Genesee Region USBC league bowling action over the past week.
At Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, Chris Bailey led the way with a 279 third game for a 765 series in the Brighton Securities Tuesday Triples League.
Also at Mancuso's, Mark Brown had games of 258 and 256 in a 729 series in the County Line Stone Friday Trios League.
At Le Roy Legion Lanes, Rob Panepento and Rich Beschler set the pace with 735 and 707 series, respectively, in the American Legion Thursday Men's League, and at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Harris Busmire and Steve Manczak posted 715 and 704, respectively, in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League.
A rare feat was accomplished in the Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes yesterday morning when Amy Lavender converted the 5-7-10 split.
The Genesee Region USBC is hosting two tournaments this month -- the 70th Scratch Memorial on Jan. 6-7 at Mount Morris Lanes and the 10th annual Adult-Junior Doubles on Jan. 13 at Perry Bowling Center.
The local association consists of bowling centers in three counties -- Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, StrikeForce Lanes in Oakfield and Le Roy Legion Lanes (Genesee), Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion and Medina Lanes (Orleans), Perry Bowling Center and Letchworth Pines (Wyoming) and Mount Morris Lanes (Livingston).
A $1,000 first prize, based on 80 entries, will be awarded to the winner of the Scratch Memorial singles tournament. Qualifying squads (four games) are set for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Jan. 6 and 10 a.m. Jan. 7. Semifinals (four games) will start after the Jan. 7 qualifying squads, with stepladder finals to follow.
Entry fee is $60 per person. One in five from each qualifying squad will advance to the semifinals. A "challenge" oil pattern will be used. To enter, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com
The Adult-Junior Doubles handicap event is open to GRUSBC youth bowlers and USBC-certified adult bowlers.
Competition will take place in two divisions -- 12 & under and 13 & over. Entry fee is $48 per team. All prize winnings will go into the youth bowler's SMART (scholarship) account. To enter, send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com
ADAM PHILP ROLLS 766 SERIES
In GRUSBC league play last week, Adam Philp of Batavia rolled a 766 series in the County Line Stone Trios League at Mancuso's. His games were 279-241-246.
Brian Cline recorded the third-highest series in Genesee Region USBC history on Monday night, posting 857 in the Mancuso Real Estate League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.
The 45-year-old left-hander, who has around four dozen 800 series to his credit, rolled games of 299-300-258 on lanes 7-8.
The Middleport resident left a 3-pin on the last ball for 299 in the opening game, which saw his teammate Paul Bacon register a 269 game.
He followed that with the perfect game, and then added eight more strikes in the last game. He had a shot for 280 in the third game but left a 7-pin on the first ball in the 10th frame.
The 857 trails only an 858 rolled by Cline in January of 2018 at Mancuso's, and fellow lefty Rich Wagner's 899 in February 2011 at Mancuso's.
Cline's best three-game series is an 868 at Transit Lanes in Buffalo in November 2013.
In other league play:
-- Robbie Hanks and Jeff Shawver each rolled 300 games in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion. Hanks finished with 721 and Shawver shot 686. It was the first United States Bowling Congress-certified for Shawver.
-- Justin Thering rolled a 300 game in a 640 series in the Wednesday Community League at Medina Lanes. The 29-year-old right-hander upped his average to 218 with his second USBC-certified perfect game. His first came in Lockport in 2021 en route to an 816 series.
Chris Bailey of Batavia rolled a flurry of strikes in Genesee Region USBC league action this week, posting a 785 series in the Brighton Securities Tuesday Triples League at Mancuso Bowling Center.
The 42-year-old right-hander recorded games of 239, 279 and 267 on lanes 1-2 for his personal best series ever. He had 11 strikes in the second game and nine more in the third game to raise his average to 210.
Left-hander Nick Johnson popped a 269 game en route to a 740 series on lanes 3-4, raising his average to 224.
Other high scores for the week:
-- Geoff Harloff of Batavia rolled 745 and 758 on consecutive nights in the Toyota of Batavia 4-Man and the County Line Stone Friday Trios leagues at Mancuso's. Batavian Scott Shields led the way on Friday with a 767 series, while Haley Luce of Oakfield posted a 235 game and 649 series in that league.
