By Cort Reynolds

KENTON – The Bluffton High School boys bowling team competed in the 12-team Kenton Holiday Baker Series tournament on December 30 at Hillcrest Lanes.

The Pirates finished sixth out of 12 teams in the 10-game Baker set, which served as the preliminary pool play round.

In a Baker Series game, five bowlers from each team roll two frames apiece: one and six, two and seven, three and eight, four and nine, and five and 10 (plus potentially 11 and 12).

The Pirates tallied 1,647 pins in their 10 Baker games, with a high score of 211 in the fourth contest. 

The Kenton A team finished first with a score of 1,904. 

Then in the eight-team Baker tournament, the sixth-seeded Pirates lost a three-set match to third seed Minster in the first round, two games to one. 

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Bluffton won game one 184-151, but the Wildcats rebounded to win the second Baker contest 192-135. In the decisive third match, Minster prevailed 201-152 to advance to the semifinals vs. Findlay.

The Wildcats outscored the Pirates 544-471 in the three-game set.

The Kenton A team won the tournament as they eventually defeated Minster in the championship round, two games to one. Minster did outscore Kenton in the Wildcat battle by overall pins, 544-541.

Kenton lost game one 205-168, then came back to win game two 179-159. In the rubber match title bout, the hosts won 194-180.

In their 10 Baker pool play matches, Bluffton bowled 151-150-138-211-160-201-124-176-187-149=1,649. Their average game score was 164.9.

In the three-game tournament, the Pirates averaged 157.0.