Boone-KV goes down to the last frame

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HEBRON -- Talk about pressure shots.

Senior Lynn Strohl faced the most intense 10th frame of his young life Saturday. He needed the first two strikes and a nine-count to give Boone Grove a 1-pin sectional final win over Kankakee Valley, 402-401, in the Suburban Sectional.

The defending champion Wolves were underdogs, having lost three of four regular season matches to KV. "We took it as a challenge. I knew our team could handle it," Strohl said.

He felt more pressure on his second ball in the 10th. "I knew I needed that strike to force him (KV anchor Derek Smenyak) to strike. I balked, stepped back, took a deep breath then hit solid in the pocket."

He pulled his final shot to the Brooklyn side "but got a good hit" for the nine pins he needed as his teammates celebrated before some 100 youths and parents at Hebron Lanes.

"I was relieved, pumped, excited that we defended our title. We didn't want a roll-off."

Other champions were KV's girls who rallied to beat Hebron 301-287, and singles winners David Penfold of Hebron and Rachel Ellenson of KV.

Boone took charge with a monster 1,129 first game, 180 better than Hebron. Strohl shot 265 and Jimmy Kraushaar 289 by rolling the first 10 strikes; a ringing 10-pin cost him his second 300 in back-to-back sectionals after a perfecto last year.

Strohl's two-game series (467) led everyone in the eight-team field.

"Our boys were very fired up today," Boone coach Karen Yankauskas said. "They wanted to prove something."

She said Strohl was "the guy we wanted up in the 10th. He takes pressure well and comes through. We've battled KV all year. It feels good to defend."

Smenyak, a junior, led KV in qualifying with a 212 and 402 set. Casey Grover had a 208 game and 213 Baker.

In singles, Strohl qualified fourth at 636 and Kraushaar second (642), while Penfold and Rensselaer sophomore Keegen Holbrook rounded out the top four.

The top nine individuals and top two teams advanced to Saturday's Michigan City Regional at Suburban Lanes.

In stepladder play Penfold, a senior, ousted Strohl 223-184, then topped Kraushaar (who won two years ago and was second last year) 223-188. In the final Penfold struck on six of his last seven shots to top Holbrook 214-179.

The nervous Holbrook opened in the second and third on easy spares, struck on three of his next four shots but missed a 6-10 conversion in the ninth.

Penfold felt confident but was a "little nervous. I knew it was my last chance to prove myself. I had to win."

The right-hander has an unorthodox release, stepping to the right after firing a ball with lots of spin. He also bowls fast. "We call him "Speedy," said Hebron Lanes owner George Clarke. Penfold works at the lanes and is "junior bowler of the month."

KV couldn't lose in the girls singles final. Steady sophomore Rachel Ellenson beat classmate and defending champ Carly Grover190-178 for the medal. "It was tough to go against a teammate and friend," said Grover who averages 186.

The Kougars won their first team title in their second season. "We were down 13 after the first game," said coach Val Grover, then beat the Hawks 174-147 in the second. "Great team effort, especially in Baker." KV's 794 best in Baker games gave it a 100-point qualifying win over Hebron, led by Emily O'Leary who had a day's best 248 in singles.