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Sports

Dayton Bowlers Finish Fourth in State In Group 2

Mark Masucci rolls tournament High of 279.

It was an experience of a lifetime.

The Dayton bowling team pushed the best teams in the state to the limit in a pressure-packed atmosphere at the Tournament of Champions going farther than they ever could have dreamed.
 
That was the scene at the state bowling championships early Saturday, Feb. 20. The top ten teams from each group looked for bowling immortality at Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick.

A former stop on the Pro Bowlers Association Tour, Carolier Lanes saw some of the legends of the game, and there's little doubt the likes of Johnny Petraglia, Earl Anthony and Dick Weber would have enjoyed the excitement and intensity these young athletes provided.

And what a finish for Dayton, a first year program that went from afterthought to legitimate title contender in the blink of an eye. They qualified with an outstanding runner-up effort last week to finish in the top two in their section, and had the place rocking after the first two games when they held the Group 1 pin lead.

Leading the charge was senior Mark Masucci, who lit up the house with a 279, a game worthy of championship status.

While his team ultimately couldn't end their dream run on top, the Bulldogs did finish a more than respectable fourth in Group 1 while Masucci came away with the trophy for high-game, an honor he will proudly display for years to come.

"I think my performance today improved a lot from where I was at on Wednesday," Masucci said. "I shot a 279, the high game today and I think our team had a good run."

The Tournament of Champions has a different twist than the regular season where a team would bowl three games and add total pins. Here, each bowler rolls two full games and then five more games under what is called the "Baker system," where each team is on one lane, alternating through the five bowlers during each ten-frame game.

For teams not prepared for it, it can throw off a bowlers' rhythm and create issues with the lanes themselves.

"The Baker killed us," said Masucci. "We were bowling a lot more consistent individually and as a team and I think after we packed everything together all in one game, we were moving a little too quick, and just rushed it. We weren't feeling it."

Masucci got a medal in the state sectionals for second highest game and third highest series, and he continued his strong tournament run here.

"I was very surprised," Masucci added. "I was at 503 after two games. It was exciting. This is our first year. I never thought we'd get close to this far, but we proved ourselves."

The rest of the Dayton squad also came up huge as well to put their team into title contention, including Mark's younger brother Chris, who was living a dream as a freshman.

"I think it was good. We bowled good as a team," said Chris. "As it went on, we just struggled as the lanes broke down. I thought we had it, but it was hard to adjust and follow up with our spares. I think the Baker affected us. One kid would mess up and then we'd all get it in our minds because we know it's all on one game."

Still, there was more than enough to be proud of.

"I felt that we all did well," Chris Masucci said. "We all stayed together, never gave up. Everybody put together the hardest shot they could make."

"The experience here was great," said Anthony Bentancur, who bowled a high-game of 234. "This was the first year that we had a bowling team at the school and we definitely put a good name for ourselves. We didn't really expect this, but we were hoping for it."

"It was great, I was really psyched about being here," said sophomore Dylan Reiss, who rolled a 212. "I feel that we accomplished a lot. We stick together, we coach each other, help each other out. I've never experienced anything like this. Hopefully I can come here again."

Dayton had a total pin count of 1,984 after the first two games, leading the likes of powerhouse programs Monsignor Donovan and Keansburg, who went on to win the Group 1 crown.

The Bulldogs finished with a respectable total of 2,828 pins, good enough for fourth place.

"It was surreal," said Dayton coach Felix Fabiano. "It's pretty unbelievable. We come in with 850, 860 average. W were fourth in the state and for awhile we were leading. It was pretty cool, actually, and the kids had a great experience. I think we exceeded all expectations. Hopefully it will be inspirational for bowlers to come."

 

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