Boys Bowling: Brother Martin blanks St. Aug; Jesuit, Shaw, St. Paul’s open with wins

KENNER – Defending state champion Brother Martin picked up where it left off Monday.

The Crusaders rolled a 3,612 team series, including single games of 1,261 and 1,268, in defeating St. Augustine 27-0 on opening day of the boys bowling season at AMF All Star Lanes.

Cody Schaffer, who anchored the Crusaders’ unbeaten run to a third state title last spring, got off to a slow start by his standards with a 205 first game, but bounced back with games of 237 and 232 for a team-high 674 series.

Brandon Bonvillain had a 254 second game – the best of the day for Brother Martin – and a 662 set, while Drew Gardner opened the day with a 246 and finished with a 622 series. Hunter Dunn also opened strongly with a 244.

Rion Sam led St. Augustine with a 455 series.

Jesuit 20, Archbishop Rummel 7: The Blue Jays showed the type of depth needed to make a deep run in a season-opening victory over the Raiders.

Jesuit’s top four bowlers – Jake Steigler, Alex O’Neil, Ben Hunn and Luke Wood – each turned in single games above 240 and series above 630 as the Blue Jays finished with a 3,503 team series.

Steigler, bowling in the No. 6 position, led the Jays with a 681 series on games of 203-266-212. Wood had a 264 middle game as part of a 650 set. O’Neil opened the day with a 249 and had a 641 series, while Hunn closed with a 257 to shoot 632.

Luke Hightower (588) and Ruben Gendron (587) led Rummel, while Josh Bares turned in the Raiders’ best single game with a final-game 249.

Archbishop Shaw 20, Holy Cross 7: At Westside Lanes, the Eagles opened the season with an impressive victory over the Tigers.

Quentin Bullie led Shaw with a 625 series, including games of 237 and 201, and Gage Perrin had a 616 set that featured games of 237 and 214. The Eagles rolled a 3,206 team series.

Bryan Arena had a 205 game and Adam Popich a 199 for Holy Cross.

St. Paul’s 25, Archbishop Hannan 2: At Tangi Lanes in Hammond, the Wolves took a convincing season-opening victory over the Hawks behind their top bowler, Peter Bertucci.

Bertucci opened his season with a 621 series, including a high game of 235.

Jacob Bounds (234), Zachary VanZandt (210) and Jack Bertucci (203) also had solid single-game efforts as St. Paul’s had a 3,437 team series.

Chris Reso led Hannan with a 530 series, including a 193 opening game.

Chalmette 24.5, Holy Rosary 2.5: Also at AMF, the Owls opened their season with a victory.

Ronald Conley had a 176 game and Eagan Torres a 446 series for the winners.