Raider Bowlers Top Crusaders

Yes, Virginia the Scotch Plains bowling team is fallible.

The Raiders blitzed their first two opponents only to have Johnson snap that streak on Wednesday in the last game of the three games at the Jersey Lanes in Linden.

Despite falling in the third game, Scotch Plains still grabbed wood or total pins and a 5-2 win and has gotten off to a great 19-2 start as the Raiders move on to the next week of the Union County League where they have another tough match with Westfield.

The Raiders are also in the Westfield Bowling Tournament this Saturday.

"I'm pretty happy where we are," said Scotch Plains head coach John Mason about the first three matches this season that also included sweeps over Union Catholic and Cranford. "I thought we would be pretty competitive this season."

Coming into Wednesday's battle with Johnson, Scotch Plains had a better average, but the Raiders head coach knew that the Crusaders were better than that. "I saw their overall scores and knew that it was going to be a tough match," said Mason.

But led by top scorer Mike Tufaro, Scotch Plains won games one and two. Tufaro had the match-high score of 249 in the third game and had a 684 series or a 228 average.

The first game set the tone between these two rivals.

Both teams battled back and forth in the game that included all five Scotch Plains bowlers knocking down strikes in the fifth frame.

But the Raiders were down by 18 pins heading into the tenth frame.

Scotch Plains battered the pins in that 10th frame, though, including seven strikes, and glided past the Raiders by 15 pins. Peter Citera and Mike Tufaro led the way with scores of 222 and 217 respectively.

"The first game we showed a little grit," said Mason. "That's what separates the good teams from the other teams."

While Tufaro had a second-game high of 218, senior Katarina Nier was a big reason for the Raiders to make sure that it would not come down to the 10th frame by putting up a 217. "She was key to our second game," said Mason.

Scotch Plains was ahead by 51 pins so they were much more comfortable compared to the first game. The Raiders doubled that lead in the end and win by 102 pins.

In the third game Scotch Plains could not hold back the Crusaders. The Raiders found themselves down by 14 pins heading into the 10th frame.

Johnson received balanced scoring from Kevin Vivenzio, Mike Chesinowski and Michael Seltzer with 226, 191 and 225 to counter Scotch Plains' Nick Stawicki's 232 and Tufaro's 249.

Scotch Plains 2009-10 bowling
(Matches at 4 p.m. at Jersey Lanes in Linden unless noted)

Dec. 2 — Union Catholic, 7-0
Dec. 7 — Cranford, 7-0
Dec. 9 — Johnson, 5-2
Dec. 12 — Westfield Bowling Tournament, 9 a.m.
Dec. 14 — Westfield
Dec. 16 — Summit
Dec. 21 — Dayton
Jan. 6 — Plainfield
Jan. 7 — Roselle Park
Jan. 9 — at Central Jersey Winter Classic, Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes, 9:30 a.m.
Jan. 11 — Rahway
Jan. 13 — Union
Jan. 20 — Oratory Prep
Jan. 25 — Hillside
Jan. 27 — Linden
Feb. 1 — St. Mary-Assumption
Feb. 4 — Elizabeth
Feb. 8 — Roselle Catholic