-- At Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Kevin Gray Sr. spun 278--740 and Kevin Gray Jr. had 277--717 in the Thursday Owls League.
GRUSBC YOUTH DOUBLES WINNERS
Teams from Perry Bowling Center and StrikeForce Lanes in Oakfield placed first in the Genesee Region USBC Youth Doubles Tournament on Dec. 9-10 at StrikeForce Lanes.
In Division A (250 combined average and above), Mason Herman and Hunter Clark of Perry led the list of 11 teams with a 1,414 total with handicap. The boys each will earn $100 scholarships and a trophy.
In Division B (249 and under), Jameson Liles and Lukas Leddick of Oakfield led the way with 1,264 with handicap. They, too, will earn $100 scholarships and trophies. Eight teams competed in that division.
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.
Members of the BBA North team, winners of the Karl Marth Cup on Saturday, are, kneeling from left, Scott Allis, Jake Rosenbeck, Mike Lavender and Roger Allis; standing, Garrett Gibson, Dean Cadieux Jr., Jason Mahnke, Scott Gibson, Alex Allis, Hayden Allis, Jim Foss and Brian Cline. Submitted photo.
Chase Cone of Bergen experienced the thrill of a United States Bowling Congress-certified 300 game this week when he strung 12 consecutive strikes in the opening game of the Tuesday Night Coed League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.
The 37-year-old right-hander registered a perfect game a couple years ago, but it was in a non-certified league at Mancuso's.
By rolling a 300 game in a certified league, he can claim his ring from the USBC.
Using a Brunswick Infinity bowling ball, Cone put all 12 shots in the 1-3 pocket, finishing on lane 13. He added games of 236 and 208 for a 744 series.
Employed as a damage prevention tech at Bermex Inc. in Rochester, Cone's previous high certified game was 279.
In other Genesee Region USBC league action:
-- Robbie Hanks stayed hot in the Thursday Men's Triples at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, posting 264-276-216--756 to lead the way.
-- Rich Wagner of Batavia topped the list of scores in the Toyota of Batavia 4-Man at Mancuso's with 263-245-244--752.
-- Matt Bourg of Alexander recorded his first 700 series, starting with 265 in a 707 effort in the Brighton Securities Tuesday Triples at Mancuso's.
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
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.
Rob Gustke of Rochester gave himself an early birthday present on Saturday by winning the Genesee Region USBC Senior Masters Tournament at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia.
The high-revving right-hander, who turned 53 on Monday, was making his first appearance in the event for GRUSBC bowlers 50 years of age and older. He is a member of the Pizzaland Doubles League at Le Roy Legion Lanes.
Photo: From left, Brian Weber, Rob Gustke, Rob Manners.
Gustke defeated Rob Manners, also of Rochester, 194-181, in the title match, to claim the $300 first prize. He also earned a free entry into the GRUSBC Scratch Memorial Tournament in January and a championship plaque.
Manners won $200 for placing second while Brian Weber of Perry pocketed $150 for finishing in third place. Manners turned back Weber, 267-224, in the opening match of the three-bowler stepladder finals to move on to face the top-seeded Gustke.
Gustke was the second-high qualifier with a three-game total of 712 and then rolled 494 for two games to reach the top six. His 213 in the third round enabled him to secure the No. 1 seed for the finals.
The victory adds to his impressive list of titles, mostly compiled in the Rochester NY USBC.
“I think I'm up to seven or eight city titles now … and I won the Mount Morris Open in 2019,” said Gustke, a machinist by trade. “They were all scratch tournaments, and I bowl more for the titles than the money.”
Gustke said he used three bowling balls over his seven games – the Storm DNA, Storm IQ Nano Pearl and the 900 Global Ordnance C4.
The tournament drew 43 entries over two qualifying squads.
In qualifying, Jim Foss of Medina led the way with a 749 series, followed by Gustke (712), Scott Shields of Batavia 705, Weber 704, Mickey Hyde of Le Roy 698, Dean Cadieux Jr. of Oakfield 694, Manners 684, defending champion Roger Allis of Medina 670, Bill Neubert of Batavia 667, Scott Gibson of Oakfield 666, Mark Brown of Attica 661 and John Lowe of Le Roy 650.
