By Cort Reynolds

MARION__The Bluffton High School bowling teams competed well in the annual Ridgedale Rocket Baker Bash tournament at Cooper’s Bowl in Marion on Saturday, November 15.

The Pirate boys took second place out of 11 teams at the event, while the Bluffton girls made a top-four showing amid a field of 14 squads.

BOYS RESULTS
The Pirate boys bowled 203-206-182-186=777 in game one. 

In the second match, Bluffton bowled 201-159-178-169=707. In the third game, they rolled 232-193-176-171=772 for a 2,256 three-game series total that put them in first place after the qualifying round.

The Pirate boys then advanced to the finals with wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals. In the title round, they lost to traditional power Marion Pleasant to bring home a second-place trophy.

Bracket play was conducted in a best-of-three Baker games format.

“This was a group of boys that finished in the top four last year at this tournament, and we wanted more this year,” said Pirate head coach Ben Nye.

“It was one of the most consistent days of bowling you can have across this many games,” he continued. “Watching each bowler making the right adjustments and picking up crucial spares all day really showed, with qualifying first and making it all the way to the final match.

“I am super proud,” he added.

Pirate boys bowlers were Joziah Salazar, Coby Dailey, Xavier Navarro, Elijah Nye, Weston Johnstone, Emmitt Kidd, Brady Montgomery and Levi Shepler. 

GIRLS RESULTS
The Pirate girls bowled 131-113-100-136=480 in game one of their Baker Series. In set two, they rolled 91-102-91-107=391. In the third match, Bluffton bowled 118-131-106=78=433. 

Their three-game series total was 1,304 pins.

The Pirate girls qualified for the knockout round by finishing sixth in the opening round. The girls won their quarterfinal round match, but lost in the semifinals.

Galion Northmor won the girls tournament, and the Marion Pleasant girls squad came in second.

The Pirate girls were represented by Charlotte Kidd, Elana Navarro, Natalie Richards, Laney Kiene and Savannah Grossman. 

“This is our first season with a girls program, and they went to a bowling alley they have never been to before and qualified into the bracket,” Nye noted. 

“They won their first round match, and ended up placing in the top four. It was an amazing day. It is a great start to the Bluffton girls bowling program,” he added.

Bluffton (0-1, 0-1) hosts Upper Sandusky in a dual match on Friday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. at Southgate Lanes.

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