East Islip doesn't get storybook ending

SYRACUSE - Missing out on a state title was not about to spoil the final frames that Joey Fischer, Joe Griffin, Bobby Martin and Ed Tuskan would spend together as members of the East Islip bowling team.

The goal, as always, for East Islip was to finish the season with a state championship.

Although it was out of reach toward the end of the sixth and final game in yesterday's state tournament at Strike 'N Spare Lanes in Syracuse, the Redmen - who were sporting red mohawks - treated every last roll as if the title was still on the line.

"We were savoring the moment," Martin said. "It was our last opportunity. We just wanted to get it all out of our system and have fun."

That sentiment was echoed by Tuskan: "We had an idea we were out of it, so we just wanted to have fun. We wanted to savor our last couple of frames."

East Islip finished with a six-game total pinfall of 5,731 to take fourth place, 213 pins behind state champion South Colonie (5,944) and 69 pins behind second-place Vernon-Verona Sherrill (5,800).

Martin finished with the third highest series in the tournament with a 1,287, Tuskan closed his tenure with a 236 in Game 6 of a 1,163 series and Griffin rolled a 1,137 series.

SEE PHOTOSNYS bowling championships

East Islip was on top after the first game, behind a 248 from Martin, before some missed spares led to an 874 in the third game, leaving the Redmen with a deficit they couldn't overcome.

"We started to climb back a little bit and then by the end, we did bowl a 1,069 in the last game," East Islip coach Rick Papandrea said. "I like to look at it as we ran out of time. We go another two or three games, we catch them and pass them. But we just needed some more games."

There will be no more games for the core group of seniors who helped bring East Islip a state title in 2008. They hand the reins over to young up-and-comers such as Jacob Klein (1,105 series) and Jon Cheadle.

"We bowled good, but they bowled better," Fischer said. "We came up short at states but in future years, East Islip will pick up our slack and win it for us."

Sewanhaka made its second straight appearance at the state tournament and took seventh place with a 5,514 series. Tommy Genova led the team with a 1,125 series, followed by Joshua Kramer (1,111) and Jay Wagan (967 in five games).

"We are bowling the best teams in the state and we weren't on top of our game," said Genova, who rolled a 221 in Game 5. "But it's such an amazing feeling to be number one in our county. Just being here is a success."

Added coach Jay Hegi: "This season was a total success. I didn't think we were going to win the counties. We stepped up that day, showed a lot of heart and the rest is gravy. It's definitely a privilege to represent Nassau."