By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School bowling teams split a dual match with visiting Parkway on a record-setting night for the boys at Southgate Lanes on Friday, January 23.

The Pirate boys won their match decisively over the Panthers by a score of 2,907 pins to 2,485. Their margin of victory was 422 pins.

In the girls match, the short-handed Pirates lost to the Panthers by a 2,155-1,522 pin count.

BOYS RESULTS
“It was a great night for Bluffton bowling,” said Bluffton head bowling coach Ben Nye. “The kids were in high spirits and putting up high scores to go with it.”

Bluffton won game one 962-801, and rolled to a 1,022-819 victory in the second match. The Pirates cruised to a 1,984-1,620 victory in the opening round series by 364 pins.

In the five-game Baker Series, the Pirates rallied late to win by 58 pins due to a sizeable 223-125 victory in the fifth and final game. Bluffton bowled a 168-152-199-181-223=923 series to win two of the five Baker games. 

The Panthers rolled a 198-170-170-202-125=865 Baker Series, taking games one, two and four.

“For the boys, the team started out hot and just never quit,” said Nye. “Two new team records were set tonight with a 1,984 two-game team series, and 2,907 is the boys highest match score ever.”

Coby Dailey rolled a 178-263=441 opening round set to lead the victors and finish first. He rolled seven straight strikes to start his personal-best game two outing, and finished it with nine strikes. 

Dailey added seven strikes in the fifth and 10^th frames of the Baker Series.

Joziah Salazar bowled a strong 216-194=410 set.  Weston Johnstone bowled a 223-177=400 series. He rolled seven strikes in his 223 outing. 

Emmitt Kidd rolled a 201-198=399 series as the Pirates took the top four spots. 

Xavier Navarro rolled a 190 in game two, while Elijah Nye contributed a 144 in game one to combine for a 334 series. 

“Individually, Johnstone had a season-best 223 game, and Coby Dailey set a personal-best 263, which is the second-highest in team history,” Nye pointed out. “Dailey had a 441 series, which is the fourth-highest in team history.”

GIRLS RESULTS
“Being one short on the girl's side they all went out and competed hard, and it showed,” Nye said. “Navarro had her best game and series of the season and Laney Kiene's 335 series wasn't just her best but also a team record too.” 

In the girls match, Parkway won the first game 720-498, then captured game two by a 785-582  tally. The Panthers handily won the opening series by 425 pins, 1,505-1,080.

Bluffton rolled a 98-99-82-88-75=442 Baker Series as they won only game two of the set. Parkway bowled a 181-80-113-124-152=650 Baker Series to take round two by 208 pins.

Laney Kiene bowled a 166-169=335 opening round series to pace Bluffton and finish second overall in the match. She added three strikes in the Baker Series.

Elana Navarro rolled a 124-165=289 series. Charlotte Kidd rolled a 121-159=280 set. Natalie Richards tallied an 87-89=176 series.

END OF SEASON NEARS
The Jack Hammill tournament at 20th Century Lanes this past Monday was cancelled due to bad weather.

“With us getting closer to the end of the season, so many bowlers are making big improvements right now,” said Nye. “I could not be prouder of our bowling Pirates.”

The Pirates play at Lincolnview on Monday, January 26. Bluffton then hosts Liberty-Benton on Friday, Jan. 30.