NORTH RIDGEVILLE — Redemption.
The Vermilion boys and North Ridgeville girls teams both earned it Sunday as they repeated as Lorain County Division I sectional bowling champs at Brunswick Zone.
The two teams made up for shaky performances at the North Shore Bowling Conference Tournament on Feb. 10. The North Ridgeville girls were second at the NSBC, the Vermilion boys third.
The Vermilion boys rallied past North Ridgeville in Sunday’s third game and never relinquished the lead.
Vermilion won with a 3,985 pin total. Brunswick (3,852), North Ridgeville (3,758), Keystone (3,749) and Cuyahoga Heights (3,718) earned the other four berths to Saturday’s Wickliffe district.
The North Ridgeville girls led Vermilion by only 20 pins through three games, but pulled away by outscoring the Sailors in the 5-Baker game format, 836-707.
North Ridgeville chalked up 3,397 pins for the victory. Vermilion (3,256) and Admiral King (3,188) earned the other two spots for the girls district next Sunday at Wickliffe.
Juniors Bryan Buckosh (659) and Jacob Casto (647) had high series for the Vermilion boys.
“Last week we failed to adjust to the lanes,” Buckosh said. “This week we made adjustments. We communicated better as a team. Last week, we were too focused on our individual games. Today we helped each other out with each shot and how to adjust. Obviously, it helped a lot.”
Buckosh had the sectional’s second-best series, while Casto tied Wellington’s Jordan Rutherford for the third best series. Buckosh (278) and Casto (277) had the tournament’s top two single-game performances.
“The first game was a little shaky (858), but the second game we really stepped it up (1,009),” Casto said. “I came out strong and threw a 277 in the second game. Bryan took off the third game and bowled 278. We all stepped it up the third game (998). We knew we were up (93 pins over Brunswick) going into Baker games and we wanted to keep that way.”
A strong Baker average of 208 was key for Vermilion, which has a 198 season average in Baker games, but only averaged 167 last Sunday.
“It’s just coming out and making good shots,” Casto said. “That’s what it comes down to. As long we communicate effectively and help each other, we can definitely get to the state tournament again.”
Vermilion was 15th at last year’s state tournament in Lancaster, the first sanctioned by the OHSAA. In 2005-06, the Sailors were second at the state tournament sanctioned by the state coaches association.
Sophomore Tabitha Hill led the North Ridgeville girls with a 596 series, good for the second-best series performance behind Admiral King senior Natalie Velasquez (608).
“We were just going with it, hitting our marks and everything,” Hill said. “Last week our spare bowling and splits hurt us. The 7-pin and 10-pin combinations were especially a problem, particularly the 10-pin. They’re the worst for us.”
Senior Nichole Lamie (537), freshman Devan Freeman (506) and sophomore Becca Lamb (459) were also key to the Rangers’ efforts.
“There was a lot pressure being defending champ and in our home house,” Hill said. “You had to be on your target. I was so nervous I got butterflies.”
Hill had the tournament’s top game with a 230.
“Today, if one of our players had a missed split or something, the other girls were right there to pick them up,” North Ridgeville girls coach Debijo Lamb said. “That’s what it’s all about. They cheered them on. That’s what these girls do. They don’t get down on each other for missing anything.”
Southview sophomore Ciera Diaz was the tournament’s top individual qualifier from a non-qualifying team with a 583.
“Today I was a little more consistent,” said Diaz, who bowled 593 at the NSBC tournament. “I came into today with a strong feeling. I practiced a lot over the summer so I can do that. I’m happy with today.”

