Clearfield — Ryan Mitskavich of DuBois and Cameron Spring of Allegany, New York captured their first District 4 Gold Pin tournament titles Sunday April 3 at Clearfield Lanes. 33 bowlers (19 boys and 14 girls) took to the lanes for a three game qualifying set before the field was cut to the top seven in each division.
Three records fell in the qualifying rounds as Xander Edstrom of Salamanca, New York set a three game qualifying record with at 721 series. Kalee Wayne of DuBois set the girl’s three game qualifying record with a 612 series.
Brandon Orsich of Clearfield had the crowd buzzing in the first game as he shot a 299. A stubborn four pin cost him a shot at perfection. The previous high game of 287 was set by Antonio Willar of DuBois in the spring tournament of 2013.
In the roll offs, Andrea Lipps, Spring, Jenna Solada, Mitskavich, Orsich, and Kadin Danch took the first round wins.
The semi-finals saw Lipps taking out three time defending champ Wayne by a 213-194 score while Spring defeated Solada 242-185. The boy’s side had Mitskavich taking a 244-215 win over Edstrom while Danch edged out Orsich 205-202.
The finals had Spring outscoring Lipps by a 181-148 score while Mitskavich won by a 242-179 score over Danch.
The third place matches went to Wayne by a 195-162 score over Solada and Orsich outscored Edstrom 202-192.
Byllye Lanes pro shop and Hammer Bowling donated two shoulder ball bags each for the top two qualifiers in each division, while Storm donated a ball that was chanced off. Bowling centers that make up District 4 include Bradford, Brookville, Clearfield, DuBois, Emporium, Kane, and St Marys. Philipsburg looks to be added once again as they are looking to be open by mid- April.
Tournament director, Don Barr is looking to have a doubles tournament in May for the gold pin club members, and stated that the fall tournament has a site and date to be determined. Boys become members of the gold pin club by scoring a 600 series or higher and girls a 500 series or higher in their junior bowling programs.
Roll Offs Results: (Seeds in parentheses)
Boys
First Round
(4) Mitskavich def. (5) Bart Snyder 217-176, (3) Orsich def. (6) Christopher Park 203-189, (2) Danch def. (7)* Ben Reynolds 168-165.
* Reynolds won a two frame roll off over Antonio Willar 60-39.
Semi-Finals
Mitskavich def. (1) Xander Edstrom 244-215, Danch def. Orsich 205-202
Finals
Mitskavich def. Danch 242-179
Third Place
Orsich def. Edstrom 202-192
Girls
First Round
(4) Lipps def. (5) Alex Nelson 165-163, (3) Spring def. (6) Renee Nedza 186-156, (2) Solada def. (7) Krissa Lichvarcik 170-144.
Semi Finals
Lipps def. (1) Wayne 213-194, Spring def. Solada 242-185.
Finals
Spring def. Lipps 181-148
Third Place
Wayne def. Solada 195-162
Photo ID (From L to R): Xander Edstrom, Brandon Orsich, Kaden Danch, Ryan Mitskavich, Cameron Spring, Andrea Lipps, Kalee Wayne, and Jenna Solada.
