Chiefs get even with Kennewick in shootout

by Alan Dale<br
| December 11, 2009 8:00 PM

MOSES LAKE — If pins were dollar bills to pick up off the ground anyone near Lake Bowl on Thursday afternoon could have made a killing cleaning up.

That’s because the Moses Lake Chiefs took on Kennewick with a chance to move into first place in the Big Nine and got the job done in 23-pin count win.

Moses Lake (7-1) set the tone with an astounding score of 963 that was barely suffice to hold off an equally impressive 936 mark by the visitors.

Shanice Brice led the Chiefs with a 287 including strikes on her first 10 balls before missing out on a “300” game late.

Mariah Palmen scored a 212 and Angela Bravo added a 180.

“That was a shootout and all the girls came to bowl,” Chiefs coach Billy Brice said. “We really needed that 287 by Shanice.”

Moses Lake continued to keep the heat on Kennewick (7-1) when they managed to pull out an 837-759 win in te second regular game.

Shanice Brice registered a 211 while Palmen scored a 202. Ashlann Starkweather added a 175.

However Kennewick did not stay down for a long winning the first baker game 183-144.

“Kennewick bowled really well and are a very good team that never gave up,” Billy Brice said.

The victory was in doubt going into the second baker and final game of the match until Moses Lake taved off a furious rally.

Kennewick won the baker 205-162 but not before the Chiefs managed to hold on.

“Shanice had to get a strike or spare in the tenth frame for the victory and luckily she struck out for the win,” Billy Brice said. “It got very tense and it was out of our hands after that. If their anchor bowler had struck on her first ball in the tenth frame we would have lost by total pins but she ended up with a seven.”

The Chiefs now hope for a chance to win the league and make a push for a possible home match at regionals.

“I told the veterans to bowl their games and they did,” Billy Brice said. “Our veterans and our newcomers all showed up to bowl. I’d like to say I don’t expect us to be beat but we control our own destiny so now we just have to win out.”