Franklin Regional bowlers capture 1st WPIBL championship

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, February 14, 2018 | 9:19 PM

When Franklin Regional senior anchor Kyle Wilkinson found out his Panthers finished second and moved onto the Western Pa. Interscholastic Bowling League's best-of-three semifinal round, he looked over to coach Adam Reabe and told him fellow senior Preston Hill should bowl anchor.

“The whole day I was struggling on and off and pulling (the ball),” Wilkinson said. “He was throwing good games, and I just felt that he was best to go in as anchor. If anybody can throw three (straight) strikes, it would be him.”

Wilkinson's advice not only showed his character and leadership, but it was nearly prophetic. With Franklin Regional trailing by two pins going into the 10th frame of the third and final “baker” game in the finals, Hill threw three straight strikes to deliver Franklin Regional's first WPIBL boys title with a 2-1 win over Norwin Tuesday evening at Lower Burrell's Wildlife Lanes.

“I was pretty nervous because Kyle is usually anchor, and I was just hoping that I wouldn't screw it up,” Hill said. “A lot of weight was taken off my shoulders when Norwin (threw) a split (on its first ball), and after my first strike that took a lot of weight off my shoulders.”

Franklin Regional and Norwin both advanced to the regional championships at Whitehall's Princess Lanes on March 9-10.

“That's what high school bowling is all about right there,” Norwin coach Ed Lundy said following the loss. “It went down to the wire. They finished strong, and we sort of faltered a bit towards the end.”

Norwin, which finished first out of 18 teams after the first three qualifying-round games, won the first game of the finals, 203-186.

“It was neck and neck,” Reabe said. “We've been in some pretty close matches but nothing in a baker's game.”

But the Panthers were just getting warmed up as the first game came to an end. Franklin Regional came back in Game 2 to find the sweet spot in the “Route 66” oil pattern that gave many teams troubles and won 178-148.

The Knights jumped out to a quick lead in the third game, but Franklin Regional converted key spares to keep the game close. The Panthers trailed 141-139 going into the final frame.

“I could tell going into the last few frames who could string together (two strikes) or a couple of marks together,” Reabe said. “It could have gone either way. Preston threw (three) good balls.”

Hempfield, which finished 11th in the qualifying round, also advanced to the regional, after winning the Southeast division.

“It was little bit of the oil pattern, and they just didn't adjust to it,” Hempfield coach Rich Gockle said. “It happens sometimes. It wasn't their day today. That's all. We bowl as a team, and we go down as a team.”

The WPIBL girls championships will be Thursday at Butler's Family Bowl-Away.

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Norwin