Schaumburg savors 'Sunnie' outlook for Saturday's tourney

Schaumburg bowler Ashley Phillips, who's gone by the nickname "Sunnie" since junior high school because of her outgoing personality, has no doubt as to what the Saxons will accomplish at Saturday's Mid-Suburban League tournament.

"We're going to stay focused and show everybody what we're all about," Phillips said.

The MSL tournament will be held at AMF Lanes in Rolling Meadows, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Phillips did her part Thursday to keep Schaumburg in first place in the MSL going into the tourney. The senior rolled a 584 series, while sophomore Jodi Gawlik rolled the top game of the season.

Gawlik fired a leadoff 290 en route to a 686 series, while sister Marilyn, a senior, was close behind with 650 as the Saxons defeated Rolling Meadows 9-0.

Saxons seniors Sara Kuczmarski (584) and Kathryn Schild (559) also contributed.

Rolling Meadows was led by Danielle Reeves with a 631 series as the Mustangs head into Saturday's championship competition tied for fifth place with Conant.

The Cougars lost to Prospect 7-2 Thursday.

In other action, Buffalo Grove defeated Barrington 9-0, Hoffman Estates bested Fremd 6-3, Elk Grove was a 9-0 winner over Wheeling and Palatine knocked off Hersey 9-0.

Under the format for Saturday's title meet, teams receive equal weight in points earned during the regular season and in the tourney.

But according to Prospect coach Greg Troyer, Schaumburg (which posted a 91-8 regular-season record) has the upper hand.

"If you look at their team average (978.1 before Thursday), they're going to be awfully hard to beat," Troyer said.

Elk Grove could have the best shot.

The Grenadiers are in second place with an 83-16 regular-season mark.

"We've had a big turnaround since last year," said Grens junior Sarah Bunta, whose average ranks her in the top 10 in the MSL. "It feels great to be in the hunt (for the title)."

Freshman Tedra Tado shot a 234 high game en route to a 634 series to spark Elk Grove.

Teammate Allysa Valenti added a 602 series.

Wheeling's Jenny Schmitt had a high game of 226.

"The conference tournament counts for a lot," said Hoffman Estates' Mandy Hoglund, whose Hawks are fourth with a 58-41 record.

"We're hoping to earn enough points to move up to at least third place. I think that this year, we've really come together as a team. We started out near the bottom, but we've moved up steadily as the season has gone on."

In other highlights from Thursday's competition, Conant's Brittney Mari soared to an MSL season-high 749 series that included a 287 in her first game.

• Prospect, third at 77-22, was led by Emily Gruendel with a 661.

• Hersey's Carina Balan had a 237 high game and 617 series.

• Barbie Gutwein's 582 led Palatine.

• Fremd's Samantha Rossdeutscher rolled a 585.

• Buffalo Grove's Anna Gorro knocked down 663 pins.

• Anna Gill of Hoffman Estates rolled a 264.