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Schenectady
A snowstorm last week delayed the mission, but it didn't change the focus for the Colonie girls' bowling team.
The Garnet Raiders, whose comeback from a 349-point deficit last year fell 20 pins short, had no issues this time. They took the lead early and rolled over the field Wednesday to win the Section II girls' championship at Boulevard Bowl.
The tournament had been scheduled for last Thursday, but snow forced its postponement.
"I was so ready the night before," said senior Amanda Chrzanowski, who led Colonie with a 1,247 total "I was hoping we weren't going to get that snow. Unfortunately, we did, but we kept practicing, grinding it out, and we were ready for today."
Colonie fell behind eventual runner-up Bethlehem by 45 pins after one game, then put up scores of 1,020 and 1,106 to finish the three-game morning block ahead by 212. The final margin was 173 pins. Columbia was third, 570 behind Colonie.
Katie Lynch of Lansingburgh was the top bowler individually (1,263) and Lansingburgh (Class B) and Mechanicville (C) also won sectional titles.
"Last year was crazy," Chrzanowski said. "This year we all said to ourselves that we didn't want to do that again. We wanted to come out strong and get ourselves up there, which was good because we had a cushion for the second half."
It was the sixth overall title in the past nine years for the Garnet Raiders and their eighth Class A crown in the same period. Columbia interrupted that run last year and went on to win the state championship.
"They played consistently," said Colonie coach Pete Grugan, whose program has won 10 total sectional championships and 13 in Class A. "They're strong. They've been around a long time. They've seen this. They're good."
As overall sectional champ, Colonie advanced to next month's state tournament for the seventh time. The Garnet Raiders won in 2005, 2010 and 2011.
Grugan said he essentially puts out a lineup of five 200-average bowlers, "and I've three 190s sitting there watching."
The Colonie program grows and develops bowlers. One example of the latter is senior Quinn Hodson, who was third among the Garnet Raiders with a 1,128 total. (Natalya Porcello was second with 1,143.)
"Three years ago she couldn't spell 'bowling,' " Grugan said of Hodson, who averages 198. "She was a softball pitcher. She averaged 79 at tryouts. Because she's a relative, I kept her."
Grugan said Hodson "is a second or third cousin."
"I had no idea that bowling was this tough," Hodson said. "It's a lot of consistency, but if you put your time and effort in, anyone can do it."
Grugan said the key to the latest championship was his team's consistency and focus.
"They've got to stay within themselves, and they can't worry about what this school's doing or that school's doing," Grugan said. "There's no defense in bowling. They've got to stay home and worry about their lane. You see other schools coming down, trying to see what the leaders are doing. That's not a good thing."
TEAM SCORES
Class A: 1, Colonie 5,705. 2, Bethlehem 5,532. 3, Columbia 5,135. 4, Averill Park 5,007. 5, Mohonasen 4,995. 6, Schenectady 4,749. 7, Saratoga Springs 4,711. 8, Ballston Spa 4,425. 9, Niskayuna 4,168,
Class B: 1, Lansingburgh 5,006. 2, Cohoes 4,871. 3, Schalmont 4,502. 4, Fonda 3,569. 5, Ravena 3,974. 6, Cobleskill 2,573.
Class C/D: 1, Mechanicville 4,792. 2, Maple Hill 4,421. 3, Schoharie 4,115. 4, Canajoharie 3,920. 5, Berne-Knox 3,856. 6, Mayfield 3,772. 7, Fort Plain 3,737, Middleburgh 2,592,
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
(Top six not on overall winning team qualified for section team and will advance to state tournament in March.)
1. Katie Lynch (Lansingburgh) 1,263
2. Amanda Chrzanowski (Colonie)* 1,247
3. Melanie Lemke (Bethlehem) 1,231
4. Jenna Lemke (Bethlehem) 1,218
5. Micaela Barbolt (Saratoga Springs) 1,187
6. Abby Carola (Mechanicville) 1,177
7. Elizabeth Ross (Mohonasen) 1,176
* — member of overall champion
pdougherty@timesunion.com • 518-454-5416 • @Pete_Dougherty
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