Amherst opens season on sour note
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Amherst coach Dennis Illig thinks he has a better team than he has had in the last few years, but the 2007-08 campaign is not starting off well.

The Tigers, 1-10 last year, were dominated by Tonawanda, 7-0, at Airport Lanes last Wednesday. Tonawanda set a school record with 2,492 total pins to Amherst's 1,720. Tonawanda's Gina Maduri had a school record 698 set.

Illig said Tonawanda and its next two matches, Maryvale (lost 7-0 on Monday) and Pioneer, are his team's best competition in ECIC Division III.

Senior captain Carolyn Trabert was a bright spot for the Lady Tigers against Tonawanda, rolling a team-best 542 set, including a team-high 222 game. Trabert has led off the "A" team for the past three years. She averaged around 150 last year.

Other members of the "A" team, in order of appearance in the lineup, are sophomore Carolyn Sobal (120 average), freshman first-year bowler Jessica Banning (132 average) and senior left-hander Kristin Ortman (152 average).

Sophomore Lauren Williams, the anchor on the "B" team, may crack the "A" starting lineup.

Senior Carol Powell, junior Katie Fowler and sophomore Kailey Diemkaye are also on "B".

Freshman Brianna Brooks, juniors Lauren Kapus, Gabriella Borzillieri, Shawana Patterson and senior Mallorie Saleh and Shauna Patterson are on the practice squad.

Every bowler except Patterson, Banning and Brooks has bowled for Amherst before.

Illig thinks his "A" team can compete with any team; it is his "B" team that he is worried about. He said for his team to increase its scores they have to pick up spares.
Amherst Central
2007-08 Schedule
12-12 Pioneer .............................................. 4:30 p.m.
12-19 Depew................................................ 4:30 p.m.
1-2 at Cheektowaga ................................... 4:30 p.m.
1-7 Springville ............................................. 4:30 p.m.
1-11 at Tonawanda (Tonawanda Bowling Center)
4:30 p.m.
1-14 Maryvale .............................................. 4:30 p.m.
1-16 at Pioneer (Arcade Lanes) ............... 4:30 p.m.
1-30 Cheektowaga ...................................... 4:30 p.m.
1-31 at Depew (Broadway Sports Center)...... 4:30
p.m.
2-4 at Springville (Cascade Lanes) ......... 4:30 p.m.
2-12 ECIC Rolloffs (Thruway Lanes)........... 3 p.m.
2-15 Section VI Championships (Thruway Lanes) 9
a.m.
*All home matches are at Airport Lanes.
e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com