The Howell High School boys bowling team picked the right time to put it all together. The Rebels rolled up a score of 3,108 pins to top St. John Vianney High School (2,916) by almost 200 pins to win the Monmouth County championship for the second straight year.
Manalapan was third (2,872) and Freehold Township was fourth (2,767). The county tournament was held recently at Howell Lanes.
Matt DiGirolamo led Howell with a 256 high game and a 691 three-game series. Anthony Marino, Kyle Bauer, Frank Vitarelle and Nick Caporaso completed the championship team.
Vitarelle, a freshman, has been the key newcomer to coach Dave Clampffer’s squad. He’s bowled a 290, tops in the Shore Conference B Division. DiGirolamo, Bauer, Caporaso and Marino are all veterans of the 2008 team that captured the county championship.
St. John Vianney’s Chris Chiarello had the high game, 279, and high series, 709. Di- Girolamo’s 256 was the third-highest game and his 691 series was second to Chiarello.
Matawan’s Steve Kuback rolled the second highest game (258) and Keansburg’s Dale Barchewski had the third-highest series (682).
Ocean Township spoiled Howell’s bid for a sweep of the boys and girls county championships for a second straight year. The Spartans edged the Rebels 2,343 to 2,290 to take the title from the defending champion Howell bowlers. St. John Vianney was third (2,284). Ashley Baker paced Ocean with a high game of 211.
Arianna Mattera, Ashley Buck, Marissa Regad, Jessica Henri, Allison Savoye and Alexandra Garcia made up the Howell squad.
Keyport’s Alexa Guirk rolled the high game of the tournament (215). Long Branch’s Elizabeth Szaley was third (208) and had the high series (522). Chelsea Newman of Manasquan had the second-highest series (515) and Freehold Township’s Nicole DiGiaimo had the third-highest series (511).