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Ethan Fiore holds his trophy after winning the PBA Central Region Kremer Roofing Classic at Minster's Community Lanes.
MINSTER - Ethan Fiore is 20 years old, but his control was vintage.
Fiore rolled four straight strikes in the stepladder championship final and never looked back in winning the PBA Central Region Kremer Roofing Classic with a 214-186 win over Alec Keplinger on Sunday afternoon at Community Lanes as a week of pro bowling action in the Grand Lake area got into full swing.
"It was up and down," said Fiore of his weekend in Minster. "I had my good moments, but I tried to really focus on shots and execution on Sundays. Sundays are where you win the tournament. Saturday (qualifying) is just survival"
Keplinger nearly stole the show in the opening game of the stepladder finals, rolling 11 straight strikes against Kyle Sherman, then on the final ball left the 10-pin standing to settle for a 299-165 win. The perfect game would have been the second of the afternoon after Nolan White rolled a 300 during the playoff rounds. Keplinger then beat Kris Prather 188-166 in the semifinal to move on to face Fiore.
Keplinger opened with two straight strikes to start the final, then got stymied in the third frame when his first throw resulted in a 2-10 split. The second throw resulted in nothing to leave an open frame.
Meanwhile, Fiore, who earned a spot in the title match after finishing with 3,815 through Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's cashers and elimination rounds, had his four straight strikes halted in the fifth frame in bowling an eight-spare. After a strike in the sixth, the Minster lanes showed its bite. Fiore managed to down just four pins, resulting in an unusual 4-6-7-8-9-10 split. Fiore managed to down four pins on the second throw for his only open frame of the night.
Keplinger had an open on frame eight, a strike on nine and a strike-7-open on the 10th to get his 186.
By then, though, Fiore had his title locked up. After a nine-spare in the eighth and a strike in the ninth, Fiore bowled a nine on his first ball of the 10th, then tapped in for the spare to lock up the victory. Fiore then closed out his 214 with his seventh strike of the game to collect the $4,000 first prize.
"Hat's off to Alec. He's always been a great player," said Fiore, who earlier this year won the $100,000 PBA Players Championship. "We've competed a lot during the regular season. He's definitely competitive week-to-week."
Fiore, and many of the bowlers to who took to Community Lanes over the weekend, will get a good look at the area. The Central Region tour continues at Delphos Recreation Center starting Tuesday for the Dave and Diane Kill Open that concludes on Thursday. Then on Friday, the bowlers head to Coldwater's Community Lanes for the Bowlerstore.com Classic for a chance at a first prize of $10,000.
"This is definitely going to be interesting," said Fiore of the week in West Central Ohio. "Usually we just bowl Minster (when the tournament was held on the weekdays) and Coldwater. … This is definitely going to be a long and tough-mentally week."
