By Gabe D'Angelo

Herald Bowling Columnist



“I’M TOO OLD to be bowling 11 games in our day,” said Francis Zitnik (age 60) after he won the Sunset Lanes King of the Hill Tournament that was held May 18. But, apparently age wasn’t a factor in his win as Zitnik totaled 2625 pins and averaged 238.63 for his 11 games.

He also flirted with perfection with a 299 game in the semifinal match, leaving a 2-pin. “I told you earlier in the day that speed was going to be very critical and I made it a point to be careful with it. Seriously, some days the breaks go your way and some days they don’t. Today was my day,” he said.

The tournament attracted 19 bowlers and as usual with tournaments at Sunset featured some of the top bowlers in the surrounding area. Among the participants was PBA member John Hrscina.

The tourney was designed to emphasize both skill and attrition. Each participant bowled a four-game qualifier, and then the field was cut to the top 10. Those who made the top 10 bowled two more games and the field was cut to the top six. The top six bowled two more games to determine the four stepladder finalists. All scores carried over until you reached the stepladders.

Bruce Boyd led the qualifiers for the top ten cut with 1017. Other qualifiers included: (2) Adam Barta (1002), (3) Kevin Richardson (977) (4) Bob Eckenrode (931), (5) Brian Zipay (923), (6) Andrea Lucente (916), (7) John Hostetler (900), (8) Zitnik (894), (9) Bryan Bailey (859) and (10) Dave Jara (854).

High games during the qualifying round went to the following: Boyd (279, 254), Barta (278, 263), Eckenrode (269), Lucente (267), Jara (265), Hostetler (258), Richardson (258, 258, 254) and Zipay and Stevens (257).

Those who made the top six were as follows: (1) Barta (1465), (2) Richardson (1443), (3) Eckenrode (1435) (4) Zitnik (1429), (5) Boyd (1405) and Hostetler (1391).

Second-round high scores went to Zitnik (280, 255), Eckenrode (279), Barta (259), Jara (257) and Hostetler (256).

Two more games produced the final four. They were (1) Barta (1927), (2) Richardson (1913), (3) Zitnik (1886) and Eckenrode (1841).

In the first game of the stepladders, Zitnik defeated Eckenrode 217-215. One of the most crucial events occurred in the 3rd frame. Eckenrode had struck in the 2nd and his shot in the 3rd looked like a double. But, he fouled. He managed to convert the foul to a spare, but the error was meaningful in pin count.

But, he regrouped, converted a 5-7 in the 9th and ended the game with a turkey for 215.

Zitnik also had problems in the 3rd. He failed to convert a 2-5-8 (leaving the 8 pin) and found himself down by 11 (59-48). However, he marked the rest of the way including strikes on the last five shots and ended with 217 for the win.

The 2nd stepladder game matched Zitnik against Richardson and it was one for the ages. Between the two contestants, there were a total of 21 strikes.

Richardson’s only miscue came in the dreaded 3rd frame. After starting with a double, he left the 3-7-9. He managed to get the 9 pin for a total of 53. However, he threw the next 8 and finished the game with a 9 count for 263.

Zitnik gave the audience a thrill. He threw 11 in a row and then left the 2 pin on his final ball for 299.

The championship pitted Zitnik against top-seeded Barta. Barta started with a strike, but failed to convert a single pin spare (2-pin) in the 2nd. However, he threw the next four, marked out and ended with 216.

Zitnik began with a spare, threw strikes on the next three balls, but left a 6-7 split in the 5th. He didn’t get any pins on the conversion attempt and found himself trailing 117-104. However he marked the rest of the way, including crucial strikes in the 9th, 10th, and 11th, and finished with a 9 count for 223 and the championship.

ä Winners from the 2008 Mercer County USBC WBA Championship Tournament are as follows: Team Event, Classic Division:  Reynolds Lanes (2726), Team members:  Missy Furmanek, Tanya Morris, Ashleigh Arnold and Valorie Filer. Senior Division: Lee’s Senior Team (2510), Team Members: Lee Bodien, Barb Battyanyi, Bonnie Gray and Chris Rowe.

Doubles Classic Division: (tie) Candi Rodgers/Donna Marano and Arnold/Furmanek (1405); Senior Division, Battyanyi/Chris Rowe (1240).

Singles, Classic Division, Furmanek (801), Senior Division, Doris Fyffe (665).

All Events handicap and scratch; Furmanek 2216/2024.

High Scratch Results: Tournament high game, Angela Wilson (268), Tournament high series, Furmanek (737), High Team game, Reynolds Lanes (2371), High doubles, Pam Williams/Kathy Davis (1229).

ä Mercer County Youth bowler Michael Black had an outstanding year. In the qualifying round for the Pepsi Tournament at Reynolds Lanes, he shot 258-256-191 for 705. Those scores advanced him to the first level of the competition in Titusville. There he shot 657, which was high scratch for the tournament.

His performance at Titusville earned him scholarship money and an opportunity to advance to the next level which was held at York, Pa on May 17-18. There were some 200 participants at York, and on the first day of the event, Black shot 263-226-236-196 for 921. That was the best performance of the day and enabled him to move to the 2nd round of competition.

During that round, he shot 181-203-205-217 for 806. His two-day total was good for 3rd place where once again he received scholarship money and a plaque.

But, more importantly, he qualified for the Pepsi Nationals which will be held in Detroit on July 8. Good Luck to Mike in his endeavors.

ä Mercer County bowlers were instrumental in raising money for deceased firefighter Brad Holmes of Pine Twp Engine Company 85. During their annual tournament, they raised $700. When combined with a donation from Charles Gibbs Construction, the amount swelled to $1000 which was presented to the Holmes family.

ä This will be the last article until Sept 7. However, if there is something you feel is newsworthy, please do not hesitate to notify me at 724-981-8942 or e-mail at guru8942@verizon.net.