Current conditions unavailable
The W.F. West girls bowling team completed their second-consecutive undefeated league championship in Aberdeen Wednesday night by defeating the Aberdeen Bobcats on the road, 2,135 to 1,430 total pins at Rainier Lanes.
“Rainier Lanes in Aberdeen is a very nice bowling alley, but in the four years of our program, we have really struggled bowling in the harbor,” W.F. West head coach Don Bunker said. “Wednesday started out slow in the first game and I thought, ‘here we go again.’ But our team did an excellent job of adjusting to a very different lane condition than we are accustomed to. Adjusting to different lane conditions quickly is what separates good bowlers from great ones.”
In the first game, the top three Bearcat bowlers struggled. Brianna Powe had to adjust to not swinging the ball out and hitting her leg on the ball return on her release. Jessica Loflin had trouble finding her mark. But by the latter half of the first game, she found that the 10 board was working nicely for her.
Cami Aldrich struggled in the first and second game. Sophomore anchor Piper Chalmers adjusted quickly and shot a 214.
“Piper is only a sophomore but she is the most experienced bowler in our program,” Bunker said. “She has not lost her composure this season and when she does not get strikes, she picks up her spares. Piper is able to make those adjustments quickly and does an excellent job of recognizing the shot early.”
In the second game the Bearcats started making adjustments to the lane conditions. Powe rolled a 175, Loflin recovered from the first game and bowled a solid 171, Chalmers bowled a 181 and Aldrich continued to struggle finding her mark and a consistent release point.
In the final game, assistant coach Rich Bunker challenged Aldrich to do better and told her that the team needed a better performance out of her ,and gave her some advice on what she needed to do. Aldrich is one of two granddaughters that Rich Bunker coaches on the varsity team (the other being Clara Bunker).
Aldrich responded well and put everything together in the final game to bowl a 204. The rest of the Bearcats followed Aldrich’s lead and finished the match on a high note. Powe shot a 204 and Loflin bowled a 185. Chalmers finished with a match-high 235.
The Bearcats will have until next Wednesday, June 9, to prepare to defend last year’s district championship at Triangle Lanes in Longview.
Scores
Brianna Powe 156, 175, 204 (535 series)
Jessica Loflin 134, 171, 185 (490 series)
Cami Aldrich 134, 135, 211 (480 series)
Piper Chalmers 214, 181, 235 (630 series)