Bowling: Portage boys, girls win Porter-LaPorte Sectional

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Updated: March 1, 2012 8:33AM

VALPARAISO — It was a sweep for Portage at the Porter-LaPorte Sectional at Inman’s. And it came pretty easy for the boys and girls squads advancing to next Saturday’s regional.

The girls cruised to the lone advancing spot by 303 pins over runner-up LaPorte, while the boys earned the first of two advancing boys spots by 149 pins over runner-up Chesterton.

Portage girls coach Debbie Gossett had some motivating to do after only two of her bowlers — Jackie Rhoda and Kodi Soloman — advanced in singles.

“A couple were disappointed because they didn’t make it, but I asked them, ‘Isn’t (advancing as a team) a lot more satisfying?’” Gossett said.

The Indians pushed themselves away from the rest of the field with a 1,010 second game led by Jessica Morris’ 258.

The boys also cruised through qualifying knowing they were a lock to advance. But there was the unfinished business of having to defeat regular-season champ Chesterton to earn the trophy.

The Indians were ahead by 40 pins in the final after the first game. But after a 7-10 split in the sixth frame, the Trojans had erased the deficit. That is, until Portage strung four strikes to seal the win.

“All day long after a couple bad frames, they bounced back strong,” Portage boys coach Lenny Smock said. “I had to blend young players and ones that have been here a while. But after the Region Rumble where we finished second, we seem to be coming together.”

The big surprise came in boys singles in which the top two places were earned by Valparaiso’s Jeremy Kostrzeba and Jason Wright.

“I expected guys from Chesterton, Portage or LaPorte to do better, than me” said Wright, who averaged 172 during the season. Kostrzeba only averaged 158, but both are still rolling while 200-average bowlers failed to advance.