Gustke (494 for two games), Manners (463), Brown (462), Allis (449), Weber (446) and Neubert (437) advanced through the second round, with Weber (225 for one game), Manners (224) and Gustke (213) reaching the stepladder finals.
Allis, Neubert and Brown each won $100 while the six other cashers earned $75 apiece. The GRUSBC added $200 to the prize fund and another $200 was added from a special Masters fund administered by tournament director Paul Spiotta.
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.
Robbie Hanks added to his impressive record at his home bowling center this week when he registered an 802 series in the Thursday Men's Triples League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.
Hanks, who is employed at the center owned by his father, Randy, rolled games of 290-268-244 for his seventh 800 series at Oak Orchard. He came through with two strikes and nine pins in the final frame to secure the honor score.
It is the first 800 series in league play in the Genesee Region USBC this season.
Elsewhere around the GRUSBC:
-- Jeff Parton stayed hot at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, spinning a 280 game and 741 series in the Wednesday Men's Handicap League. Steve O'Dell was close behind with 736.
-- Lefties Tom Baker and Rich Wagner led the way in the Toyota of Batavia 4-Man League at Mancuso Bowling Center with 278--751 and 265--742, respectively.
-- Michele Larson started with 244 en route to a 669 series in the Meyer's RV Monday NFL League at Mancuso's.
In tournament action:
-- The team of Ron Ricker, Josh Bowman and Greg Daniels captured first place at the 9th annual PAWS Triples No-Tap Tournament at Oak Orchard Bowl on Nov. 12, taking home the top prize of $750. Eighty-five teams competed in the event that raised about $4,000 for the PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion.
-- On Sunday, four GRUSBC bowlers cashed in the Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour stop at Oak Orchard Bowl. Fred Gravanda (623 qualifying score) and Kevin Gray Sr. (658) each made it to the second round, earning $110 each, and Mike Pettinella (687) and Bob Hodgson (596) made it to the first round of the finals, winning $80.
Dan Eberl and Mike Domicolo tied for first place, posting 236 in the title match, to split the first place ($400) and second place ($300) money.
Tom Sardou, center, proprietor of Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, congratulates Doug Bates, left, champion, and Justin Wyman, runner-up, following the 16th Triple O Mechanical Singles Handicap Tournament on Sunday. Photo by Mike Pettinella.
In its 16th year, the Triple O Mechanical Singles Handicap Tournament at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen continues to be a hit with bowlers throughout Western New York.
The latest edition of the popular mid-November event unfolded on Sunday with 70 participants – just two shy of the maximum number for the tournament.
“The success of the tournament speaks for itself,” said Tom Sardou, proprietor at Rose Garden Bowl and Viking Valhalla Restaurant. “We have a loyal following and a sponsor that is committed to the sport of bowling, so we hope to keep it going as long as we can.”
When it was all said and done yesterday – following three qualifying squads and four rounds of eliminator-style finals – Doug Bates of Greece, a 33-year-old right-hander, walked away with the $700 first prize. He is the 16th different winner since the tournament’s inception in 2008.
Bates, who entered with a 200 average, defeated Justin Wyman of Rochester in the title match by rolling 227 scratch plus 22 pins handicap for 249. Wyman posted 194, and took home $350 for his second-place finish.
The 16-player finals included three women – Caycee Bardol of Brockport, Samantha Hyde of Le Roy and Susan Costello of Rochester. Bardol and Hyde made it to the “final four” and each earned $250 for their efforts.
Seven “senior” (55-and-over) bowlers made it to the finals. They were Jimmy Doerrer of Rochester, John Lowe of Le Roy, former champion Mickey Hyde of Alexander, Pat Brick of Buffalo, Scott Gibson of Oakfield, Mark Mack of Le Roy and Don Perrault of Rochester.
Others making it to the finals were Chris Bardol of Brockport, Scott Dingman of Rochester, Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw and Dan Robinson of Rochester.
Lowe, Mack, Doerrer and Costello made it to the second round, winning $125 each. Those eliminated in the first round earned $80 each – doubling their money.
Title sponsor Triple O Mechanical contributed $500, and Rose Garden Bowl donated another $250 into the prize fund.
