ALTON – Tyler Stevenson’s runner-up finish led Alton Redbirds boys bowling to the championship of the Alton Regional on Monday.
Stevenson, a senior, averaged 236 over six games for the Redbirds, whose 6,333 pins topped a 10-team field at Bowl Haven Lanes. Civic Memorial was runner-up with 6,000 pins, with Abingdon-Avon (5,979) and Southwestern (5,859) claiming the final team berths to the Collinsville Sectional at 9 a.m. Saturday at Camelot Bowl in Collinsville.
Those four schools from Alton join regional qualifiers from Belleville East, Marion and Salem at Collinsville. The Redbirds are seeking their 11th state tournament appearance since the IHSA sanctioned the sport in 2003.
Joining Stevenson in averaging better than 200 from six games were junior Derek Henderson (1,294), junior Justin Milliman (1,288) and senior Blake Schuette (1,232).
CM was led by senior Devin Davis at 1,225, while the Eagles got 1,174 pins from senior Zach Hagen, 1,168 from seophomore Gordon Madrey, and 1,116 from senior Gage Jennings.
The Piasa Birds got out with sophomore Connor Schobernd leading the charge with a two-series total of 1,238. Seniors Tanner Mayhew (1,221), Alex Watts (1,201), Joey Gaither (1,140) and Trevor Keil (1,059) completed Southwestern’s lineup.
The top 10 individuals not on advancing teams also punched their ticket to the Collinsville Sectional. Hillsboro’s Ryan Robinson won the regional title at 1,460, edging Stevenson by 44 pins.
Defending regional champion Jersey sends seniors Jeff Gump (1,265) and Jordan Retherford (1,227) to the sectional, along with Roxana sophomore Christian Bertoletti (1,282) and Carlinville senior Bryce Rives (1,189).
At the Marion Regional, Metro East Lutheran senior Michael Coulson advanced with a 1,165. Edwardsville sends two bowlers to Collinsville with seniors Hunter Noud (1,084) and Eddie Sims (1,072) getting out.
Troy on the regional title at Marion and join Highland, Salem and Collinsville as sectional qualifiers.
Report prep results by email: telegraphsports@hotmail.com
