It was a history-making campaign on York County bowling lanes during 2016-2017 season
- Five bowlers in York County finished the 2016-2017 season with averages of 240 or higher.
- Hanover Bowling Centre's Adam Baer and Josh Coleman tied for the top spot at 245.
- Mike Spangler, Jeremy Haines and Jerred Poff also topped the 240 mark.
For the first time in York County bowling history, five bowlers finished the season with averages of 240 or higher.
Hanover Bowling Centre's Adam Baer and Josh Coleman tied for the top honor with 245 averages for the 2016-17 season. Baer rolled 105 games, while Coleman notched 93 games.
Mike Spangler tallied a 243 mark for 116 games at Colony Park North, while Jeremy Haines finished with a 242 average for 102 games at Hanover Bowling Centre. Jerred Poff registered a 241 mark for 105 games at Laser Alleys.
"It's a credit to the number of high quality bowlers we have in York County," said Baer, discussing the record five bowlers with 240 averages. "York County bowlers historically have done well on the state and national levels, as well as the local level."
Although 240 averages are much more common than today, Baer stressed that it's still a difficult achievement.
"It may not be hard to roll a 700 series, but to average 240 you have to average a 720 series each week for seven-plus months," he said. "That's a daunting task."
Baer said bowlers need to roll about nine strikes a game to average 240.
Most league seasons range from 33 to 36 weeks. It's a long season, one typically filled with highs and lows.
"You can't afford many bad weeks, if you are going to average 240," said Baer.
Dramatic improvements in bowling ball technology the past two decades have paved the way for higher averages, according to Baer.
"Scoring conditions are much different today than when Tim Zelger and Mark Crawford posted 240 averages in the late 1980s and early 1990s," said Baer.
Zelger compiled a 245 average for 69 games in the 1989 season at Lion Bowl, while Crawford tallied a 240 average for 102 games at East Lincoln in 1993. At the time, the American Bowling Congress recognized Zelger's mark as the highest in the country for a member of a five-man team, while Crawford's was noted as the third highest in the country for a member of a four-man team.
Reach Barry Sparks at sports@yorkdispatch.com.
Top 25 Averages
York County Men 2016-17
(Minimum of 66 games)
Bowler Games Average Center
Adam Baer 105 245 Hanover
Josh Coleman 93 245 Hanover
Mike Spangler 116 243 Colony Park North
Jeremy Haines 102 242 Hanover
Jerred Poff 105 241 Laser Alleys
Greg Bruff 80 238 Colony Park North
Kyle Jameson 93 238 Suburban
Justin Mong 109 238 Colony Park North
Chuck Crone 99 236 Colony Park North
Terry Miller 89 236 Suburban
Scott Strickler 72 236 Suburban
Jon Auchey 105 236 Hanover
Jacob Hawkins 96 235 Colony Park North
Eric Smith 75 235 East Lincoln
Ed Hombach 82 234 Colony Park North
Matt Schaszberger 87 234 Suburban
Paul Wolfram 93 234 Lion Bowl
Michael Eaton 98 233 Colony Park North
Greg Elicker 98 233 Colony Park North
Jeff Gibson 93 233 Suburban
Rick Graham 92 233 Colony Park North
Jake Hawkins 90 232 Suburban
Dave Kareis 120 232 Colony Park North
Michael Starliper 99 232 Suburban
Bob Straub 99 232 Hanover