“This event has stood the test of time, and we truly appreciate all of the bowlers from throughout Western New York and beyond that enter year after year,” Sardou said. “You don’t find many tournaments with this great of a prize list for just a $40 entry fee.”
Bates, employed by Ferguson plumbing and HVAC warehousing, was the high qualifier with 782.
He said he returned to bowling on a regular basis about three years ago following neck surgery “that kind of slowed me down for a while.”
“I bowl in leagues at Domm’s (in Rochester) and have been working my way back,” he said. “My game is on the upswing now.”
His scores throughout the day proved that as he led the qualifying with a 782 three-game series (716 scratch) and followed that with scratch games of 223, 232, 244 and 227 in the finals.
Bates, Doerrer (756), Wyman (749), Lowe (742) and Samantha Hyde (740) earned the five guaranteed spots to the finals. It took 702 to make the finals, with Perrault getting in via the “super senior” incentive with 687.
Highlights of the day included 300 games by Wyman and Dingman during the qualifying round. The tournament is certified by the United States Bowling Congress so the perfect games will be added to their career achievements' list.
The father-son duo of Kevin Gray Sr. and Kevin Gray Jr. led the way this week in Genesee Region USBC league bowling action.
Gray Sr. spun a 290 middle game en route to a 715 series while teammate Gray Jr. finished with 268 and 263 for a 745 series on lanes 3-4 in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen.
The 290 is second high in the league this year (behind Gray Jr.'s 297) and the 745 also is number two on the leaderboard (behind Harris Busmire's 752).
In the Every Other Saturday League at Rose Garden, Colleen Pimm recorded a 227 game and 650 series to lead all bowlers.
In other action:
-- Curtis Foss of Medina posted 268--748 to top the list in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.
-- Three bowlers topped the 700 mark in the Mancuso Real Estate Doubles League at Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia -- Brian Green 749, Scott Culp 719 and Brian Cline 714.
-- James Townsend took top honors in the Brighton Securities Tuesday Triples League at Mancuso's with a 259 game and 735 series, while Haley Luce posted a 254 game and 619 series in the Wednesday Nite Ladies League at Mancuso's.
-- Hayden Allis stayed hot in the Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes with a 279 game and 763 series. Scott Gibson and Jason Mahnke rolled 727 and 725, respectively.
For a list of high scores for the week, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
The Genesee Region USBC has released its tournament schedule for the 2023-24 season, commencing with the Gladys Ford Senior Women's event in mid-November and culminating with the Association Team/Doubles & Singles tourney in April.
Nine tournaments, including three for youth bowlers, are on the schedule. StrikeForce Lanes in Oakfield, recently reopened under new ownership, is slated to host the Youth Doubles competition on Dec. 9-10.
The complete schedule is as follows:
Gladys Ford Senior Women – Nov. 11-12 – Medina Lanes
Senior Masters – Nov. 25 – Mancuso Bowling Center, Batavia
-- At Mancuso's, Geoff Harloff, Mike Pettinella and Rick Underhill topped the 700 mark. Harloff posted 267--722 in the County Line Stone Friday Trios, Pettinella finished with 278 for 715 in the Brighton Securities Tuesday Triples and Underhill rolled 702 in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 4-Man.
-- At Medina Lanes, four bowlers posted 700 series in the Sunday Rolloffs League -- John Ross 279--759, Scott Gibson 267--714, Hayden Allis 242--707 and Buddy Foss 259--706.
Jamie Masters, in black shorts at right, instructs the Batavia High Unified Bowling team during a practice session at Mancuso Bowling Center. At left is Assistant Coach John Kirkwood. Photos by Mike Pettinella.
More and more students in the Genesee Region are finding their athletic niche by participating in Unified Bowling, a component of the Special Olympics Unified Sports program.
About two dozen schools – including Batavia, Pavilion, Le Roy and Perry -- are participating in the Section V Unified Bowling League this season.
Matches get underway this coming week, with the Batavia team opening against Churchville-Chili at Spencerport Bowl and the Perry team taking on the combined Pavilion/Le Roy squad at Perry Bowling Center. Both of those matches are set for 4 p.m. Tuesday.
