Prep sectional at Freeway Lanes

Twenty-five boys teams and 24 girls teams will take part in the Mahoning-Trumbull County bowling sectional tournament on Feb. 19 at Freeway Lanes in Warren with girls starting at 9 a.m. followed by boys at 2 p.m.

Expected to advance to the district are six girls teams and six boys teams, along with an equal number of individuals — both girls and boys — not on a qualifying team.

The district will be held at Rebman Recreation Center in Lorain over two days: Feb. 26 for girls and Feb. 27 for boys.

Sectional tournament manager Fran Miller said that Saturday’s event at Freeway is one day for good reason.

“It’s easier for schools when it comes to busing situations and it’s easier for coaches, too,” said Miller, a former Chaney coach.

Travel distance is another consideration, especially for one particular team.

“Since we have a school that comes from southern Ohio, it would be too hard for them to travel three hours up here on two different days,” Miller said of Buckeye Local, a school along the Ohio River in Jefferson County.

The same number of qualifiers — team and individual — will advance from district to state. The state tournament is March 4 (girls) and March 5 (boys) at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl on South High Street.

Throughout the season, area schools from the All-American Conference and Federal League have been competing within their leagues.

Fitch and Boardman are Federal teams, while 11 others are AAC members. The remaining 12 area schools are independent and bowl against each other. League teams may also bowl a match outside of their conference.

“They’re free to schedule as they please,” Miller said. “Next year, Fitch joins the All-American Conference, so Boardman will be the only area team left in the Federal League.”

Brookfield, Bloomfield, McDonald, Chaney, Mooney, Ursuline, Youngstown Christian, Maplewood, Warren JFK, Harding, Lowellville and Mineral Ridge are independents.

Bloomfield (girls only) started its bowling program for 2010-2011. Campbell Memorial and Youngstown Christian have boys teams only.

Miller didn’t encounter any major problems this season.

“Even with a couple rules changes from the state we haven’t had any problems. The biggest change was the open substitution rule, allowing a sub at any point in the game. That was the only major change from state this year. That’s one rule that follows college bowling.”

As the regular season winds down, bowlers are trying to sharpen their game.

“This is when everything gets a little pumped up in anticipation of sectionals,” Miller said.

WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Teri Haefke had her third 300 game in three weeks during Thursday Matchplay Ladies at Amron on Feb. 3. Haefke’s latest perfect game punctuated an 825 series, which included games of 278 and 269.

Russ Slagle rolled 805 and Frank Corso had 802 in Belchyk/Action Plumbing Classic at Holiday.

Justin Nelms fired 279-278-245 — 802 in Bob’s Bail Bonding at Wedgewood and Eric Hazlett’s 300-760 topped Holiday Wed. Men on Feb. 2.

MICHALOJKO TOURNEY

The 10th Michael “Mickey” Michalojko Memorial Scratch Tournament, which matches some of the best bowlers in the Tri-State area, is Feb. 27 at Colonial Lanes in New Castle.

The event offers a guaranteed first-place $2,000.

Michalojko was a longtime proprietor of Colonial and Shenango Bowl-A-Way, establishing a 50-plus-year career in the industry, as well as being one of New Castle’s top bowlers in the 1950s-1970s. He was elected to the Lawrence County Bowling Assn. Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Lawrence County Sports Hall of Honor in 2006.

The Michalojko format will consist of two, four-game qualifying squads on the 27th at 10:20 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Qualifiers will then compete in a finals portion. Space is limited to 70 bowlers. Entry is $65 in advance or $80 on the 27th.

Pizza Joe’s is the main sponsor. Proceeds go toward the scholarship fund in Michalojko’s name. Last year, $2,000 in scholarship money was distributed to local area bowlers and, to date, over $13,000 worth of scholarship monies has been awarded.

The public is encouraged to attend. For entry forms, contact Colonial at 724-654-5000.