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The Redskin senior, who had won Eastern Michigan Conference and Regional Singles titles this season, qualified second out of a field of 60 girls on Saturday morning, rolling a 1,175 total in a six-game block. After winning her first three matches in the playoffs, she met Vandercook Lake’s Nicole Crabtree in the championship match and won the best-of-three series, 227-192, 212-244, 208-172.

“I always thought I could win it, but I never dreamt that I actually would,” said Ball afterwards. “I just wanted to bowl the best I could. If it was going my, it was going my way.”

In her last six games of the roll-offs, she averaged 217. After beating Melissa McGarey of Almont (175-159, 209-15), in the opening round, Ball put together a 238 game to pull out a three-game quarterfinal match (160-137, 166-192, 238-167) against East Jackson’s Jamie Poole. She ousted Samantha Gollakner, also of East Jackson, in the semis (220-194, 198-188) before rolling a 647 in her three games against Crabtree, who had averaged 208 in her first nine roll-off games.

“I knew I had to have my biggest games all year. (Crabtree) was probably the best bowler I’ve seen all year,” said Ball, who has been a two-time All-State bowler.

Ball added that fan support was also a big factor for her. “It helped a lot have all the support behind me. There was a huge fan section. I appreciate all the people that stayed to cheer me on.”

Gordy Williams, Sandusky coach, has seen plenty of success with his girls bowling teams in the last four years, and acknowledged that Ball has been a big part of it. “What can I say about Mel? She’s been a great asset to the team all four years. She’s worked hard and this has been a goal of hers since she was a freshman. The way she bowled on Saturday…you could tell she was motivated to win it.”

Ball added that Williams, Coach Jim Brown and Roger and Heidi Wrathell from Liberty Lanes in Sandusky all have a part, too, in her success. “They’ve been behind me all four years. They’ve been a huge help and they’ve been there for the whole team, too.”

Sandusky has had a great tradition in high school bowling the last four years. The girls teams have won State and State Runner-up trophies and four consecutive Regional titles and the boys team won a State title. Individually, Amanda Wrathell in 2003 won the Miss Michigan bowling award while Tony Doerr and Peter Duran were State Singles champions in 2004 and 2005.

Six others from area compete in State Singles

Ethan Webster of Sandusky came the closest to qualifying for the playoffs among several others during last weekends MHSAA Bowling State Finals

Webster, a junior, just missed making the 16th and final spot for the Division 3 Boys Singles at Jackson. He finished tied for 17th with a six-game pinfall of 1,227. Alex Moseley of Capac finished eight pins ahead of Webster, who had a high game of 256.

Del Shea, Sandusky coach, said just a break here or there could have made the difference for Webster. “Ethan only had one missed spare all day. He just couldn’t string the strikes, just in that one game.”

Others missing the cut at Airport Lanes were Sandusky’s Cody Paehlig and Deckerville’s Chris Buckley. In girls competition there, Deckerville’s Kayla Colesa finished 28th.

In the Division 2 tournament at Battle Creek’s Nottke Lanes, Travis Clark and Trenten Barr of Cros-Lex both fell below the 16-man cut line in the qualifying round Saturday morning.

JACKSON, MI - In four seasons on the Sandusky girls bowling team, Melanie Ball has seen some nice successes along the way. She capped it all off Saturday by winning the MHSAA Division 3 Girls State Singles championship at Airport Lanes in Jackson.

The Redskin senior, who had won Eastern Michigan Conference and Regional Singles titles this season, qualified second out of a field of 60 girls on Saturday morning, rolling a 1,175 total in a six-game block. After winning her first three matches in the playoffs, she met Vandercook Lake’s Nicole Crabtree in the championship match and won the best-of-three series, 227-192, 212-244, 208-172.

“I always thought I could win it, but I never dreamt that I actually would,” said Ball afterwards. “I just wanted to bowl the best I could. If it was going my, it was going my way.”

In her last six games of the roll-offs, she averaged 217. After beating Melissa McGarey of Almont (175-159, 209-15), in the opening round, Ball put together a 238 game to pull out a three-game quarterfinal match (160-137, 166-192, 238-167) against East Jackson’s Jamie Poole. She ousted Samantha Gollakner, also of East Jackson, in the semis (220-194, 198-188) before rolling a 647 in her three games against Crabtree, who had averaged 208 in her first nine roll-off games.

“I knew I had to have my biggest games all year. (Crabtree) was probably the best bowler I’ve seen all year,” said Ball, who has been a two-time All-State bowler.

Ball added that fan support was also a big factor for her. “It helped a lot have all the support behind me. There was a huge fan section. I appreciate all the people that stayed to cheer me on.”

Gordy Williams, Sandusky coach, has seen plenty of success with his girls bowling teams in the last four years, and acknowledged that Ball has been a big part of it. “What can I say about Mel? She’s been a great asset to the team all four years. She’s worked hard and this has been a goal of hers since she was a freshman. The way she bowled on Saturday…you could tell she was motivated to win it.”

Ball added that Williams, Coach Jim Brown and Roger and Heidi Wrathell from Liberty Lanes in Sandusky all have a part, too, in her success. “They’ve been behind me all four years. They’ve been a huge help and they’ve been there for the whole team, too.”

Sandusky has had a great tradition in high school bowling the last four years. The girls teams have won State and State Runner-up trophies and four consecutive Regional titles and the boys team won a State title. Individually, Amanda Wrathell in 2003 won the Miss Michigan bowling award while Tony Doerr and Peter Duran were State Singles champions in 2004 and 2005.

Six others from area compete in State Singles

Ethan Webster of Sandusky came the closest to qualifying for the playoffs among several others during last weekends MHSAA Bowling State Finals

Webster, a junior, just missed making the 16th and final spot for the Division 3 Boys Singles at Jackson. He finished tied for 17th with a six-game pinfall of 1,227. Alex Moseley of Capac finished eight pins ahead of Webster, who had a high game of 256.

Del Shea, Sandusky coach, said just a break here or there could have made the difference for Webster. “Ethan only had one missed spare all day. He just couldn’t string the strikes, just in that one game.”

Others missing the cut at Airport Lanes were Sandusky’s Cody Paehlig and Deckerville’s Chris Buckley. In girls competition there, Deckerville’s Kayla Colesa finished 28th.

In the Division 2 tournament at Battle Creek’s Nottke Lanes, Travis Clark and Trenten Barr of Cros-Lex both fell below the 16-man cut line in the qualifying round Saturday morning.