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Prep keglers tour the county

By DEREK LaRIVIERE
Published October 18, 2006

The Pasco High School Travel League is not sanctioned by the Florida High School Athletic Association as an official prep sport, but these student-athletes have lobbied and worked hard to make sure they have a place to compete.

Due to regulations on funding and other administrative restraints, bowling is seen as a club by the participating schools. In the league, they travel around the county, holding matches at different bowling centers every week.

Currently, Wesley Chapel leads the boys standings and thanks to team anchor Frankie Pascarella, the Wildcats have a one-point lead (32 points) over Ridgewood and Mitchell. Pascarella has tallied the high scratch game (279) and high scratch series (752) in the league this season. No other competitor has achieved a 700 series.

"Frank has really improved over the course of the season," Wesley Chapel coach Jim Hearl said. "As a matter of fact, all of our bowlers have surpassed their entering averages."

Hudson has been the dominant team on the girls' side. The Cobras have a three-point lead (38 points) over Ridgewood. The third place team is Pasco with 28 points.

The Cobras' Alexa Anderson leads her team with a 175 average and 225 high game, third best in the league. The other top female is Ridgewood's Sammi Quijano. Quijano is averaging 174 and holds the top spot for high scratch series (596) and is second in high game (240).

With nine weeks left in the 17-week season, there is still a lot of competition ahead of these teams. The league heads to Royal Lanes in Lutz for its next matches.

PBA SOUTHERN SWEEPER: With the 21st annual PBA Southern Regional coming to Lane Glo Lanes North on Saturday the bowling center held a traditional local sweeper tournament to open the tournament to some of the area's top amateur competitors.

The performances did not disappoint with Pete Dohan winning with a six-game scratch total of 1,294. Dohan averaged a 235 last year while competing at Pin Chasers Midtown Bowling Center in Tampa. He is a semi-frequent participant in PBA Southern Region stops.

Spring Hill resident Jason Mahr finished second to qualify for the tournament. He totaled 1,268 over the course of the sweeper. Mahr is coming off of an impressive stretch at both Hudson Bowl and Mariner Lanes in Spring Hill. He achieved three 800 series over two weeks. One of the scores tied the Mariner house record.

Brian Fitzmaurice was the final qualifier, finishing with a 1,263 total. A regular at Pin Chasers Veterans Bowling Center in Tampa, he averaged a 230 while competing in a league there last season.

[Last modified October 17, 2006, 22:34:18]