Pins Don't Fall For Cranford in Opener

The Cranford bowling team expects an uphill climb this season.

They got a taste of one of the better teams in the county as Linden swept them away 0-7 on Wednesday in the season opener for all Union County bowling teams.

"It is going to be a rebuilding year. That is what it is," said Goldstein who hopes to reach the top five of the Union County League this season. "If we do that it will be a very good year."

While the Cougars had some moments, they weren't enough to declaw the Tigers on their home Jersey Lanes in Linden.

"It was the first match of the season and [we're still] getting the feel of the lanes," said head coach Rich Goldstein. "Linden is a very good team and have good bowlers."

Cranford lost three of their starters from last season's team with only juniors Mike Milwicz and Chris Juliano as the top bowlers this season.

Both were around the 170 average that Goldstein was looking for against Linden. He does foresee the pair improving as the season goes along.  Juliano had a 170 average while Milwicz was at 169 pins in the three games.

In the second game, Linden ran away and hid behind a couple of 200-plus games.

The Cougars started off well in the final game. Juliano and Milwicz knocked down 193 and 188 pins respectively as the Cougars cut the Linden lead to single digits halfway through the game, but Cranford could not get past the Tigers in the end.

Games are worth two points each with total score worth a point. Each dual match is three games.

Senior Jason Fried, and sophomores Scott Belmont, Tim Coda and Thane Vollbrecht are new to varsity bowling.

"It's stressful for them," said Goldstein. "For them it was their first varsity match so there was a lot of pressure."

Cranford will try to get its first win of the season when they take on Scotch Plains on Monday at 4 p.m. at Jersey Lanes in Linden.

Going into the match against Scotch Plains, the Cranford head coach knows what the team will have to work on in practice the next few days.

"We have to be more consistent," said Goldstein. "We have to pick up the spares. That's all we are going to do at practice tomorrow. Spares, spares and spares."