Bowling tournament raises $1,100 for Legion team

SANDPOINT — The 2011 baseball season started a little early for the Sandpoint American Legion baseball team, which hosted a bowling tournament recently at EFX Lanes to help offset entry fees for this summer’s tournaments.

The bowlers rolled three games and the first place team was Nick Halpin, Matt Kingsley, Josh Kirkpatrick and Adam Kingsley. The first place high game adult bowler was Israel Karasek with a 180, and the first place high game student went to Sean Conlin, who bowled a 173.

The real winner was the Lakers baseball team, which raised more than $1,100 with the help of some generous local sponsors.

At the conclusion of the tournament a single frame elimination game called “knock out” was won by the No. 6 seed Matt Kingsley. In the semi finals, Matt upset the top seed Nick Halpin with a strike, and Nick followed with a perfect pocket shot that somehow left the four pin standing, eliminating him. In the other semi the No. 2 seed Larry Shaffer was upset when he left three pins standing and Josh Kirkpatrick took advantage of it and spared his frame.

The final between Matt and Josh was a classic. Matt, being the lower seed, bowled first, again firing a strike. Josh then followed with a classic pocket shot that looked as if they’d have to play another frame until the crowd reacted to a 7-10 split. Josh’s next shot didn’t get the split, allowing Matt to win the knock out tournament.

Many thanks go out to sponsors Boulder Creek Academy, Pacific Steel and Recycling, Sand Creek Conoco, Schweitzer Mountain Resort, State Farm Insurance and Wrenco Arms. A special thank you to Jeremy Conlin for all his time finding community businesses to donate for the silent auction and  putting together a successful tournament.