26th NYS Masters Championship -- RESULTS
Nick Miseno Wins NYS Masters!
Defeats Mark Scuderi for Second Masters crown
MARCH 7, 2016 – An exciting, come-from-behind victory in his semifinal match propelled Ballston Lake's Nick Miseno to the title – and $2,000 first prize and free entry to the 2017 USBC Masters – at the 26th NYS Masters Championship on Saturday (March 5) at Lighthouse Lanes in Oswego.
The 47-year-old special education teacher strung four strikes in a row, from the seventh to 10th frames, to rally past Bill Hasiotis of Rochester, 390-385, in the two-game semis, and went on to post a 409-315 win over Mark Scuderi, also of Rochester, in the championship match.
"For whatever reason, I lost my spare game for awhile," Miseno said, referring to a few open frames against Hasiotis. "But once I threw the double (in the second game), I figured I had a shot."
Hasiotis posted a 201-168 win in the opener and held on to his lead halfway through game two. He struck out in the 10th to force Miseno to get the first strike in his 10th frame. Miseno, the 1997 Masters winner and 2006 Super Bud Bowl champion at Lighthouse Lanes, came through with a solid strike and got eight pins on his next ball to seal the victory. Miseno won the second game, 222-184.
In the title match against Scuderi, Miseno opened with 237 and went on to a 409-315 win over the high-revving, 27-year-old two-hander who has the 2010 NYS Masters crown to his credit.
Scuderi, who posted 481 and 423 in his previous two matches, was unable to get untracked in the final match.
"I just didn't have it from the get-go (against Miseno), but I feel I bowled pretty good overall," said Scuderi, who pocketed $1,000.
For Miseno, a Hammer staff member, success came by being patient.
"I basically tried to stay out of trouble (because) nobody had much of a margin." He said his main bowling balls were the Hammer Bad Intentions Hybrid and Vibe.
The Amsterdam High teacher was supported by his wife, Isabel, and 5-year-old son, Nicholas,
The tournament (which did not allow re-entries) attracted 116 bowlers, and paid out $9,300 in prize money to the 24 match play finalists. Hasiotis and Chuck Pitts of Cortland, who dropped a 423-392 decision to Scuderi in the semis, each won $550.
High qualifiers were Art Alexander III of Baldwinsville (1087 on the 9:30 a.m. squad) and Steve Wagoner of Broadalbin (1090 on the 1:30 p.m. squad). It took a five-game score of 994 to make the cut on the first squad and 1002 to advance from the second squad on the challenging Kegel Turnpike "Sport" oil pattern.
The Masters was the showcase of a "Super Challenge Weekend" that included a scratch team tournament and the opening round of the Super Bud Bowl at Lighthouse Lanes.
On Friday night, the Rochester team of Dan Keenan, Ray LeChase, Bob Wiley and Chris Lamb won the Team Challenge, good for $1,100. The effort was highlighted by LeChase's opening 300 game.
On Sunday, Norm Bialuski of Rochester won the Super Bud Bowl "Bonus" singles tournament, defeating Kevin Gray Jr. of Warsaw in the finals. Bialuski took home $1,000 while Gray pocketed $500.
A special thanks to Eagle Beverage Company of Oswego and the Fulton USBC BA for their support of the NYS Masters and Super Bud Bowl competition.
The 2017 NYS Masters is scheduled for March 4th a Farmingdale Lanes on Long Island as part of a second "Super Challenge Weekend" for our scratch tournament bowlers.
