Despite youth, McDonald on a roll

McDonald’s girls bowling team is 7-1 this season without a senior.

That’s a good sign for a team that qualified for state last season with four sophomores and three freshman.

“Despite having a bunch of nervous kids and, probably, a coach that was just as nervous, we did OK,” Mike Lepor said. “We finished 12th out of 16 teams, so that wasn’t bad for a team that wasn’t expecting much.”

Leading the way this season is junior Rachael Lepor with a 216 average. She’s complemented by junior Kayla Barker (196), sophomores Melissa Wasser (187) and Kailey Carr (165) and junior Brittany Stitt (155). Sophomore Megan Marino rotates into the top five spots.

McDonald’s seven wins are against Struthers, JFK, Champion, Mooney, Harding, Ursuline and Hubbard.

The Blue Devils have six more regular season matches remaining, starting with Liberty on Monday at Bell-Wick. The sectionals are Feb. 17 at Camelot.

Lepor, Barker, Wasser, Carr, Stitt, Marino and junior Sabrina Beedle were Blue Devils on last year’s team that got their state tournament baptism at Tiki Lanes in Lancaster.

“It was quite an atmosphere down there,” said Mike Lepor, a fifth-year coach of both boys and girls. “Our girls were more worried about what was going to happen,” he said of McDonald’s initial apprehension. “There’s no separation of divisions; all the schools are lumped together.”

Although McDonald beat Struthers once, its lone loss is also at the hands of the Wildcats. The schools will meet one more time.

In the win over Struthers at Holiday Bowl, McDonald had its highest game of 2,706.

“I haven’t seen many boys matches with a score that high,” Lepor said of his girls’ 13-game total that comprised two regular games apiece by five bowlers, plus another three Baker System games.

Rachael Lepor’s top games are 279 and 268. The coach’s daughter also plays softball for the school.

Rachael said that the girls team accomplished many goals in the past few years and expects to do more.

“My freshman year, there were only four and sometimes five of us bowling. Last year, there were seven of us and our record was 12-1 and we finished 12th out of the best 16 teams in Ohio. This year we have managed a full JV team. We still have the rest of this season and another exciting one next year to achieve our goals of winning it all.”

McDonald’s home alleys are Kay Lanes, a place that takes no prisoners.

“It’s easy to get back to the [1-3] pocket, but it’s hard to carry strikes,” Mike said of Kay’s reputation. “I like the tough houses because they make you a better bowler. That’s why I bowl there.”

Mike Lepor bowls in three leagues — two at Kay and one at McKinley — with a high average of 219.

That’s just a few pins ahead of his daughter.

“I tell her I’ve got to start practicing more often or she’ll catch up to me.”

Boardman Lanes co-proprietor Rob Theis shot 300-775 in Sunday School recently and N.E. Colla & Sons Barber Shop won Lucky Ladies’ first half at Holiday.

Michele Mineo rolled 265-267-235 — 767 in Wedgewood Ladies Trio on Jan. 22. Mineo finished with a 980 four-game series.

Marsha Beasley’s 288 was the opening game of a 719 series in Thursday Night Gadabouts at Bell-Wick on Jan. 17.

At West Side, Blue Light Lounge won DePizzo Sausage’s second 3rd with a one-game roll-off against DePizzo Hot Kielbasa. Blue Light’s members are: Joe Morley, Dan Panigall, Mike Murphy, Cliff Phillips, Bill Bisker Sr. and Bill Bisker Jr.

The sticker secretary, Golden Gals’ Shirley Miller from Wedgewood, sent along her Jan. 14 scoresheet with cupid attached. Quite artistic.

XJohn Bassetti writes about bowling for The Vindicator. Write to him at bassetti@vindy.com.