What makes Unified Bowling (and Unified Sports, in general) unique is that it combines students with intellectual disabilities and students without intellectual disabilities to produce interscholastic sports teams for practice sessions and competition.
“It’s all about creating a team atmosphere,” said Jamie Masters, the first-year head coach of the Batavia squad. “Whether they have disabilities or not, they're all working together as a team.”
She said that the matches consist of three games, with two games of doubles competition and the last game as a team competition. Local bowling centers scheduled to host matches over the next several weeks are Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, Le Roy Legion Lanes and Perry Bowling Center.
Masters, a physical therapist for the Batavia City School District, said the program also aims to increase friendship both on the playing field – or lanes, in this case – and in school.
“A goal is to build camaraderie in the school, such as sitting with each other during lunch or having conversations during the school day. It’s goes beyond bowling,” she said.
The Unified Sports initiative fosters inclusive activity as a way to tear down stereotypes and build relationships, while providing students with and without intellectual disabilities the chance to take on leadership roles in their schools and the community. Specific campaigns tied to the program include Fans in the Stands, Pledge and Plunge and the R-word Campaign.
According to the Special Olympics, more than 8,300 schools across the United States take part in Unified Sports.
Batavia – Lena Boris, Andy Burton, Jennifer Ewert, Aleigha Frith, Kaelee Kelso, Max Kongmany, Esayas Reinhardt, Aiden Bellavia, Landon Hamilton, Jayla Odom, Price Parris, Rahmeto Reinhardt, Lylianalynn Santos-Baez, Benjamin Sputore and Marisha Tucholski. Coach: Jamie Masters. Assistant Coach: John Kirkwood. Volunteer assistant: Ryan Hamilton.
Pavilion/Le Roy – Carter Blaisdell, Alex Boldt, Case Cummins, Chris Doody, Corina Dunn, Jackson Fix, Merritt Holly, Hudson Klein, James Kingsbury, Jordin Kreutz, Adam Leitten, Dannielle Morehead, Alaina Powers, Morgan Powers, Arianna Pray, Reilly Powers, Landon Stoddard, Andrew Strollo, Mia Strollo, Joey Vernaccini, Makayla Washburn and Zoe Washburn. Coach: Michelle Milligan. Assistant Coach:PJ Puccio.
Perry – Hunter Clark, Todd Claud, Ashlee Davenport, Alexandra Faryna, Dominik Forrester, Nicolas Gutierrez, Hunter Henchen, Mason Herman, Olivia Herman, Kiara Hughes, Peyton Lyke-Scott, Koleden Osborne, James Shearman, Bryce Tallman, Landon Warner, Sawyer West, Victoria Wilson. Coach: Kris Goodell.
Batavia High senior Ben Sputore delivers the ball during the Unified Bowling practice session. Sputore recently rolled a 300 game in USBC-certified competition at Mancuso Bowling Center.
Batavia High School senior Benjamin Sputore on Saturday morning became just the seventh United States Bowling Congress-certified youth bowler in Mancuso Bowling Center history to roll a 300 game in league competition.
Competing in the Batavia Youth League, Sputore (photo at right), a 17-year-old right-hander, finished his three-game series with 12 consecutive strikes on lanes 11-12.
The perfect game capped his first 700 series ever, following games of 221 and 199 for a 720 total.
Despite putting the first nine deliveries squarely in the 1-3 pocket, Sputore, son of Mancuso Bowling Center Manager Mike Sputore of Batavia and Julie Hawley Paradowski of Oakfield, said he wasn’t overly confident heading into the 10th frame.
“I expected to leave a 10-pin somewhere in the 10th frame,” the soft-spoken teen said, acknowledging that he was “pretty nervous.”
Using a Storm Dark Code ball that he switched to after the second game, Sputore was equal to the task, however, as he put the ball in the pocket on each of the final three shots on lane 11. The last ball was a bit light in the pocket, but it threw the 5-pin into the 7-pin for the 300.
Sputore’s 300 game comes five years after his father rolled a perfect game at Mancuso’s (on Oct. 21, 2018) and eclipses his previous high game of 278.
He has been bowling in the youth program at Mancuso’s since the age of 6, and also bowls in the T.F. Brown’s Adult-Child League and in the Genesee Region USBC Youth Travel League, where he averaged 193 last season. He also works part-time at the lanes.
