St. Dom’s, St. Christine’s leagues have Super nights to remember

John Bassetti \ Bowling

The New Orleans Saints put their stamp on sports earlier this month by winning the Super Bowl for the first time, then some other Saints took turns at posting some firsts of their own.

The St. Dominic Men’s League at Holiday produced its highest series of 810 on Feb. 8 and the St. Christine Men’s League at Wedgewood had two 300s on the same night, Feb. 4.

Dennis Lowry now has the only two 800s in the 69-year history of the St. Dom’s League. The 40-year-old Boardman man’s previous best was 803 on Oct. 19, 2008.

Eric Clark and Jonah Karzmer were St. Christine’s League members rolling the same-nigh 300s. Clark’s helped him register a 759 set, while Karzmer’s perfect game led to a 690 set.

Dennis Lowry started in the St. Dom’s League as an 18-year-old.

“I went with my father to watch my grandfather bowl and, when I got old enough, I joined,” he said. “It’s a family thing.”

Dick Lowry, Dennis’ father, and Dave Lowry, Dennis’ uncle, are also league bowlers.

The 810 boosted Dennis Lowry’s average to 228 in the league that comprises fewer than 25 men on Sunday evenings. Dwayne Beatty, Dave Lowry and father-son Joe Mortellaro and Joey Mortellaro share second-highest average of 207.

The ball Dennis Lowry used for his 810 was only about a month old.

“Rob Theis drilled it for me,” Lowry said of the pro shop operator at Boardman Lanes.

“I think I had only four or five spares the entire night,” Lowry recalled of his three games with his new Black Vibe by Hammer.

The St. Dom’s League is an institution, having had its 68th banquet last April. Dennis Lowry, who is the second- or third-youngest bowler, said he has heard stories of one of the banquets, which were held at the St. Dom’s Church basement.

“The league used to bowl at Marvondale [Lanes on Market St.], but, the night of one of its banquets, Marvondale burned down.”

Lowry has three 300s - all in St. Dom’s. His most recent came during the last game on the final night of bowling for the 2008-2009 season.

Dennis also bowls in the Zarbana Industries League at Camelot.

The 300s by Clark and Karzmer represented the second and third perfect games by St. Christine’s bowlers this season. Matt Clipse had one September, 24.

“I cannot ever remember there being two 300s in the same night in our league in the 16 years I have been in our league,” St. Christine’s League secretary Andrew Bouch said. “There has only been one year over the last 10 years that we have had more than two 300s for the whole year - let alone two in the same night. In 2004-2005, our league had five 300 games that season, but none of them were on the same night.”

Add to the mix an 812 tossed by Doug Zolla in Wed. Men at Holiday on Feb. 10, an 808 by Don Chestnut in Hively’s Sportsman at Amron on Feb. 15, Tammy Diver’s 278-746 in Thursday Matchplay Ladies at Amron and Terry Dill’s 298 in Southern Tavern Mixed at Mahoning Valley Lanes on Valentine’s Day.

Danny Kennedy’s 297-662 paced Boardman Juniors.

At West Side, the DePizzo Sausage/Champion Men’s third-quarter winner was the Heather’s Signs & Artwork team of Joe Morley, Steve DeGenaro Sr., Steve DeGenaro Jr., Bill Bisker Jr., Jason Carnahan and Dave Copper.

At Camelot, Wolf Insurance was third-quarter champion on the heels of its second-quarter crown to earn a spot in the Carabba’s championship match.

Vote for Bill

Gerry Millerleile submitted an e-mail that Bill Matovina of Hubbard is one of 18 bowlers with a chance to bowl on national TV in April in PBA Sport bowling in Texas.

However, he needs votes on the internet. Voting can be once a day from now until March 1. The site is bowl.com/sportbowling/poll.

Once open, click PBA showdown and then Scorpion which is his lane pattern and vote Bill Matovina.

bassetti@vindy.com