RAYMOND, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The Keene Blackbirds traveled to Strikers East in Raymond on Saturday for the second to last meet of the regular season.  This year the team has been focused on maintaining a winning attitude come what may.  That positivity helped as the Varsity bowlers worked hard to find stable lines in the two individual games to open the tournament.  Junior Jake Moody led all scoring with a 221 average followed closely by Junior Izaac LaClair with a 211.  The seniors tend to rely on a strong hook coming in to the head pin.  This was tricky on greasy lanes playing with a Winnacunnet team pushing oil around the same lines.  Despite the challenge Dustin Whitney, Ethan Affeldt and Brody Baldwin keep their chins up and kept plugging, helping earn Keene 2nd seed, losing that honor to Raymond by only 20 pins with a 1770.

Down the lanes the JV continued their high performance winning first seed to face the winner of a roll off between Dover and host Raymond.  Scores of note included Jacob Earl and Evan Cheshire.

Keene varsity faced Winnacunnet in the first semifinal round of bakers and won in two straight sets, 174 to 110 and 193 to 134.  That earned them the right to face Raymond, who took 3 sets to beat Dover.

Keene won the first set 185 to 150.  Then, reminding us of last week’s loss to Stevens, the Blackbirds gave up the second set by 1 point, 181 to their 182.  This gave Raymond all the momentum they needed and they went on a tear, putting up 232 points.  Keene didn’t slack, accumulating 191 points but struggled to avoid first or second frame opens.

Once again it was a whole team effort with starters and substitutes coming in to put up important strikes and spares.  Despite the losses the last couple weeks the team perseveres and keeps learning.  Bowlers who might struggle in individuals come up big in bakers.  This gives your Blackbirds the resolve they need to head in to the last meet of the regular season with their heads held high!