By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Several Portage County bowlers are already collecting hardware and building their resume early in the bowling season. Others are leading their teams to victory over opponents with high games and high series.

ABBY SMITH, SOUTHEAST

The Southeast Pirates are off to a solid start to their season, picking up two victories this week over both Marlington and Crestwood.

Abby Smith led the way in both matches, contested at Spins Bowl in Kent.

Smith rolled a 309 series (137-171) against Marlington that just missed the high score of the match by 311 tossed by Marlington’s Cora Wales.

Smith’s 368 series with a high game of 196 against Crestwood. Both efforts were the best in the match.

JUSTIN MILLER, ROOTSTOWN

JUSTIN MILLER

The Rovers’ Justin Miller has been a team leader this season and has already earned medals from the Ravenna Invitational and the State Kickoff Tournament.

In a match against East Canton, Miller rolled a 415 series that included games of 202 and 213.

He continued to rise above the 400 mark against Alliance, tossing a 431 series that included games of 214 and 217, the high series of the match.

The Rovers have a balanced team this season. High series of the match against Alliance was accomplished by Sean Boveington, a 424 with back-to-back games of 212. Nick Moorehead added a 208 game to the victory.

Nick Moorehead also rolled the high game at the Norton Panther Challenge, a 279.

BRAYDON DARKOW, KENT ROOSEVELT

Darkow already boasts the only 300 perfect game rolled this season in Portage County high school bowling circles.

He continued his solid efforts on the lanes, tossing a 225-198 against Suburban League competitor, Nordonia, at Kent Lanes. The Rough Riders lost the match 2,710 to 2,108.

PAYTON CURALL, ROOTSTOWN

After setting a new school record for high series, Curall continued to impress, bowling an outstanding 236 game on her way to a 405 series against East Canton.

The Rovers’ Elli Campbell rolled the high series of the match, a 431 with a 222 game and Natalie Hammerschmidt added a 219 game to Rootstown’s winning effort against the Hornets.

ADDITIONAL HIGH GAMES OF NOTE

• JILLIAN EDEN of Kent Roosevelt bowled a 201 game against Nordonia at Kent Lanes. Her series (391) was the best on the lanes for the Lady Riders in their loss to Nordonia.
• ALANNAH RAFF of Ravenna tossed a 213 high game and a 370 series against Norton at Charger Lanes in Norton.
• RYAN ROOSA of Field bowled both the high game and series for the Falcons against Coventry at Kent Lanes. Roosa bowled a 204 and finished her tw- game set with a 351 series.
• MARK JONES of Ravenna bowled a 279 high game and a 438 high series against the Norton Panthers. His game was the best of the match but he was edged out of high series by three pins when Nick Phelps of Norton rolled a 441.

POSTSEASON TOURNAMENTS

When the OHSAA tournaments begin, Division II teams from Portage County will be close to home as they look to advance to the state tournaments.

Spins Bowl in Kent hosts the D-II Tri-County Sectional Tournament, with the boys competing on Feb. 9 and girls on Feb. 12.

Among the 15 teams at Spins Lanes, are Crestwood, Garfield, Ravenna, Rootstown and Southeast.

Division-I teams, Kent Roosevelt and Streetsboro, look to do its best at Freeway Lanes in Warren as the boys and girls are scheduled for Feb. 19.