Boys

Team scores
(Top 5 teams advance to Wickliffe district)
1. Vermilion, 3,985; 2. Brunswick, 3,852; 3. North Ridgeville, 3,758; 4. Keystone, 3,749; 5. Cuyahoga Heights, 3,718; 6. Wellington, 3,700; 7. Firelands, 3,648; 8. Admiral King, 3,472; 9. Southview, 3,351; 10. Amherst, 3,108; 11. Black River, 3,055; 12. Open Door, 2,920; 13. Elyria Catholic, 1,559
District qualifiers from non-qualifying teams (5)
1. Jordan Rutherford (Wellington), 647; 2. Lucas Riggar (Open Door), 633; 3. Robert Comstock (Southview), 582; 4. Brad Pettry (Firelands), 573; 5. Ryan Pettry (Firelands), 570
High game: 1. Bryan Buckosh (Vermilion), 278; 2. Jacob Casto (Vermilion), 277; 3. Lucas Riggar (Open Door), 255; 4. Rutherford, 245; 5. Dave Jezerinac (Cuyahoga Heights), 237
High series: 1. Jezerinac, 704; 2. Buckosh, 659; 3. (tie) Casto and Rutherford, 647; 5. Tyler Minnich (Keystone), 634; 6. Riggar, 633

Area team summaries

VERMILION: Buckosh 206-175-278-659; Casto 184-277-186-647; David Woods 194-207-199-600; D.J. Pohorence 214-191-167-572; Tyler Henson 160-168-328; Vito Ernande 159. 3-game totals 858-1009-998-2,965. Baker game total: 1,039
NORTH RIDGEVILLE: Collin Oliva 235-173-203-611; Wes Arndt 202-209-180-591; Mike O’Sullivan 191-173-203-570; Tyler Cameron 175-202-148-525; Joe Sas 170-178-348; Todd Morris 159. 3-game totals 973-995-836-2,804 Baker game total: 954
KEYSTONE: Minnich 185-213-236-634; Andrew Johnson 202-160-212-574; Dave Pinto 160-172-179-511; Ben Smith 139-186-182-507; Justin Truman 156-150-306; Ryan Salyer 174. 3-game totals 842-881-983-2,706. Baker game total: 1,043
WELLINGTON: Rutherford 186-245-216-647; Brandon Fraley 191-191-179-561; Andrew Mondak 167-208; 184-559; Zach Wallace 180; Ryan Smith 157; Ryan Robert 146. 3-game totals: 877-1001-897-2,775. Baker game total: 925.
FIRELANDS: Brad Pettry 178-192-203-573; Ryan Pettry 171-222-177-570; Jordan Hunt 234-178-156-568; Andrew Krieg 173-222-171-566; Dave Park 171-156-161. 3-game totals 927-970-868-2,765. Baker game total: 883.
ADMIRAL KING: Brady Dickason 205-169-159-533; Chad Hall 176-174-170-520; Anthony Velasquez 169-173-170-512; Murphy Dickason 202-149-351; Gregory Woods 165-176-341; Thomas Price 145-124-269. 3-game totals: 860-894-772-2,526. Baker game total: 946.
SOUTHVIEW: Comstock 148-214-230-582; Mike Phihoda 198-171-138-507; Jermaine Hernandez 154-146-131-431; Alex Lopez 150-143-293; Christian Beavers 201-139-240; Malik Sydnor 214; Brandon Fitzpatrick 132. 3-game totals: 782-875-852-2,509. Baker game total: 842
AMHERST: Steven Loos 175-182-192-549; Brian Post 150-177-192-519; Becky Burgdorf 209-157-146-512; Travis Wilson 148-146-294; Allison Flock 151-101-252. 3-game totals 833-742-787-2,352. Baker game total: 756.
BLACK RIVER: Adam Brietkrenz 170-124-184-478; Josh Wright 155-168-137-460; Casey Holloway 128-164-153-445; Brittany Tidd 118-120-141-379. 3-game totals: 727-699-759-2,185. Baker game total: 870.
OPEN DOOR: Riggar 188-255-190-633; Kyle Beiswenger 134-156-176-466; Adam Bollinger 134-137-176-447; Russell Large 110-155-128-393; Alicia Phillips 151-121-107-379. 3-game totals: 717-824-777-2,318. Baker game 602.
ELYRIA CATHOLIC: Sean Leighton 144-175-144-463; Eric DoBroka 114-131-108-353; Ben Hoyt 111-105-126-342. 3-game totals: 369-411-378-1,158. Baker game total: 401.

