Bellmore-Merrick Bowlers Roll to Another Victory

Returning from the holiday break, Bellmore-Merrick began the day a little sloppy. That's when Mepham junior Ricky Hough took it upon himself to lead the team to a quick turnaround en route to victory.

With a series high of 658 (219 per game), Hough led his squad to victory over Levittown's Division Avenue High School on Monday afternoon, as they won all three games plus the accumulative score to win the match, 11-0. Hough struggled in the first game, but used that as motivation to better himself in games two and three.

"Game one I was throwing the ball awfully," Hough said.  "So games two and three I tried to change a few things and it worked out for the better."

Game one was a nail-biter, as Bellmore-Merrick narrowly defeated Division , 710-696. The 710 total was one of the lowest scores the team combined for all year. Hough bowled a 176, Calhoun senior Mike Cappuzzo bowled a 183, and Calhoun junior Scott Castellano had the low game with a 138, well below his average of 188. The only bowler who found success was Calhoun senior Chris Vogel, finishing with a 213.

"We weren't picking up the spares," coach Joe Bianca said. "We were throwing some good balls but left a lot of 10-pins."

In game two, Hough took over. Setting the tone immediately with five straight strikes, Hough finally left a frame open in the sixth, and then proceeded to bowl four more strikes in a row. He ended the game with a 249 and the team won the game soundly, 845-657. Mepham's C.J. Marino, who replaced Castellano, contributed with a 186 and Cappuzzo bowled his highest game of the day with a 239.

"I thought I bowled pretty well," Cappuzzo said. "But I had a lot of opens and could have bowled more strikes."

Game three was close most of the way until Bellmore-Merrick pulled away at the end. Hough led the way once again with a high game of 233. Dan Mueller, a Calhoun junior, replaced C.J. Marino and bowled the next highest score with a 203. Despite trailing in the fifth frame, the team found its groove at the end and won the game, 800-704. Hough, who anchors the team, said he enjoys bowling in close games when the pressure is on.

"It definitely gives you incentive to make good shots," Hough said.  "I think I make better shots under pressure."

The team won the accumulative score, 2,355-2,060 to claim the final two points. Despite the slow beginning to the day, the team was satisfied with the victory.

"We had a rough first game," Cappuzzo said. "It was our first game back so we were all out of practice but then we finally got into things [in games two and three.]"

Bianca was also pleased with his team's overall effort.

"We were coming back from a holiday and haven't practiced as a team," he said. "We started out a little slow, but we came on at the end and bowled two 800 series'."

Bellmore-Merrick takes on first place Wantagh on Wednesday at South Levittown Lanes at 3:30 p.m.