Sputore joins Mike Pettinella, Jerry Geissler, Rich Wagner, James Walker, Jordan Fluker and Tony Sprague on the list of youth bowlers with certified 300 games at Mancuso’s.
In Genesee Region USBC adult league action this week:
Warsaw left-hander Kevin Gray Jr. kept the hot hand in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, posting a 297 game en route to a 735 series. Righty Harris Busmire of Bergen took top honors for the night with a 752 series.
Wagner came up with two strikes and nine pins in the 10th frame of game three to carve out a 234 triplicate in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday 4-Man League at Mancuso’s.
Curtis Foss of Medina led the way in the Sneezy’s Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion with a 278 game and 760 series.
Hayden Allis topped the list in the Sunday Rolloffs League at Medina Lanes with a 258 game and 709 series. Allis posted a 300 game and 765 series in the Wednesday Community League on Oct. 11, four days after getting married. Other recent high scores by Medina bowlers include Alex Allis’ 299 in the Wednesday league on Oct. 4 and Jim Foss’ 300 game at Airport Lanes in Buffalo on Sept. 29.
Gary Macomber of Dalton, 70, registered his first perfect game on Oct. 8 in the Sunday Night Merchants League at Mount Morris Lanes.
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
Attica resident Mark Brown rolled his second 300 game in three weeks on Friday night -- finishing with 12 strikes in the County Line Friday Trios League at Mancuso Bowling Center.
The 54-year-old right-hander struggled a bit on lanes 13-14 in the first two games but found the line in game three to finish with a 647 series.
Two weeks ago, he posted a 300 game en route to a 754 series in the same league, on lanes 21-22.
In other Genesee Region USBC league action at Mancuso's:
-- Jason Quilliam of Batavia fired a 289 third game for a 760 series in the Meyer's RV Monday Night NFL League;
-- Brian Cline of Middleport spun a 248 triplicate for a 744 series in the Mancuso Real Estate Monday Doubles League;
-- Nick Johnson of Bergen rolled a 279 middle game on the way to a 750 series in the Brighton Securities Tuesday Triples League.
In Tommy Kress 60-and-Over Tour action today, Jim Foss of Medina took first place at Brad Angelo Lanes in Lockport, firing a 224 final game for the $250 top prize. Paul Spiotta of Batavia also made the finals, earning $70.
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
Michele Larson is back in the Meyer's RV Monday NFL League at Mancuso Bowling Center after a three-year absence and so are her high scores.
The Batavia resident rolled a 704 series last week, posting games of 202-234-268.
The right-hander averaged 197 in 2019-20 and 201 in 2018-19 and has three honor scores to her credit -- 300 in 2014, 290 in 2002 and 299 in 2001.
In other league action, Albion's Brandon Gurnsey finished with a 290 game last week for a 774 series in the Sneezy's Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.
For a list of high scores, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
Lockport resident and Batavia native Paul Bacon continues to make his mark in the Mancuso Real Estate Monday Doubles League at Mancuso Bowling Center.
The 58-year-old right-hander averaged 220 in the league last season and is off to a hot start this season.
Earlier this week, he rolled games of 258, 276 and 264 for a 798 series, bowling with partner Brian Cline, on lanes 3-4.
Bacon spun 10 strikes in each of the first two games and strung the first nine strikes in the third game before leaving two pins on the first ball of the 10th frame. He missed the spare, and finished just two pins shy of his second 800 series. His other 800 -- 824 -- came in December 2004 at Brad Angelo Lanes in Lockport.
"My feet got a little quick in that last frame and I pulled the shot," said Bacon, who is employed as an operator at WestRock packaging facility in North Tonawanda. "Still, I'm pretty happy about that score."
Bacon said he used a 900 Global Eternity en route to his 29-strike effort.
In other action at Mancuso's, Attica's Mark Brown found perfection in the County Line Stone Friday Trios League with a 300 middle game on lanes 21-22. His other games were 200 and 234 for a 754 series.
Brown rolled a 300 in January in the same league.
For a list of high scores around the Genesee Region USBC, click on the Pin Points tab at the top of the home page.