Girls

Team scores

(Top 3 teams advance to Wickliffe district)
1. North Ridgeville, 3,397; 2. Vermilion, 3,256; 3. Admiral King, 3,188; 4. Southview, 3,039; 5. Keystone, 3,038; 6. Wellington, 2,731; 7. Brunswick, 2,683; 8. Elyria Catholic, 2,271; 9. Firelands, 2,232; 10. Cuyahoga Heights, 856
District qualifiers from non-qualifying teams (3)
1. Ciera Diaz (Southview), 583; 2. Erica Friend (Firelands), 575; 3. Ashley Branham (Keystone), 522
High game: 1. Tabitha Hill (North Ridgeville), 230; 2. Candis Rooker (Vermilion), 220; 3. Natalie Velasquez (Admiral King), 207; 4. Velasquez 205; 5. Nichole Lamie (North Ridgeville), 204
High series: 1. Velasquez, 608; 2. Tabitha Hill, 596; 3. Candis Rooker, 588; 4. Ciera Diaz, 583; 5. Friend, 575

Area team summaries

NORTH RIDGEVILLE: Tabitha Hill 200-230-166-596; Nichole Lamie 204-174-159-537; Devan Freeman 181-168-157-506; Becca Lamb 184-149-136-459; Heather Hill 162-156-318; Ashley Schoonover 135. 3-game totals: 931-856-774-2,561. Baker game total: 836.
VERMILION: Candis Rooker 188-180-220-588; Kerstin Neal 200-171-190-561; Ashley Rooker 149-172-185-506; Valerie Piskur 182-128-189-499; Katelyn Sooy 121-131-143-395. 3-game totals: 840-782-927-2,541. Baker game total: 707.
ADMIRAL KING: Velasquez 205-196-207-608; Kayla Soucek 141-155-186-482; Seleana St. Croix 179-125-167-471; Jasmine Harris 137-139-179-455; Krystle Sparino 124-125-249; Mercedes Arnau 124. 3-game totals: 786-739-864-2,389. Baker game total: 799.
SOUTHVIEW: Ciera Diaz 195-192-196-583; Nichole Mendosa 147-142-191-473; Migdalia Diaz 137-147-137-421; Jennifer Long 164-98-262; Emily Sas 130. 3-game totals: 782-710-792-2,284. Baker game total: 755.
KEYSTONE: Ashley Branham 161-173-188-522; Kelsey Arthur 156-177-158-491; Heather Shepard 112-172-165-449; Rachel Salyer 141-131-160-432; Alli Branham 103-187-136-426. 3-game totals: 673-840-807-2,320. Baker game total: 716.
WELLINGTON: Kellie Younglas 147-160-181-488; Sara Irvan 149-126-141-416; LeAnne Metz 142-142-118-402; Hannah Rutherford 130-133-263; Kathleen Plummer 136-127-263. Kateland Kacic 105-129-235. 3-game totals: 673-693-700-2,066. Baker game total: 665.
ELYRIA CATHOLIC: Allie Sigrist 105-135-123-363; Alex Shubeck 120-131-105-356; Kayla Stanziano 99-111-102-312; Hannah Karlie 133-104-237; Sabrina Oates 120-90-210; Amy Pritchard 98-78-176. 3-game totals: 542-600-512-1,654. Baker game total: 617.
FIRELANDS: Friend 215-173-187-575; Caitlin Gillen 108-113-115-336; Kristie Flickinger 98-104-107-309; Cari SanFelippo 79-117-99-295; Liz Thomas 89-71-73-233. 3-game totals: 589-578-581-1,748. Baker game total: 484.
 

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