Boardman’s Lias bridges generation gap on alleys

Mark Lias thinks he might be the oldest Boardman Juniors bowler this season.

At 19, he’s on the lanes with some 13-year-olds — a situation that some might consider embarrassing.

But Lias is bridging the gap when he brings the alleys to its knees as he did the morning of March 21 with 300-278-246 — 824 at Boardman Lanes.

His performance is all the more reason younger bowlers should look up to Lias, who is bowling beyond his years.

It’s enough to make adults envious, too.

The 824 is believed to be the highest ever in Boardman juniors during the regular season.

Lias used the same ball all three games.

“It all depends on the conditions and how the lanes break down,” Lias said of his decision to use one ball instead of more.

“I saw the oil break down evenly, so there was no big adjustment to make. Minor maybe, but nothing major.”

The 300 was Lias’ third, but the 800 series was his first. His previous high was 760 on a few occasions.

His first perfect game was June 29, 2005 during a junior/adult summer league as Lias was entering his sophomore year at Boardman High School.

His second 300 came in a non-school match during his senior year in 2008.

Lias’ junior league teammates are Boardman seniors Pat Heffron and Vinnie Zimbardi and Fitch junior Richard Wilson.

Lias was on Boardman’s varsity squad his junior and senior seasons until his graduation in June 2008.

The Spartans competed in the state tournament those years, finishing 14th his junior year and 7th when Lias was a senior.

“We had a very good team that got hot at the right time and rode the wave pretty much,” Lias said of those last two years.

Lias, currently studying business management in the second semester of his freshman year at YSU, is employed at Camelot Lanes.

Are there distractions during junior league bowling?

Yes, but Lias believes that the youngsters buckle down enough to be considerate of others.

“When I got on the approach, nothing else mattered,” Lias said of his concentration on the 21st. “I just threw the ball and didn’t notice anything else.”

Mark rolled his 824 on lanes 19-20 at the 24-lane house.

On a subsequent Saturday morning before month’s end, Lias added 286-786 to lead the Boardman Juniors.

Mark’s father, Charles “Butch” Lias, has had two 300 games this season alone and 12 for his career.

Mark Lias also participates in choir and is part of the high school’s chorale, which captured seven first-place trophies during competition at Disney World during his senior year.

A day after his 824, Lias bowled in the city junior tournament with Troy Wilson and the pair won the scratch division for doubles with 1450 at Wedgewood.

That added $50 to his scholarship account — another reason he decided to remain at the junior level.

During the same city junior tournament on March 21, Carmen Faustino bowled 300 in team competition at Camelot.

Faustino’s team, the Goons, included Rickey Evans, Mike Bentz and Nico Minniti. They shot a team-total 2558, which gave them the scratch division title. Carmen’s games were 233-300-247. He is a senior at Liberty High School with a grade-point of 3.75. Carmen plans to attend YSU to major in electrical engineering.

In the Ron Haus Tuesday Niters on March 31, Joe Vaught Jr. bowled the first sanctioned 300 game at Mahoning Valley Lanes since the former A-Plus Family Bowl re-opened on December 1, 2007. The 300 was Vaught’s third game in a set of 744 that started with singles of 212 and 232.

In what may be construed as incorrect, the Ron Haus Tuesday Niters’ champs were Dead Last. Members are Justin Averell, Carrieann Averall, Chris Novicky, Chris Jennings, Michelle Jennings and Patty Novicky.

Congratulations, even if the team was Dead Last.

bassetti@vindy.com