Nov. 20, 2010
Millsboro, Del. - After just an ok first day to open the 2010 Hawk Classic, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) decided it was time to take a shot at winning their own tournament for the first time in six tries. The Hawks soared to first place, posting two 1200 sets to move out of sixth place and earn the tournament's top seed.
Bowling a team game format UMES opened with a dominating win in game one, topping Wisconsin-Whitewater by posting a 1200 score to their 908. UMES came out on fire getting a 278 from Anggie Ramirez (Bogota, Colombia), a 239 from Maria Rodriguez (Ibague Tolima, Colombia), a 237 from Paula Vilas (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) and a pair of 223s from Martha Perez (Bogota, Colombia) and Kristina Frahm (Oswego, Ill.).
"When someone gets that hot, it tends to rub off on others," said head coach Sharon Brummell. "We needed a good start and those five young ladies gave it to us."
From there UMES posted wins over Stephen F. Austin (970-909) and Texas Southern (1022-826). They got 200 games from Ramirez and Frahm against Stephen F. Austin (244 and 205 respectively) and Vilas, Frahm and Stacy Parsons (Delran, N.J.) against Texas Southern.(202, 213 and 215 respectively). They then took on Valparaiso, where former Hawk Katie Shumaker now bowls. They topped them by 154 pins, 1134-980 getting four 200 games from Vilas, Ramirez, Frahm and Rodriguez, including a 277 from Frahm and a 238 from Ramirez.
Sitting at 4-0, UMES had just one match left, taking on the Bulldogs of Bowie State. The Hawks soared past the undermatched Bulldogs by a whopping 445 pins, 1207-769. Coming off the bench, the reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Bowler of the Week, T'Nia Falbo (Greensburg, Pa.) posted a career high 290 to lead all bowlers at the event. She got help in the win from Ramirez who posted a 258 and Frahm who rolled a 244. Vilas chipped in with a 227.
The 1207 is the highest team game series ever rolled at the event and sets a new UMES record for a team game score, topping last season's 1172 against Norfolk State on January 30, 2010.
Out of all 25 games UMES bowled, they posted 19 of them above 200. Ramirez averaged a 237.80 to lead all bowlers, while Frahm stands second with a 232.40 average, both bowled all five games. Rodriguez and Vilas finished eighth and ninth respectively with 212.20 and 212 averages.
UMES now sits in first place and has earned the top seed heading into tomorrow's bracket play. They lead second seeded Central Missouri State by 512 pins and will face them tomorrow in the opening round.
Delaware State made a resounding comeback as well, moving up to third place overall, 540 pins behind UMES. They tallied 5,037 pins on day two, the second best in the field, 496 pins behind the Hawks on the day. Sam Houston State stands in fourth, 636 pins out. New Jersey City, Sacred Heart, Fairleigh Dickinson, Valparaiso, Stephen F. Austin and Vanderbilt round out the top ten. In bracket play, UMES can finish no worse then fourth place. Vanderbilt's seed ensures a new champion will be crowned at the event, which can be only come from the top four seeds.
The Hawks, perfect day two, 5-0, gives them an 8-2 mark through the first two days and 29-6 overall. Along with Kutztown they were the only team to go perfect on day two. Only the Golden Bears and the Gothic Knights of NJCU have better records at the event, both are 9-1 heading into day three. Sam Houston State is also 8-2.
Play begins at Millsboro Lanes in Millsboro, Del. at 8:30 a.m. UMES faces the Jennies of Central Missouri State to open the day. A win gets them a bye into the championship match, a loss means battling the Delaware State vs. Sam Houston State winner to get to the championship match.
