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Sunday, January 19, 2003

By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Jean Rioux, seeded sixth in the preliminary rounds, won five consecutive roll-off games to finish in first place and pick up $1,000 in the North American Duckpins Championship at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association.

Michael Jourdenais of Quebec was second and Fox Chapel's Tony Pyle third in the weekend competition that attracted 37 competitors from Canada, Baltimore, Erie and Western Pennsylvania.

Other district bowlers to reach the roll-offs were Sewickley's Joe Sawyer and Greenfield's Joe Marchase.

Jourdenais was top-seed after qualifying with 1,132 pins for six games, including a 636 three-game series that is the highest in recent memory at the PAA.

The Western Pennsylvania Duckpin Tournament Association series will resume at 1 p.m. Saturday at the PAA.

Scholastic stars

Baldwin (5-0) and Hempfield (5-0) are the only undefeated boys' teams and Hempfield (5-0) and Montour (5-0) are the remaining perfect girls' teams in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League.

Franklin Regional's Adam Reabe was high for the boys last week with a 268 single game and 719 series. Other top scores were turned in by Greensburg Central Catholic's John Rahl (704) and Mike Borland (267), Franklin Regional's Tristin Hill (256), Baldwin's Ryan Strom (237/622) and Josh Sopko (237/609), North Hills' Bill Lapsey (234/639), North Allegheny's Kevin Davis (244), Montour's Bill Cutrone (225/626) and Canevin's Anthony Trapuzzano (249/612) and Mike Palastro (603).

The girls featured Hempfield's Tara Kane, who led the way with a 247 and 687 series. The only other 600 was posted by Penn-Trafford's Danielle Holodnak (224/616). Games over 200 were rolled by Hempfield's Jen DaLicandro (207), Baldwin's Jessie Spratt (224) and Nikki Shore (211), North Allegheny's Melissa Gottron (242) and North Hills' Jill Smith (214).

Perfecto

Tony Laird dedicated a 300 that was the first in the Penlum's Men's League this season at Nesbit's Lanes to his father, Jack, who passed away in March of 2002. Tony had rolled three 299s since his father's death. Tony now has five career 300s, including three at Nesbit's.

Harley Schultz fired a 300 in the middle game of an 817 in the Bud Light Trio League and Pete Yarbrough had a 300 in the Coors Light Doubles League at North Versailles Bowling Center.

The tournament trail

Jim Petzel defeated Chuck Fischerkeller in the finals to pick up $1,000 by winning a Tri-State Bowlers Tour-sponsored scratch singles tournament at West Pike Bowl in Canonsburg.

Jason Muller defeated Kevin Mynahan, 204-182, to win Week 13 of the Miller Lite Head-to-Head tournament at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes. Muller threw a 300 in the semifinal round. There will be a tournament tonight at 8:15.

Bob Zinkon (Sugarcreek, Ohio) defeated J.J. Kurfess (Pittsburgh) in the final match, 221-217, to win the weekly Head-to-Head tournament at All American Lanes in Steubenville. The strike-pot has reached $1,930.

Traveling along

Rich Wahlster's 278/766, Harley Schultz' 289/707 and Adam Deiuliis' 255/722 at AMF Noble Manor Lanes highlighted Week 8 in the Pittsburgh Area Travel League. Ron Franceski's 220.66 average leads the league, followed by Mike Popovich Jr.'s 215.90.

Sheffield Lanes with 77 points lengthened its lead over runner-up Nesbit's Lanes' 61 points in the team standings.

League leaders

John Fichter's 229 and Dave Berman's 220 average top the Bud Lite $12,000 Classic at South Hills Bowl.

Jason Muller tops the charts in the Thursday Coors Light Classic League at Miracle Lanes with a 226.2 average, followed by Jack Eyeraman's 224.5 and Mark Diehm's 218.3.

On a roll

Rich Poliziani had games of 258, 278 and 257 for a 793 series in the Coors Light Players League at AMF Noble Manor Lanes.

John Airhart threw a 258/757 in the Thursday Men's Classic League at Princess Lanes.