SPORTS BRIEFS: Albany bowler leads division at USBC women’s nationals

Gail Davis of Albany and Ruby Wiley of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, have taken an early lead in their doubles division in the United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships being contested at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada.

Davis and Wiley lead the Amethyst Doubles division, posting a score of 995. Davis shot 505, while Wiley shot 490.

According to a news release from the USBC, Davis and Wiley kept things easy throughout the event as they made jokes to ease the tension. They also exchanged words of encouragement along the way, noting when one of them was falling behind, she’d asked the other to hold her up.

They said they don’t mind if their scores are low, as long as they’re trying and looking out for one another.

“If one of us doesn’t bowl well, we never get mad,” said Davis, a 67-year-old right-hander.

Spares carried Davis and Wiley in their series in Reno.

“Strikes will come,” said Wiley, a 73-year-old right-hander. “The biggest thing is working on your spares.”

Davis made her third tournament appearance, while Wiley competed for the 10th time.

“One thing I can say is that I’ve never lost confidence,” Wiley said. “I always believe I can do it, but it just worked out.”

Divisions are based on bowlers’ averages. Amethyst Doubles features bowlers with entering averages of 260-289.

Westover track athletes qualify

Westover had several track and field athletes qualify for the GHSA Class 4A state track and field meet by way of their sectional finishes Saturday in Columbus.

Chastity Pickett was the top qualifier in the 300-meter hurdles out of Columbus, finishing in 46.17 seconds. She also won her heat of the 100-meter hurdles, finishing in 15.41, and qualified for the state meet in the long jump.

Shamia Jones won her heat in the 800, finishing in 2:24.81. The Westover girls 4×400 relay team won its heat, finishing in 4:01.80.

Kristion Jeffries finished second in the high jump at 5-4. She also qualified in the triple jump, as did teammate Janaya Singleton.

Erin McCoy qualified in the 400 and 800. Mya Troup qualified in the 100-meter hurdles. The Patriots’ girls 4×100 relay team qualified, as did Singleton and Chelsea Bass in the pole vault.

In boys competition, Myles McCoy won his heat in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing in 15.24 seconds. He also qualified in the 300-meter hurdles.

Roderic Walls moves on in the 400 and the 800, while Henry Plowden advances in the 1,600 and the 3,200. The Westover 4×400 relay team qualified, as well.

Thomas softball wins regular season title

The Thomas University softball team has won the Sun Conference regular season championship and earned the top seed in the Sun Conference Tournament this week in Clermont, Florida.

The championship is the second regular season championship for the Night Hawks and is the fifth overall Sun Conference title in history. In 2016, the men’s soccer team won the regular season championship and has also won a pair of TSC tournament championships in 2013 and 2014. Also in 2014, the men’s golf team won the conference tournament.

After sweeping St. Thomas University on Friday, the Night Hawks had earned at least a share of the conference title. With Warner defeating Southeastern on Saturday, Thomas earned the outright title.

Tony Contini