April 15, 2012|Sports Digest
Paula Vilas, with championship hair styled in maroon, was a big factor in the win. As the leadoff bowler Vilas threw six first-ball strikes to open each game and threw three strikes and three spares in the sixth frames. Nine strikes and three spares in 12 frames is a far cry from last year's championship, when she was replaced early.
"I only threw three frames," said Vilas referencing the 2011 finals. "But it was the right call; this year I am just so happy I was able to contribute to the team. This was such a team win, we won because WE bowled as a team."
All in all the Hawks were on their game the last two days, going 4-0, not taking any losses after the seeding round. The championship match saw a combined 35 strikes from UMES. Ramirez threw five of those in the third frames to add some foundation to the middle of the lineup.
"I was the only lefty today," Ramirez said. "So I was getting some good shots, but didn't have anyone else to talk to or watch about how the lane was reacting, so it times it was trial and error."
"Bowling is a game. You have to have fun playing a game. You have to be truly relaxed to strike. If you are tense you will leave that ten pin," said Vilas when asked about the team's approach to the championship.
"You have to have fun," Falbo added. "That is the biggest thing we learned this week. Between yesterday and today all we did is say we have to stay loose and have fun if we are going to win. And that is what we did. It was a great atmosphere. Even when someone missed something we were all standing, we were there to pick each other up."
The Hawks have one more chance at picking one another up this season. They bowl for a United States Bowling Congress Collegiate Championship next weekend in Lincoln, Neb. They are looking to defend that national title as well and winning what would be back-to-back-to back-to-back championships for the first time ever.
As for the NCAA championships the Hawks return seven of the eight players in uniform. Vilas, the lone senior was asked about following in Frahm's shoes and coaching next year. She answered, "I'm just looking for a job, man."
More colleges
Wilkins scores 2 long TDs in Towson scrimmage
Wide receiver Spencer Wilkins (Mount Hebron) caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Grant Enders (Old Mill) and a 42-yard scoring pass from Connor Frazier in Towson's football scrimmage Saturday. Running back Terrance West (Northwestern) had a 52-yard touchdown run. Freshman cornerback Ben Harvey and linebacker Joe McCargo returned interceptions for touchdowns, 60 and 30 yards, respectively. "I saw some good things and some not-so-good things," coach Rob Ambrose said. "This is our 11th practice and we have some guys who are banged up." The Tigers will start their final week of spring ball Tuesday morning. Tiger Bowl II will be Saturday at 1p.m. at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
Baseball: Host Maryland (24-13, 7-10 Atlantic Coast Conference) jumped on Duke (13-23, 5-12) early with seven runs in the first two innings and went on to score in all but one inning, recording its most runs in a conference game since 1999 with a 21-2 win over the Blue Devils. Twelve Terrapins had at least one hit and seven had multi-hit efforts, led by Kyle Convissar's 4-for-5 day. Convissar (Severna Park) also drove in a pair of runs and became the first Terp since May 4, 2005, to score five runs in a game. ... Brandon Gonnella pitched eight shutout innings to lead visiting Towson (18-17) to a 9-0 victory over Elon. ... Visiting UMBC (7-24, 0-6 America East) lost, 8-6 and 14-8, at Binghamton (12-14, 2-3).
Men's golf: Loyola senior Jay Mulieri is in a three-way tie for the lead at 1-under-par 71 after the first round of the Wolfpack Spring Open in Raleigh, N.C. The Greyhounds are tied for fifth overall.
Et cetera
Pontius' late goal lifts United over Revolution
Chris Pontius came off the bench and scored the winning goal off a headed ball from Nick DeLeon with eight minutes left as visiting D.C. United (2-2-2) earned a 2-1 Major League Soccer victory against the New England Revolution (2-4-0). United has eight points in its past four matches.
Boxing: A Maryland state title bout between Jerome Featherstone Jr. (Boys' Latin) and Maurice Stokes will highlight "The Rematch," a boxing card between Team Baltimore and Team Pittsburgh, on May 4 at Du Burns Arena. The squads met March 23 at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, with Team Baltimore earning a close victory. For tickets, call 410-375-9175 or go to baltimoreboxing.com. Doors open at 6:30p.m.
—From Sun staff and news services
