Comet bowlers roll past Tigerhawks on the road

By John Burbridge sports@charlescitypress.com

WEST UNION —Charles City head bowling coach Doug Bohlen didn’t actually refer to Lilac Lanes as a “house of horrors”, but he did mention that it was one of those old bowling alleys that tend to give young bowlers some trouble.

Indeed. The small 8-lane house leaves little room for error. Miss your mark a little to the right — or left if you’re a left-hander — and don’t expect your ball to come back and get ready for an ugly-looking leave that includes the headpin.

Even one-pin spares are tricky if you employ a straight-ball shot. More than once, Comet bowlers missed 7-pin attempts when their ball got trapped in the oil in the middle of the lanes before rolling past the target untouched.

Yet despite those challenging conditions, the Charles City girls varsity team improved 19 pins from last week for a season-best pinfall of 2,721 — more than 1,000 pins greater than hosting North Fayette Valley during Friday’s dual meet.

In the Baker Rotation round, the Comet girls averaged 200 nearly on the nose while combining efforts for a five-game 1,001 total.

“They had about six opens that entire round,” Charles City assistant coach Tyler Mitchell said, “and three of those came from splits.”

Comet leadoff bowler Maddie Ross led the individual round with a two-game series of 409.  Her series could have been much better if not for an open in the 10th frame of the second game.

Through three meets, Ross leads the Comet girls with a 199 average.

As for the Comet boys, senior Hunter Brockney leads that squad with a 217 average despite an off game of 138 shot last week against Denver.

Against the Tigerhawks, Brockney led the Comets with a two-game 450 series that included a 248 second game.

Though the Comet boys couldn’t match the Comet girls in the Baker Rotation — they combined for a 933 total — they were consistent enough during the individual round to end up with a total 2,805 pinfall.

North Fayette Valley rolled a 2,408

Both Comet teams are undefeated at 3-0 and will host Sumner-Fredericksburg Dec. 15 at Comet Bowl.

Boys

CHARLES CITY 2,805,
NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY 2,408

CHARLES CITY (2,805)

Hunter Brockney 202, 248-450, Cade Schmidt 190, 176-366, Kaleb Ross 168, 191-359, Kale Ross 202, 138-340, Garrett Gerholdt 162, 139-301, Nathan Shultz 176, 181-357.

BAKER ROTATION — 180, 190, 175, 193, 195-933.

Girls

CHARLES CITY 2,721,

NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY 1,718

CHARLES CITY (2,721)

Maddie Ross 195, 214-409, Sarah Mitchell 149, 176-325, Macy Ross 149, 189-338, Katie Sickman 143, 194-337, Baili Girkin 168, 143-311, Falyn Knecht 125, 140-265.

BAKER ROTATION — 202, 229, 167, 214, 189-1001.