Sports Briefs: Second 300 Game for Hawks Bowler, Girls Aim to Take Top Spot

Manchester Hawks junior Alan Garcia bowled his second perfect game this season during yesterday's match against Toms River South.

Garcia bowled the 300 during the first game of the match. He finished with a 720 series, according to coach Bryan Vargas. Garcia's average this season stands at 211.

Last month, Manchester freshman Dan Piskowski bowled a 300 at the Snowball Classic X.

The boys squad looks to clinch second place in Shore Conference A South as they face Brick Township at Ocean Lanes at 3 p.m. Friday.

If Manchester wins one game or Toms River East loses one on Friday, the Hawks boys team will clinch second place, securing a spot in the Shore Conference Tournament, Vargas said. Only the top two finishers from each division bowl in the tournament.

Last year was the first time the Manchester boys team qualified for the tournament, Vargas said. They finished third out of the 12 tournament participants.

The girls bowling squad is looking to secure a first place conference finish as they close out their regular season, also against Brick at 3 p.m. Friday. 

Coach Mike McCrae said that his squad needs to win one game against Brick to clinch first. Even if Manchester loses all three games, the girls would still earn a second place finish and spot in the Shore Conference Tournament.

"We are a little weaker than the last two years, but we have been hanging on," McCrae said. "A couple of late-season illnesses have cropped up,but I'm sure the girls will rise to the occassion with our biggest outings coming in the next couple of weeks.

Last year, the girls finished strong, McCrae said. They took first in the conference, won both the Shore Conference Tournament and NJSIAA State Group 2 and finished second in the state behind South Brunswick in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions. 

The Shore Conference Championships will be held for boys teams on Feb. 10 and girls squads on Feb. 11, 3:30 p.m. at Sea Girt Lanes.