Drury Dynasty Continues: Fifth Straight State Bowling Title

AUBURN, Mass. — Junior Zach Yeaton earned his third straight MVP award by leading the Drury bowling team to its fifth straight state championship on Saturday at AMF Auburn Lanes.

The Blue Devils swept Assabet, 2-0, in the best-of-three championship match to cap a tournament that saw three Berkshire County teams reach the semi-finals.

“All the kids just seemed to come together today,” Drury coach Todd Yeaton said. “It was a spectacular day.”

Drury finished the total pinfall phase of the 14-team tournament in first place, with 2,501 pins to second-place Lee’s 2,384.

“Nick Johnson threw pretty good,” Zach Yeaton said well of the qualifying round. “Alli Brassard did well. My sister [Aleasia] bowled well compared to her average.”

On Sunday, Brassard went on to finish second in the state in the individuals tournament.

In Saturday's team semis, Drury was taken to three Baker format games by fourth-place McCann, which won the first game, 187-164, behind Brandon Vallone. The Blue Devils came back with wins by scores of 211-179 and 215-194.

In the other semifinal, Lee rebounded from a Game 1 loss to win the second game, 215-169, and force the rubber match. Assabet prevailed, 198-188, to set up the final against the defending champions.

In the championship match, Drury won the first game, 161-146, and the second, 188-143.

“Basically, it was the whole team,” Zach Yeaton said. “The first game [of the finals] we had our second player miss a spare, and the rest of the team picked him up. The second game, everybody pretty much had great games.”

Altogether, five Berkshire County teams competed in the state championship. Pittsfield High and Taconic placed seventh and eighth, respectively, out of 14 teams.