French column: Blanford sisters roll historic 300 games at Corning's Crystal Lanes
Last Monday at Crystal Lanes in the Jubilee Foods Mixed League, records were broken and history was made by the SKS Racing Team.
For the first time in Corning bowling history, a pair of sisters threw 300 games for the same team on the same night. Let alone the same year. And they were in the midst of breaking some records along the way.
Kayla Blanford kicked off the historic night when she blasted a 300 game. It was her second career perfect game, but her first one in the Corning Association. And that was just the beginning. Plus, it’s the first time three ladies have thrown 300 games in the same season as they joined Meghan Sturdevant on the perfect game list.
After a disastrous first game (127), Samantha Blanford more than made up for it in Game 2 when she converted 12 shots in the pocket to strikes for her first-ever 300 game. This was also the game where their dad, Jake Blanford, rattled off a 279 game while Steve Annis contributed a 220 effort to give SKS a 1,067 total. That is the highest game ever in the Corning Association for a mixed team of two male and two female bowlers.
But wait, we’re not done. At least Kayla wasn’t done. She followed her perfect game with a 268 in that record setting second game and then finished with a 215 for a 783 series. That’s the highest score for the ladies this season and added to another record that was broken earlier this season. She is now the ninth lady to crack the 700 barrier, which is now the new record.
So, when the dust settled and MagicScore added things up, it was Kayla with a 783 set and Sam finishing with a 618 series while dad Jake came home with a 712 series and Steve Annis closed things with a 651 that could have been quite a bit higher with a couple of breaks.
Oh yeah, in the same league, Levi Weiskopff carded a 761 series with games of 227, 266 and 268 while Paul Andrews tossed seven on the button and Heather Farr rode a 236 game to a 612 series. Other than that, it was just another Monday night at the lanes.
On the very next night, Tim DeGraw became the ninth bowler this season to crack the 800 barrier. And, he did it in perfect style. After opening the session in the Hatfield Real Estate Men’s League with a 258 game, Tim delivered 12 shots in the hole for his third 300 game of the season. He polished off the 802 series with a 244 game. That gave him scoring honors for the week. Barely.
In the same league, Al Farr was at it again and nearly rolled his second 800 of the season. But he came up three pins short after collecting games of 256, 279 and 262 for a 797 series. One more strike and bingo.
Eight more guys also topped seven in this high-scoring league. Ricky Pruden put together games of 267, 256 and 245 for a 768 while Bill Bauman rode a 290 effort to a 765 and Doug Madison capped a 751 with a 279 game. Mike Kosinski tossed a 746 with Bruce Twist next at 731 and Chad Farr right behind with a 726. Nick Dobson and Bruce Stanton finished things with 706 and 703 respectively.
There were another eight guys over seven in the Tire World of Corning Men’s League. Patsy Cornacchio led this parade with a 758 set that featured a 289 game while Al Farr showed up with a 748 and Bruce Stanton added a 733. Then in order it was Chad Farr (718), Mike Kosinksi (716), Rick Stewart (707), Aaron Hamilton (704) and Tim DeGraw with seven on the nose.
In other men’s action, Chad Farr and John Austin paced the Sun Legends Mixed League with scores of 743 and 724 respectively while Mitchell Kelly laced a 275 game on his way to leading the Ruth Briggs Memorial League. Ron Gunn fired a 737 set to lead the Addison Men while Frank Caparulo added a 701 series and Jason Robertshaw topped the Gary Cortright Memorial League with a 734 total. Ricky Pruden led a trio of sevens in the Joey’s Contracting Mixed League with a 715 while Patsy Cornacchio added a 709 and Tim DeGraw tossed a 705 series.
Runner-up honors for the ladies this week goes to Hailey Blencowe out of the Savona Storage Ladies League. Hailey kicked off the night with a 249 game then slipped a bit (for her) to a 191 before rebounding with a 254 game to finish the night with a 694 series.
Heather Farr tacked on two more sixes for the week when she topped the Gabe’s Grille Ladies League with a 626 and added a 608 series in the Atlas Pizzeria League where Cheryl Rice took ladies honors with a 623 series. Anita Gennosa posted a pair of sixes this week. She tossed a 630 in the Joey’s League, where Deon Frost paced the gals with a 631 total, and then added a 601 in the Sun Legends League.
In other ladies action, Dawn Bauman paced the Giardina Building & Remodeling Ladies League when she capped a 630 series with a 240 game and Jean Blauvelt rolled a 617 set in the Joey’s League.
