Preps

State magic doesn't return for Pinellas

The title drought continued for Pinellas County teams.

The Palm Harbor University High girls finished third and its boys tied for fifth in the State High School Tournament in Davie on Saturday.

Pasco J.W. Mitchell defeated DeLand for the girls championship, and Miami Coral Reef successfully defended its boys crown by beating Palmetto.

The tourney had a record 60 squads -- 32 in the boys division and 28 on the girls side. Orlando's Dave Driscoll and Pam Luther directed the event.

After winning titles four years running, Pinellas teams now have been shut out of the top trophies three straight seasons. The last county crown was captured by the Gibbs boys in 1999.

The Palm Harbor girls -- coached by Linda Guinand, Kent Fecke and Pat Scanlon -- turned back Lake Howell in the first round, then stopped Northeast 3-1 in best-of-five Baker match-play.

DeLand ended the Hurricanes' title hopes with a 3-0 victory in the second of four championship rounds.

The 'Canes consisted of Tiffany Chomko, Melissa VanSwearingen, Becky Marhafer, Kristi Montone, Teresa Scanlon and Kelly Fecke.

Fecke produced a 589 series, Scanlon a 562 and VanSwearingen a 492 as Palm Harbor totaled 2,494 pins in the opening round.

In Baker competition, each bowler rolls two frames per game with total pins determining the winner.

Coach Julie Potter's J.W. Mitchell girls team defeated Miami Killian, Flagler Palm Coast, South Dade and DeLand en route to the championship.

Mitchell's Jamie Potter, who posted the only 300 game in state history last year at Seminole Lanes, fired a 651 scratch series this time in the first round. Andrea Traci notched a 666 and Caithlin O'Brien a 508.

Other team members were Jenna Broughm, Felecia Micalizzi and Elizabeth Stiller. The Filly Stags totaled 2,780 pins to DeLand's 2,633.

The field had three scratch qualifying games, with a cut to the top 16 girls and 16 boys squads. Two match-play games reduced the tourney to eight teams each. They rolled best-of-five Baker games to determine the final four girls and boys clubs.

The final four in each division had a best-of-five Baker series, with a cut to the final two girls and boys teams. The finalists then competed in the best-of-five Baker system to decide the champions.

The Lakewood and Hudson girls failed to escape the first round. Seminole, a former state champ, lost to South Dade High 3-2 in the second round. Northeast defeated Eustis, then lost 3-1 to Palm Harbor.

In the boys competition, Coral Reef beat Seminole 3,018-2,773 in the opening round, then marched past Largo 3-0, DeLand 3-1 and Palmetto 3-1.

Palm Harbor defeated Port St.Lucie, then lost 3-1 to Orlando Edgewater for its fifth-place tie.

The Hurricanes were comprised of Steve Wells, Chris Fecke, Andrew Carr, Jon Wilson and Josh Guinand. Wilson's 661 series led the squad to a first-round 2,889 pinfall.

Two-time champion Dixie Hollins, Hudson, River Ridge and Lakewood failed to advance past Round 1.

"Only one or two teams (Pinellas County included) had ever played Baker before, so it was a new experience for a lot of young players," Driscoll said.

"Next year, the Florida High School Activities Association will recognize bowling as a varsity sport and, more than likely, they all will have to roll Baker," he said.

TITLE WIN: Kenneth City captured the championship in the third annual St.Petersburg Men's Senior Tournament at Liberty Lanes.

The two-weekend tourney comprised of 28 teams was completed Sunday.

The squad of Philip James, Ken Carpenter, Ed Koster and Larry Walters nailed 2,862 pins to overtake the leader, Sunshine Bowl, by 266. The Low Flyers (2,595) were third.

Seminole's Bill Zuben took the singles title with a 739 handicap series, and he teamed with Phil Gulick to win the doubles at 1,434.

Walters finished second (725) in singles, and Norb Treutel was third (693). Don Hamilton and Gerard Woodward were the runners-up in doubles at 1,395.

Walters topped the all-events competition with a 2,188, and Zuben was second (2,106).

The Super Seniors singles crown went to Cal Snyder, 713. Ken Carpenter and Keith Korneisel tied for second at 707.

Hamilton and Zuben directed the tournament.

AROUND THE LANES: Walter Shafer recorded his first 300 game (765) and Barry Marvel rolled a 299-766 at Countryside Lanes. ... Stan Dzierba posted his third 300 in the Florida Senior Stars League at Sunrise Lanes. ... Dean Galhouse shot a 300-812, Dave Mostoller a 297-804 and Lance Longsdale a 278-804 at Liberty Lanes. Joe Bereczki, Everett Floyd and Dave Palmer turned in 300 performances.

-- Phil Gulick can be reached at xerxes8@msn.com .

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