The Oxford Bowlers remain undefeated, both on the season and in Flint Metro League action, despite a scare from the Clio Mustangs where both the boys and girls teams struggled in Baker Games but rallied in Head-Up action to win their matches.
Bowling Dec. 20 at the Clio Bowling Arcade against last year’s FML champions, the Wildcat Girls defeated the Orange and Black Attack 22.5 -7.5 while the Wildcat Boys held on to edge out the Mustangs 16-14.
Both the boys and girls teams are now 2-0 in the FML and 3-0 overall.
‘The girls were tested and answered the test well,? said head coach J.R. Lafnear.
After losing their first Baker Game 155-147 when Clio’s final bowler tossed a strike and spare in the final frame, the ladies rallied to win the second game 196-187 when Heather Lafnear rolled a ninth-frame strike and Ashlee High struck out (rolled three straight strikes) in the tenth frame.
The result was a razor-thin 343-342 accumulative Baker Game victory, giving the ladies a 6-4 lead as they entered Head-Up play.
The boys struggled against Clio in the Baker Game format, losing the first game 208-164 and the second game 202-185 to trail 0-10 going into Head-Up play.
‘We need to stop missing easy spares in order to be a good baker team,? Lafnear said. ‘We can’t count on coming back from 10 to nothing week in and week out.?
Going into Head-Up play, the Lady Wildcats left the Lady Mustangs in the dust as Anna Moses, Liz Laframboise, High and Cartner all won games to give the team a comfortable cushion.
High finished with the highest game score for the ladies as she rolled a 213 game.
The Boys rallied in Head-Up play as Steven Lafnear, Barndon Burgess, Brandon Wynkoop and Mike Magyar all won games; in his 221 game, Magyar was perfect after five frames.
After starting the match down 0-10, the Boy Wildcats ended up with a 16-14 win.
‘Beating last year’s league champions in their own building and after being down 10-0 was a great accomplishment for the team,? Lafnear said. ‘Our experience came in to play in this match. We have a chance to win every week if we can get some good scores in baker.?