James Randazza, Joe Kunken power Oceanside boys bowling past Baldwin

Adjusting on the fly and making the most of a tough situation have become two necessities during these times.

Such was the case as the Oceanside boys bowling team rallied past Baldwin for an 8-3 win in a Nassau V meet at a tame and heavily partitioned Baldwin Lanes on Monday.

"It is what it is," Oceanside’s Matt Green said. "Honestly [the ultimate goal beyond going undefeated and winning the conference] is to just have fun . . . sometimes things happen and we just have to be there for each other."

In addition, with head coach Claire Meeker-Johnson out on Monday, Oceanside (4-0) was coached by supervisor Dawn Howard.

"Things can get a little hairy, but these kids are great, they help out," Howard said.

Howard was proud of the team for bouncing back from what they all would agree was a rough start.

"I think they did great," Howard said, "They lost the first game, it was their ‘warm-up game.’"

James Randazza rolled a 148 in the first game and his team largely followed suit, with only Joe Dibs above 150.

It would cost Oceanside the first game as two-time champion Baldwin (3-2), powered by a 257 from Matthew Johnson won by 23 pins, 661-638.

However, Oceanside would adjust by slowing down and focusing on the main opponent: themselves.

"It’s all how you adjust, how much you practice and if you don’t have a bad day you are doing pretty well," Oceanside’s Joe Kunken said. "It all averages out."

Randazza bowled a 177 in Game 2 while Johnson bowled a 194 as Oceanside took the game, 663-632, to even the score and force Game 3.

In Game 3 Randazza rolled a 168. However, it was Kunken who had a 186 and finished with a team-high 500 series that helped secure the game, 653-623.

Matthew Olmedo had a 505 series for Baldwin.

Oceanside returns to Baldwin Lanes on Tuesday to face Freeport at 4:15 p.m.