Feb. 27, 2010
BESSEMER, Ala. — Some days bowling is just plain fun.
This was one of those days. Vanderbilt started strong and got stronger and by midway through the long day, the Commodores were high-fiving, smiling and full of confidence. It was one of those times when it just looked easy.
In the process, Vanderbilt went 5-0 in an event in which the Holiday Classic championship bracket is determined by won-loss records and not pin fall. Not surprisingly for anyone watching, Commodore bowlers dominated the leader board with four of the top six – and four of the top five on sheer total pins.
Freshman Jessica Earnest was on fire and sits in second place after averaging 215.20 while teammates Brittni Hamilton is right behind in third, Brittany Garcia is fourth and Josie Earnest is sixth.
“We were obviously better than we were in our last NCAA outing,” said Coach John Williamson. “We executed better but we still had some mistakes. However, we were bowling well enough to overcome them. I told the team before we began that today our won-loss record was more important than our pinfall.”
Jessica Earnest was pleased with her day, and why not?
“I felt relaxed all day,” the Vandalia, Ill., rookie said. “I can’t say that I ever realized it was my day but those last few games were fun. We played as a group and the conditions played to my “A” game.”
Jessica was asked about her fifth game, one in which she began with seven strikes in a row before leaving a five-pin count in the eighth.
“I got a little antsy to throw it,” she admitted afterward. “It is always an experience to get that many in a row. It’s hard for me to believe most bowlers don’t realize it when they are stringing them together.”
Williamson is pleased with Jessica in the lead-off slot.
“She is really coming into her own as lead-off,” he says. “She is starting to understand the spark she can bring to us up front and because she throws a very consistent ball, the rest of the team can read and react to what they see.”
Garcia also found the lanes to her liking.
“The lanes played to our strength,” the senior said. “We don’t get to play the outside too often but this is where our team excels.”
The Commodores got warmed up in their first game of the morning against an outmatched Mississippi Valley team, winning by a lopsided 978-571 total. Brittany Hamilton led the effort with a 213 with each of the `Dores suffering at least one split in the match.
The team slid down a few lanes to face Nebraska in Game 2. Vanderbilt led the Big Red from wire-to-wire to record a resounding 199-pin win, 1,021-822. Josie Earnest unloaded the heavy artillery with a 253, starting with four in a row and then adding a second four-bagger a bit later. Josie’s effort was one of the tournament’s best individual games. Right behind Josie were Brittany Garcia with a solid 220 and Kayla Rhoades with a 207.
The day’s showdown came next against Maryland-Eastern Shore, at least as far as the polls are concerned with the nation’s top two rated squads shoulder-to-shoulder. Once again Vanderbilt jumped out to a quick lead although the Hawks were able to keep it within range.
Three Commodores topped the 200 mark, led by Hamilton’s excellent 238. Garcia came back with another 220 and Jessica Earnest overcame an open in the first and two more in the ninth and tenth to notch a 201.
The fourth game of the day was another blowout against Bethune-Cookman. Jessica Earnest made this exciting, starting with seven strikes in succession before leaving a nasty pick-fence five count in the eighth. She came back with two more strikes to close with a nifty 248.
For some observers, Jessica’s game was somewhat reminiscent of her older sister Josie’s game here two years ago when she had 10 in a row and the entire audience holding its breath in anticipation of perfection. In that memorable game, Josie closed at 284, second best in school history.
In the afternoon’s final game, Vanderbilt faced Sacred Heart. Jessica Earnest continued her winning ways, opening once again with a string of six strikes in a row. This time her teammates tried to match the hot-shooting freshman with Garcia, lineup newcomer Kim Carper and Josie Earnest enjoying multiple strikes in a row. When this one was over, VU had its best score of the day.
Sunday’s play starts with three team games. The won-loss records will then sort the teams by pool with Team 1 in a pool playing Team 2 in the other. The winners of that Baker action will then compete for the championship.
Arkansas State came through one of the six team pools with a 4-1 record but better pin fall than Nebraska, which also won four of its five. Maryland-Eastern Shore went 3-2. Vanderbilt was the only unbeaten on the day with Central Missouri 3-2 in its bracket.
Individual Leaderboard
1. Natalie Jimenez, Central Missouri 1,138 (227.60)
2. Jessica Earnest, Vanderbilt 1,076
3. Brittni Hamilton, Vanderbilt 1,046
4. Brittany Garcia, Vanderbilt 1,036
5. T’nia Falbo, Maryland Eastern Shore 825 (5 games)
6. Josie Earnest, Vanderbilt 1,023
VU 978, Mississippi Valley 571
Jess Earnest 204
Brittany Garcia 190
Kayla Rhoades 183
Brittni Hamilton 213
Josie Earnest 188
VU 1,021, Nebraska 822
Jess Earnest 167
Garcia 220
Rhoades 207
Hamilton 174
Josie Earnest 253
VU 1,001, UMES 954
Jess Earnest 201
Garcia 220
Rhoades/Halter (6) 172
Hamilton 238
Josie Earnest 170
VU 1,008, Bethune-Cookman 735
Jess Earnest 248
Garcia 203
Belden 133
Hamilton 225
Josie Earnest 198
VU 1,069, Sacred Heart 964
Jess Earnest 256
Garcia 203
Kim Carper 201
Hamilton 196
Josie Earnest 213
