My, how time flies when you’re having fun.
It’s hard to believe that this is my 34th and final column of the 2007-08 season. I still have much to report, however.
Starting with news from the Genesee Region United States Bowling Congress Association, it was announced at a meeting this week that both the group’s president and vice president are relinquishing their posts after their three-year terms expire on July 31, 2009.
“It’s just time for somebody else to step in,” said Paul Spiotta of Batavia, who was president of the former Batavia Bowling Association for a dozen years before being elected to lead the new organization in 2006.
Vice President Barb Kreiley of Dansville also said that she would not seek re-election after next season.
Also at the meeting, the GRUSBC board appointed Bob Recotta, owner of Livingston Lanes in Geneseo, to its lone vacant director position.
The association’s web site – geneseeregionusbc.com – has information about a scholarship for girls who are seniors in high school. Any girl who was a certified member of a GRUSBC youth or adult league and plans on attending college is eligible to apply for a scholarship.
Spiotta said the GRUSBC will award a maximum of two $800 scholarships. Applications, which must be filed by June 1, can be downloaded from the web site and mailed to Spiotta at 8802 Haven Lane, Batavia, N.Y., 14020. His email address is pspiotta@rochester.rr.com.
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GRAY CASHES IN BIG
GRUSBC Manager Steve O’Dell has released the official prize list from the association’s annual team, doubles and singles tournament which ended on April 13.
Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw, who won the singles, doubles and all-events, and placed second in the team event, walked away with about 15 percent of the total prize fund – a cool $675. Gray and his father, Kevin Sr., split the $400 top prize in doubles, and the younger Gray earned $200 in singles and $75 for all-events.
He also made $100 as part of the Turnbull Heating 2 team that placed second and another $100 for placing second in the doubles. Kevin Sr. fared pretty well, too, as he won a total of $370.
Kraus’s Crew of Batavia won $800 for winning the team event while Crazy Girls of Albion earned $350 for taking the Women’s team event.
Penny Brown of Attica earned $90 for winning the Women’s singles and Christine Bovee of Dansville won $30 for winning the Women’s all-events.
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NORTHEAST TEAM TRIUMPHS
The Northeast Industrial Tech team of brothers Frank and Phil DiMartino of Batavia and Todd Pangrazio of Le Roy came through down the stretch to capture the championship of the Lambert’s-Scooter’s-Bob Harris Sunday morning scratch league at Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield.
Pangrazio rolled 715, Frank DiMartino 687 and Phil DiMartino 644 in a season-ending victory and held off perennial contender Oakfield Hotel. This was the first league title for the Techsters.
Individually, Curtis Foss ended the season on a high note with 257-280-279—816 and won the average title with a lofty 231. The 816 was second in the league to Mike Allis’ 825. Six bowlers rolled 300 games in the league – Todd Mortellaro, Dave Cook, Dave Montemarano Jr., Jack Zajaczkowski, Ed Doody and Pangrazio.
Several bowlers averaged over 220. They were Montemarano Jr., 226; Brian Green, 225; Pangrazio, 224; Phil DiMartino, 222; Joe Trigilio, 222; Zajaczkowski, 221; Doody, 220; Rich Culver, 220; Sam Steffenella, 220.
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TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP
-- USA bowlers mart once again is sponsoring the King & Queen Tournament at Mancuso Bowling Center. The mixed doubles handicap event takes place Sunday with qualifying squads at noon and 2:30 p.m. The entry fee is $55 per team and first place, based on 70 teams, is $750. Call 343-1319.
-- Mancuso’s also is hosting a no-tap handicap doubles tournament on Saturday with squad times at 2 and 4 p.m. First place, based on 40 teams, is $450. Entry fee is $44 per team. Call 343-1319.
-- The Frank Velletta Memorial Triples handicap tournament concludes this weekend at Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield. Squad times are 6:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, and 1 and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. First place, based on 150 teams, is $1,250. The entry fee is $66 per team. Call 948-9993.
-- Cal Bowl’s annual Caledonia Volunteer Firemen’s five-person handicap no-tap tournament concludes its two-weekend run Friday through Sunday. First place, based on 100 teams, is $3,500. Entry fee is $140 per team. Call 538-6530.
-- Perry Bowling Center is offering six squads this Friday and Saturday as part of its month-long handicap doubles no-tap tournament. Squad times are 6:15, 7:30 and 9 p.m. Friday and 6, 7:15 and 8:45 p.m. Saturday. First place, based on 200 teams, is $1,000. Entry fee is $36 per team. Call 237-6358.
-- Winners of the Perry Adult-Youth Spring no-tap tournament are as follows:
In the 11-and-under division, Diane and Matt Hurlburt placed first, Mike and Matt Lapiana placed second, and Eric Sickles and Matt Hurlburt placed third.
In the 12-and-over division, Brian and Brady Weber finished first, Eric and Sean Sickles, were second, and Dan and Kelsey Ayers took third.
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SOMETHING FOR ‘SENIORS’
The 16th annual Western New York Senior Masters Bowling Tournament takes place Saturday and Sunday at Kenmore Lanes in the Buffalo suburb. Open to men and women 50 and over, the tournament offers $500 for first place, based on 40 entries. Entry fee is $47 ($35 for a re-entry).
Squad times are 9 and 10:30 a.m. Saturday and 10 and 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Semifinals (three more games) and stepladder finals immediately follow the last qualifying squad.
As an added incentive, one out of every five bowlers 60 and over will advance to the finals. To enter, call Ray Bellet at 716-825-7265.
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THANK YOU, SPONSORS
Nineteen. That’s the number of businesses – some related to bowling, some not – which made a commitment to support the Bowling Page throughout this season.
To the owners of these businesses, I extend a heartfelt “thank you” for making it possible for The Daily News to provide this space on the sports pages for 34 weeks. I know that the bowling community recognizes the importance of this advertising and I encourage bowlers to continue to patronize your businesses.
Before signing off, I would like to mention these businesses and their owners by name.
Five merchants were on the page every week. They were USA bowlers mart (Charlie Juliano), Juliano Agency (Charlie and Jason Juliano), Turnbull Heating & Air (Bill Hayes), Mancuso Bowling Center (Rick Mancuso) and Rose Garden Bowl (Tom Sardou).
Every other week sponsors were as follows:
Perry Bowling Center (Brett Van Duser), Smoke Free NOW (Chris Lewis), Medina Bowling Center (Sam Sears), Select Collision (John Brown), Pauly’s Pizza (Paul Berardini and Dave Stupp), Cal Bowl (Ken Benware), Southside Deli (Jeff Heubusch), J. McCormick’s Sports (John McCormick), Batavia Cycle Center (Dave Richenberg) and Bubba’s Landscaping (John Morrill).
Four businesses were on the page once a month. They were Oak Orchard Bowl (Randy Hanks), Le Roy Legion Lanes (Scott O’Neill, manager), Logo It (Tom Antinore) and Sloat Tire Shop (Todd Sloat).
(Mike Pettinella’s Pin Points bowling column appeared every Thursday during the bowling season. This is his last column of 2007-08. Pin Points is scheduled to return in late August or early September).