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This time, it's the girls' turn

BOWLING

Hernando Today photo by BOB EAST III

The Nature Coast girls bowling team captured the District 4 Tournament on Tuesday. Front row (l to r): Melissa Gurganus and Nikki Williams. Back row (l to r): Ashley Hudd, Jeanette Boudreau, Ericka Allen, Melissa Martin, Tiffany Lubee and Franki Palermo.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: November 4, 2009

In Nature Coast's two previous forays into district bowling, the boys team came away toting a first-place trophy while the girls team fell just a little short.

Tuesday at the District 4 Tournament at Liberty Lanes in Largo, the roles reversed. This time, it was the girls' turn to bask in the glory.

Nikki Williams and Melissa Martin posted the two highest series in the tournament's first round to lift the Lady Sharks to the top seed going into the second round of best-of-5 Baker matches.

Nature Coast, which finished third in 2006 and second in 2007, then downed St. Pete Catholic and Indian Rocks Christian twice to claim the district championship.

"It was awesome," Nature Coast Head Coach Carrie Piechowicz said. "They just worked so hard and (assistant coach) Terry Schlicker did a phenomenal job with them. He's got to be credited for the way he's been coaching.

"…He's done a fantastic job coaching the girls and getting them ready and I know they'll do great in states because of that."

Williams, a freshman, shot 181, 245 and 227 to post a 653 series in the first round. The junior Martin finished a distant second, with a 174-198-168—540.

Both would have qualified for states regardless of the team outcome, though now the entire squad will take part in the FHSAA Finals set for next Tuesday and Wednesday at Orlando's Boardwalk Bowl.

The Lady Sharks beat St. Pete Catholic in three, 151-129, 193-139, 166-124, then took out Indian Rocks Christian the first time, 148-161, 201-147, 171-158, 199-140.

After Indian Rocks Christian beat Eustis in an elimination match, it fell to Nature Coast in the final, 149-142, 143-147, 130-138, 144-138, 161-104.

The boys, district champions in 2006 and 2007, as well as state champions two years ago, didn't have as much luck, at least in Baker action.

Everything seemed fine in Round 1, when Nature Coast combined for a 3,290 to easily out-distance second-place Indian Rocks Christian (3,115).

Connor Garvey shot 227-199-256—682 and Jeff Morgan 211-222-245—678 to finish sixth and seventh overall. Dalton Dokoupil added a 638, Darian Curtis a 610 and Josh Malone a 515 in just two games (246-269).

But in the second round, an opening-match loss to Leesburg (178-209, 179-208, 226-191, 190-193) put the Sharks' backs against the wall.

They bounced back to beat Eustis (223-174, 174-162, 182-258, 190-154), but were eliminated by eventual district champ and tournament host Indian Rocks Christian (206-148, 191-226, 210-213, 182-217).

Interestingly, Nature Coast had beaten Indian Rocks Christian in two regular-season meetings. The Sharks were 7-0 coming in, though they only faced three different opponents.

The senior Garvey will still go to states by virtue of having the third-highest series among those bowlers not advancing with their team.

"They boys realize they're going to come back next year and kick butt," Piechowicz said. "It was a learning experience for everybody. They did phenomenal, no ifs, ands or buts about it.

"Next year we'll have more meets with more teams set up so we can gauge our competition. The biggest thing they've got to work on is their Baker and they know that.

"…We'll keep on trucking and definitely get that state title again. It's going to happen."

DISTRICT 4 BOWLING TOURNAMENT
at Liberty Lanes, Largo

Girls
Round 1 (American tenpin)
1. Nature Coast 2,449 (1. Nikki Williams 653, 2. Mary Martin 540, 6. Franki Palermo 474, Ericka Allen 392, Melissa Gurganus 280, Ashley Hudd 110)
Round 2 (Baker)
Nature Coast def. St. Pete Catholic, 151-129, 193-139, 166-124
Nature Coast def. Indian Rocks Christian, 148-161, 201-147, 171-158, 199-140
(Championship)
Nature Coast def. Indian Rocks Christian, 149-142, 143-147, 130-138, 144-138, 161-104

Boys
Round 1 (American tenpin)
Nature Coast 3,290 (6. Connor Garvey 682, 7. Jeff Morgan 678, Dalton Dokoupil 638, Darian Curtis 610, Josh Malone 515, Billy Lummus 167
Round 2 (Baker)
Leesburg def. Nature Coast, 178-209, 179-208, 226-191, 190-193
Nature Coast def. Eustis, 223-174, 174-162, 182-258, 190-154
Indian Rocks Christian def. Nature Coast, 206-148, 191-226, 210-213, 182-217

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at 352-544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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