Baker Bowling Hosts NAIA Weekend Tournaments, Earns Pair of Fourth-Place Finishes

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Hosting its final set of regular-season tournaments, the Baker bowling teams competed in the NAIA West Regionals I and II over the weekend in Lawrence, Kan. where both teams closed out the weekend by placing fourth in Sunday's competition.

The women finished Saturday after five team games and 12 baker games in fifth and were led by senior Kinsey Miller, who took first individually. Miller posted a total of 1095 for a 218 average and marked her highest game in the first game of the weekend with a 258. The score was also enough to break the tiebreaker for first place by one pin. The next highest finisher for Baker was Kaleigh Buckalew, who averaged 174.6 for five games and finished 40th.

On the men's side of the tournament, the Wildcats were in the hunt for the top eight for the whole day, but missed out by 14 pins and settled for a ninth-place finish. Sophomore Brett Gamber led Baker, placing 16th with a total of 1025 for a 205 average. Josh King followed not far behind him, bowling 1005 total for five games with a 201 average, finishing 19th.

In the second tournament of the weekend, the Wildcats bowled seven team games. The women had a strong start from Audrey Valdez, who had 238, 222, and 270 for her first three games to lead individually. Valdez would finish the day with a 1303 total, averaging 186.14 for seven games. Miller finished in the top five for the second straight day, posting a total of 1348, averaging 192.57. She finished third, losing the tiebreaker for second by 10 pins. As a team, the Wildcats finished in fourth.

The men also had a solid second tournament, finishing the day in fourth with a total pinfall of 6,396. Individually, Tanner Eckerle led the Wildcats, finishing seven with a 193.4 average. His highest game was 214, which he rolled in game three. The next highest finisher for Baker was King, who averaged 189.3 for seven games, placing 10th.

Both teams will be back in action Feb. 10-11 when they travel to Indianapolis for the Hoosier Classic in the final regular-season competition for the Wildcats.

#BakerBuildsChampions