Staff report

The Sidney High bowling teams were not challenged Monday at Capri Lanes when they took on the teams from Trotwood.

The boys won with 2,276 pins to 1,113 for Trotwood. And the girls were victorious 1,798 to 733.

The Jacket boys went to 3-0 in the Greater Western Ohio Conference North standings and 8-3 overall with the win, and it sets the stage for a Thursday match against Troy, which is also unbeaten on the year in league play.

Sidney was led Monday by Jamie Wallis with a 437 series on games of 243 and 194. The 243 was the best score of the day.

Austin Simon had a 397 on games of 205 and 192, Lucas Finke had a 204 game and Matt Elliott rolled a 202.

“We decided to go to our bench early to get our subs some game play for future events,” said coach Trent Knoop. “Practice is always good, but nothing compares to game time experience.”

The girls were led by Emily Reid with games of 204 and 139 for a 343 series. Morgan Carey added a 311 on games of 158 and 153, and Heather Gold rolled a 156.

The girls are 7-4 overall and 2-1 in the league, making Thursday’s match with Troy an important one also.

“We were able to use our subs early on as well,” said Knoop. “The more the kids bowl at different places, on different shots, the better they will be later in the year. Spare shooting was still an issue though, so we will crack down on that.”

Buckeye Classic

COLUMBUS — Both Sidney teams competed in the Buckeye Baker Bash, sponsored by the Ohio State bowling team. Participants bowled on a “sport shot” pattern, which is what college and pro bowlers bowl on.

The format was three regular individual games and six baker games, with the top eight going on to match play (best 2 out of 3).

Sidney started off well, rolling a 935, with games of 220 from Wallis and 202 from Elliott. Lucas Finke had a 176, Josh Abbott 174 and Austin Simon 163.

“Any time a team shoots in the mid-900’s on a sport shot, it’s a good score,” said Knoop.

But the Jackets fell off to an 881, followed by an 862.

“I had to use all three of my subs the second game, which always means trouble,” Knoop said. “I had to find five guys who had a good look, and it really was a challenge for a while. We weren’t keeping up with our adjustments.”

Wallis was the only Sidney bowler to bowl in all three games and he finished with a 594 series, adding games of 183 and 191.

The Jackets were sitting in ninth place, just 10 pins out of eighth, after the three individual games. But once the baker games started, Sidney’s bowlers got hot.

“We shot an 1186 for six baker games, which jumped us up to fourth place for match play,” said Knoop. “We drew Austintown Fitch in the first round. We won the first game, but that would be all. We ended up getting knocked out the first round 2-1. Austintown Fitch’s anchor bowler had to throw two strikes in the 10th frame of the last game to beat us. He did just that. Props to that kid. That was clutch bowling in a pressure situation. They deserved the win. We had too many mistakes the last game. You live and you learn, and this was a good a learning one for us.”

The Sidney girls struggled to start off, finishing with a 708 in the first game. And things got worse in the second game, the Lady Jackets finishing with a 682. The rallied to roll a 739 in the third game.

Heather Gold had a 492 series, which included Sidney’s best game of the day, a 193. Ariona Grisham rolled a 467 on games of 164, 159 and 144. Morgan Carey had a 312 on two games of 160 and 152.

“We were sitting in 13th place going into the baker games,” said Knoop. “The girls made a big push in baker, shooting a 957 for the six games. We ended up in ninth place, just 78 pins out of eighth and the final match play spot. The girls made their first match play appearance last week in Bellefontaine, and they were right on the cusp of it again. They are so close. This was a really good field of teams in Columbus, and ninth place is good. We know what we are capable of. I’m looking forward to the next one.”