More: Stermer rolls rare 804 series, while city tournament champs crowned at Crystal Lanes
Schoonover leads seniors
Over on the senior circuit, Bruce Schoonover got back from vacation just in time to sub and lead the Chilson-Wilcox Senior Men’s League. He opened the set with a 232 game, took a short nap in game two with a 189 before storming back with a 247 to finish with a 668 series.
Two other subs grabbed the next two spots on the scoring ladder. Marion Overhiser highlighted a 664 total with a 246 game while Tim DeGraw three-deuced a 656 set. Rodger Keenan and Ken Mattison matched 645s while Bruce Stanton contributed a 632 and Steve Shattuck came away with a 612 series. Al Farr and John Stermer added scores of 608 and 601 respectively.
In other senior action, Ken Mattison paced the Go-Getters Mixed League with a 636 that featured a 236 game and Bill Sullivan topped the Striking Seniors Mixed League with a 619 total.
Corning's state champions pace junior action
A trio of juniors all went over 600 in the Spring Junior/Adult Mixed League. All three were part of the Corning High School State Championships.
Camryn Stefanini led the way with a 690 series that included a pair of 217 games and a 256 while Peyton Nelson tossed a 688 on games of 247, 237 and 207 and Bentley Goodier rolled a 611 series.
Other high scores this week:
STRIKING SENIORS MIXED
Glen Hanratty 576.
CHILSON-WILCOX SENIOR MEN
Jack Wagon 597, John Arnold Jr. 590, Judd McAtee 236-590; Mike Goltry 582.
GIARDINA BUILDING & REMODELING
Anita Gennosa 591, Deon Frost 583, Jean Blauvelt 581, Lori Calkins 578.
HATFIELD REAL ESTATE MEN
Doug McGinnis 277-693; Josh Krout 683, Jim Chapman 683, Bob Putman 676.
TIRE WORLD OF CORNING MEN
Jamie Kennedy 697, Jared Kucko 677, Bill Bauman 675.
SUN LEGENDS MIXED
Doug Madison 277-693.
ADDISON MEN
Terry Dieter 690, Brandon Harrington 689.
JOEY’S CONTRACTING MIXED
Nate Johnson 698, Al Farr 694, Jim Pitts 693, Mike Wise 279-683; Bruce Stanton 680, Mark Hughson 675.
GARY CORTRIGHT MEMORIAL MIXED
Anita Gennosa 591.
JUBILEE FOODS MIXED
Terry Lewis 692.
SEASON HONORS
300 GAMES
Nick Dobson (2), Tim DeGraw (3), Meghan Sturdevant (2), Jamie Kennedy, Jason Sowersby, Derik Lisi, Mike Brewster (2), Ron Bush, Brandon Farr, Adam Madigan, Chad Farr, Johnny Miller, Jim Pitts, Jake Blanford (2), Dwight Sands, JR Fleming, Kenny Mattison, Al Farr (3), Zachery Sturdevant*, Shawn Goodier, Jake Allen, John Stermer, Mike Ksoinski, Doug Madison, Kayla Blanford, Samantha Blanford. *denotes junior bowler.
MENS 800s
Al Farr 825, Jason Huntley 824, Derik Lisi 823, Mike Kosinski 809, Jeff Crawford 808, Ricky Pruden 807, John Stermer 804, Tim DeGraw 802.
LADIES 700s
Kayla Blanford 783, Anita Gennosa 732-731-721; Meghan Sturdevant 731- Deon Frost 723, Hailey Blencowe 720-703; Gwen Bain 712, Jean Blauvelt 707, Heather Farr 706, Cheryl Rice 700.
SENIOR 800
John Stermer 804.
SENIOR 700s
John Stermer 786-782-738-735-735-724-721-719-717-706; Tim DeGraw 779-758-741-718-701; Al Farr 762-759-746-721-706; Bruce Stanton 749-740-740-713; Don Pierce 748-727-720-720-716; Steve Shattuck 740, Ken Mattison 725, John Olson 721, Mike Hughson 717-715.
JUNIOR 800
Zachery Sturdevant 807.
JUNIOR 700s
Camryn Stefanini 764-752-749-742-741-732-729-722-720-719-716-713; Cameron Kennedy 760-758-753-734-725-725-722-715-702-701; Zachery Sturdevant 754-731-724-719-717-700; Zack Crown 726, Peyton Nelson 723-721; Michael Rennels 719, Bentley Goodier 709.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Blanford sisters make Corning bowling history with 300 games
