Sewanhaka wins title with no room to spare

The players, coaches and coordinators all agreed: there's a great deal of parity in Nassau boys bowling this year. It's wide open, they said, and a legitimate argument could be made for at least six teams being the best.

But how much parity can there be when Sewanhaka District repeats as champion? About 19 pins' worth, actually.

That was the difference Saturday as the Indians pulled through a fierce sixth game to hold off Farmingdale. Sewanhaka dropped 6,331 pins to the Dalers' 6,312. That close. The Indians head to the state tournament on March 5 in Syracuse.

"That sixth game, man, that was tense," said Tommy Genova, whose 1,500 series led the tournament. "Every shot counted and it felt like you had to be perfect. It's tougher than going for a 300 because there's a championship riding on it."

Which is probably why when the results were announced on the PA system, about 15 minutes after everyone in the joint (and loved ones within cell phone coverage range), found out there was a post-celebration celebration. An extra round of hootin' and high-fivin'.

"Because it feels just as good every time we hear it," Mike DeFalco said.

Eric Kennedy led Farmingdale with a 1,365 series and Hewlett, behind Jake Geiger's 1,388, took third (6,270).

SEE PHOTOSSuffolk and Nassau bowling championships

Sewanhaka (12-1) won its first county title last season, coming from behind and pulling away late. This one was tooth-and-nail throughout. Bellmore-Merrick held a slim lead after three games, then Farmingdale overtook them, then the Indians stormed into first with a 1,105 in Game 5. But at that point, just eight pins separated them and the Dalers; 11 from East Meadow; 62 from Hewlett. So Sewanhaka very well needed that 1,064 in Game 5.

Genova, who had two 276 games, rolled a 236 in the sixth, Joshua Kramer had a 220, and Mike Jarosch, who subbed for DeFalco when he injured his thumb in Game 5, shot a 228 in Game 6. Kevin Gamboa had a 1,310 series.

"I honestly thought the [Sewanhaka] girls had a better shot of winning it all," Jay Hegi said. He coaches both teams. "I knew the boys could, but we'd really have to step up. They did."

Sewanhaka graduated two stars in Josh Roca and Pete Mastandrea - both of whom were spectators Saturday; the "team uncles," as they're now called - which helped create some of that so-talked-about parity.

"I never expected this," Genova said. "We weren't a great team for a long time, we didn't used to do well in counties. Now we're on top. Twice!"