Feb. 6, 2010
ST. LOUIS - What a difference a week makes, even if it was a difficult one.
Vanderbilt's bowling team came roaring back from a subpar performance seven days ago with an impressive exhibition that has it in second place just off the pace at the McKendree Baker Challenge.
The Commodores trail Weber International (an NAIA school) by just 34 pins heading into Sunday's action. But the story isn't second place, it was the strong bowling that racked up 5,014 pins over a series of six, 4-game Baker sets.
"We were a little more focused today," said Coach John Williamson. "It was a different setting and I think our team came in with an attitude that it had something to prove. We had a very good day, even changing the lineup frequently in such a way that nobody could really stay in a groove. But I thought it was important to get everyone on our travel team in the mix - the last two games we didn't have a senior in the lineup so we probably sacrificed a few pins but it was a trade I was willing to make."
The tournament is a non-NCAA event so the Commodores are seeing new teams and the won-loss record is meaningless in this total pin event.
Williamson said Josie Earnest, who sat out several games for the benefit of others, was exceptional while in the lineup and that Amanda Halter had three different games in which she rattled off six strikes in a row.
The `Dores rattled off a 926 series with the aid of a powerful 279 and crafted other sterling efforts of 255, 252 and four others over 230 to warm up the lanes on a cool afternoon.
Not only had the Commodores struggled in their spring opener in Pennsylvania last week but its home lanes suffered extensive damage in a rare winter storm that forced the team to practice at three different sites during the week leading up to today.
Sunday brings four more 4-game Bakers, at which time the field is cut to the top eight for best two-of-three Bakers to determine the champion. Twenty teams are competing.
Top Three Leader Board
Weber International 5,047
Vanderbilt 5,014
Robert Morris/Chicago 5,001
Vanderbilt's Baker Game Results
Game 1: 201-238-178-145 = 762
Game 2: 174-255-212-232 = 873
Game 3: 238-226-183-279 = 926
Game 4: 199-252-196-178 = 825
Game 5: 181-190-223-181 = 785
Game 6: 192-196-223-232 = 843
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