Burrell bowling teams set to begin second half of section play

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 | 8:28 PM

The Burrell girls bowling team placed 13th at last year's WPIBL team championship and finished only 35 pins from the top 10.

The Bucs entered this season with a goal of advancing further in postseason team play, and so far, things are going well.

Burrell is 5-0 and in first place in the Northeast section as the first cycle of section play concluded last week.

The top two teams from each section punch their tickets to the WPIBL team tournament, set for the week of Feb. 14 at a site to be determined,

Right now, Armstrong at 4-1 and Kiski Area at 3-2 are the teams also challenging the Burrell girls in the section.

Burrell owns one of the top per-game team averages in the WPIBL at 808 for 15 games bowled. Butler is the only team better at 829.

A core of six players has contributed in different ways for the Bucs. Leading the charge is junior Carlee Hummel, who tallied a 638 series (234 high game) in last week's match and owns season-bests of a 657 series and a 244 game for a 189.07 average.

Only Armstrong junior Olivia Emmonds owns a better average (197.00) in the section.

Also faring well so far are sophomore Ashley Smith, who scored a season-best 552 series and 210 game in last week's match.

Seniors Brittany Meyer (166.62) and Cassie Beattie (162.07), junior Brittany McDade (141.93) and freshman Shayla Calvert (114.33) also have contributed this year.

The Burrell boys are trying to get back to the WPIBL championships after placing 12th last year. The Bucs are third in the Northeast section at 3-2, one game behind Kiski Area and two behind Armstrong.

Junior Colin Flanagan is one of four boys bowlers in the Northeast with averages of 200 or better. He has a 201.40 average through 15 games bowled with a high series of 705 and a high game of 278.

Senior J.T. Jones owns a 179.27 average with season highs of 597 and 204.

Freshman Dylan Meyer (155.40), senior Michael Mancini (154.50) and junior Eric Ryan (141.27) also have been at the center of the boys varsity effort through its five matches.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Burrell