Russo Wins League Honor, Leads Generals Past Lee
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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. -- Ryan Russo is peaking at the right time for the Pittsfield bowling team.
The senior bowled a 258 on Friday at Cove Lanes, the best game for a player this winter in the Berkshire County High School Bowling League, to lead the Generals to a 2-1 win over Lee that pulled Pittsfield into a tie for first place in the last match of the regular season.
The Wildcats, though, earned the tie-breaker and will carry the No. 1 seed going into Friday's county championship tournament at Greylock Bowl and Golf in North Adams.
Lee will face Taconic in one semi-final while Pittsfield will take on third-place McCann Tech in the other in best-of-seven Baker format matches. Then the two winners will square off for the county crown.
Friday's regular-season ending matches were a celebration for the league's six schools and, in particular, the seniors, who were honored prior to the action.
The league also passed out its post-season honors, awarded by Dalton's Lou Orazio, the state bowling commissioner and a staple at Berkshire County competitions until he had some health issues earlier this winter.
Russo was recognized with the league's leadership award. Mount Everett's Mabel Wheeler took the county sportsmanship award, which is named is Orazio's honor.
The league's coaches also recognized the all league team, which included Russo and teammate Matt Dupuis, Lee's Emily Holian and Bella Kotek, Taconic's Mitch McCann and McCann Tech's Michael Oakes.
Oakes went on to roll the best two-game series recorded by a county bowler this season with scores of 243 and 245 for a 488.
That helped the Hornets earn a 3-0 win over Mount Everett, which was led by Mercedes Kosik with a 200 game and 378 series.
Taconic earned a 3-0 win over Monument Mountain on Friday as McCann rolled a 217 game and 419 series. The Spartans were led by Noah Walker with a 211 game and 347 series.
In the day's battle for first place, Russo was backed up by Dupuis, who rolled a 236 in the first game to help the Generals take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Lee battled back with a dominating performance in the second match, winning all of the head-to-head battles.
Kotek rolled the day's best game among the girls, a 246, to best Russo. Holian outdueled Dupuis, 198-194.
A best-of-three set of Baker format games decided the third point and the match. Pittsfield won the first two games, 175-149 and 181-157.
Final varsity standings: 1. Lee, 24-6; 2. Pittsfield, 24-6; 3. McCann Tech, 22-8; 4. Taconic, 12-18; 5. Mount Everett, 7-23; 6. Monument Mountain, 1-29.
Berkshire County Championships
2006, Taconic
2007, Mount Everett
2008, McCann Tech
2009, Hoosac Valley
2010, McCann Tech
2011, Drury
2012, Taconic
2013, Taconic
2014, Drury
2015, Lee
2016, Lee
2017, Drury
2018, McCann tech
2019, Wahconah
2020, Wahconah
2021, no season
2022, Taconic
2023, Taconic