(2/3/09) B-PSL Champs: So close, and so far

For our first blog back from a semi-hiatus, I direct your attention to the B-PSL, the league from which my very first bowling report originated. In 2001, my first post-college employer, WGHT, assigned me to do a radio feature on Amanda Pezzano and the Hawthorne bowling team. I'm almost afraid to go back and listen to it, since I've toned down the "corny" quite a bit since then -- not entirely, but enough -- however, it still brings back memories, and halcyon days, and blah blah blah. Today, Position Day... much more exciting. At least on one end.

Pompton Lakes dominated the B-PSL Carpenter all season, losing just one match (and only two games) en route to its third straight league title and fourth in the last five years. In fact, all five Cardinals made first team All-League, which isn't that easy to do, even in a small league. And just an aside for any lingering doubters: their first game against Eastern Christian today was a 1,096. All five went over 200. I'd say too bad that four of them are seniors, but there's still a state tournament to be contested, so too bad nothing. The Cardinals will be there at T-Bowl on Feb. 14 for the North 1-B finals, returning to the house where they finished second in last month's Passaic County tournament.

The B-PSL King race came down to the last day -- which, ideally, is what having a position round is for: settling the score one last time. Garfield and Manchester came into the day tied with matching 46-19 records, but the Falcons emerged with a sweep behind a matter-of-fact 223-233--456 from junior Jaylin Floyd. I interviewed him for my 'GHT State Finals wrap-up back in 2006... when he made it to Carolier as a freshman. Needless to say, I continue to be impressed. The best part is, his delivery is pretty unconventional, but he sticks with it because it works for him. And, as I've come to learn, life very often is all about doing what works (right) for you.

Of course, Manchester has arguably one of the top 5 girls bowlers in the area as well, with Jen Houseward playing Joba Chamberlain to Floyd's Mariano Rivera. (Did I need to go big-time with the Yankee references? No -- but hey, it worked for me). David Vela is a solid third man, and -- point of order -- the Falcons already have finished as a semifinalist at the FDU Holiday Challenge (where both Floyd and Houseward were named tourney all-stars) and fourth against some tough competition at Counties. I'm sensing some serious "little-team-that-could" potential come sectionals.

Other notes and nuggets from B-PSL Position Day... Welcome to the league Mary Help of Christians, stepping in for Immaculate Conception, which no longer fields a team. The Blue Jays don't become official members until next year, so their wins and losses don't count, but their averages do. Kristin Chiocchi had Mary Help's game of the day with a 151... Midland Park senior Amanda Stacey, known as a vocal leader on the softball field, is much the same on the lanes. I couldn't help overhearing the decree that she was about to make her final B-PSL throws in the 10th -- she capped an 8-9-10 turkey on her first ball before finishing up 9-open... the tough-luck team of the day, and possibly the season, had to be Elmwood Park. The Crusaders dropped their first game against Hawthorne by 24 points and the second game by just 8. Ryan Kipilla had a nice day, starting with a 218 and missing a 400 series by 1 pin (See what I mean? EP needs to invest in some seven-leaf clovers)... Speaking of Hawthorne, congratulations to Kyle Bruinooge, who was finally awarded his first-team All-League plaque after a brief mix-up. Hopefully the Bears can forgive league president Andy Antista, especially since he used to be their coach before handing over the reins to John LaForge... Saw some good things out of Garfield and Eastern Christian, too; in particular, the Boilermakers' Shaun Dunning picking up a 6-7 split in the 10th frame of Game 2 and the Eagles' Austin Bullock picking up a tough second-game split as well (I think it was Austin -- also, I can't remember the exact pins since I only caught the tail end. BTW, e-mail the link below for corrections).

Okay, that should cover everybody. Here are the final numbers to close the book on the 2008-09 B-PSL season... NNJIL, it's your turn tomorrow.

FINAL STANDINGS (Points Won, Points Lost, Team Average)
King Division
Manchester: 51-19 (846 avg.)
Garfield: 46-24 (823 avg.)
Hawthorne: 37-33 (773 avg.)
Elmwood Park: 2-68 (737 avg.)

Carpenter Division
Pompton Lakes: 65-5 (940 avg.)
Eastern Christian: 25-45 (775 avg.)
Midland Park: 19-46 (741 avg.)
Mary Help: No record (Official league member in 2009-10)

High game: (King) Ryan Kipilla, Elmwood Park, 277; (Carpenter) Jon Eis-Figueroa, Pompton Lakes, 269
High series: (King) Jen Houseward, Manchester, 473; (Carpenter) Jon Eis-Figueroa, 483
High average: (King) Jaylin Floyd, Manchester, 209; (Carpenter) Jon Rizzi, Pompton Lakes, 200

ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS (Averages in parentheses)
KING DIVISION, 1st team: Jaylin Floyd, Manchester (209); Ryan Kipilla, EP (189); Jen Houseward, Manchester (183); Nick Stone, Hawthorne (180); Alex Cheski, EP (180); Kyle Bruinooge, Hawthorne (179); David Vela, Manchester (174).
2nd team: Matt Dunning, Garfield (173); Andrew Jarosz, Garfield (172); Peter Bruinooge, Hawthorne (167); Shaun Dunning, Garfield (160); Vincent Mooney, Garfield (160); Steve Puzio, Garfield (158); Chris Gervasio, Manchester (151).

CARPENTER DIVISION, 1st team: Jon Rizzi, PL (200); Jon Eis-Figueroa, PL (192); Billy Jack, PL (190); Kevin Kornberg, PL (180); Danielle Gelok, PL (178); Debbie Vogel, EC (171); Devon DeJong, EC (164).
2nd team: Amanda Stacey, MP (160); Shaun Cairns, MP (158); Kyle Cairns, MP (156); Austin Bullock, EC (154); Brian Vanderheide, EC (151); Shawn Bartosik, MP (147); Michelle Okma, EC (135).

E-mail any and all corrections to NorthJerseyBRG@gmail.com, and yes I am getting caught up on answering e-mails, too.

-North Jersey Bowling... Reporter... Guy