Chiefs stunned at district bowling

RICHLAND - After an 18-0 regular season, it was hard to imagine the Moses Lake Chiefs weren't one of the two best teams in the Central Washington League bowling standings.

Moses Lake entered Tuesday's district championships at Atomic Lanes needing only to place among the top two for a spot at state. But the Pasco Bulldogs and Eisenhower Cadets had perhaps their best days of the season, and Moses Lake's season came to an abrupt end with a third-place finish.

"We're still kind of shocked here," Chiefs head coach Billy Brice said. "I still believe we're the best team, but sometimes the best team doesn't make it."

Moses Lake had a league-best 852 scratch series average during the regular season, and actually eclipsed that mark on Tuesday. But Pasco, which averaged 758, rolled consecutive games of 1,028 and 928 to win the district title.

"They shot unbelievably and they deserved to go," Brice said of the Bulldogs.

That left the Chiefs needing a pair of 10th-frame strikes to squeeze past Eisenhower for second place. Senior Sandy Smith got the first strike, but missed the second, and the Cadets edged the Chiefs by three total pins.

Complete team scores were unavailable at press time.

"We didn't really choke," Brice added. "We bowled really well, but you need to go to a different level (at districts)."

Two silver linings came out of an otherwise disappointing day. Virginia Valdez won the singles event with a 612 series, shooting a high game of 227, and qualified for state. Freshman Amanda Strzelcyzk will join here after taking third at 584. Smith missed out on a spot by eight pins.

Brice was also honored with the league's Coach of the Year award, voted upon by the other coaches.

"It was a great honor and I really appreciate it," Brice said.