Carter McCready

Each of Marshalltown’s five seniors took a turn in the catbird seat, and the final score reflected the importance of this group.

The Bobcat boys’ bowling team rolled its second-highest score of the season on Thursday at Wayward Social, screaming past Des Moines East for a 3,313-1,931 victory on Senior Night.

Marshalltown’s lineup, featuring five seniors, rotated through the five Baker games so that each of its veterans could bowl in the 10th frame. The end result was a final Baker score just below its season average and yet another Bobcat victory.

“Senior Night could not have gone much better,” MHS head coach Nate Clark posted on the team’s Facebook page. “With all bowlers except Cayden (Slifer) being seniors, it was a special moment watching them perform at home for one of the final times.”

The Bobcats (5-1, 5-1 Iowa Alliance) built up a 994-pin lead after individual play in which two of the seniors scored career-high series. Carter McCready rolled a 259-256–515 and Jayden Beichley posted a 245-266–511 to lead the team, each of them recording their high games as well.

McCready’s 515 series is the 12th-best in Class 3A this season and Beichley’s 511 ranks 17th.

Aiden Cowan finished with a consistent 244-236–480, Gage Grieves shot 233-168–401, and Slifer scored the fifth counting series of 178-201–379. Porter Niedermann closed with a 209 game in his 377 series as well.

“Our target going into the night was 3,250, and the team came out focused, executed well, and built a strong lead through Round 1,” Clark wrote.

The Baker round was more than a mere formality. Clark put a different senior in the fifth spot in the rotation for each of the five games to celebrate the group.

“A key priority tonight was giving all five seniors the chance to bowl the 5-spot during Baker play,” Clark wrote. “We rotated that spot throughout the block, and each senior stepped up when called. The team stayed locked in, closed frames, and pushed the match total above our benchmark.

“Senior Night was a success on every level — strong scoring, team-first contributions, and meaningful moments for our seniors,” Clark added. “We are moving in the right direction and building positive momentum.”

Marshalltown resumes bowling on Tuesday with a triangular against Des Moines Lincoln and Newton at Bowlerama Lanes in Des Moines.

Girls edged out by East

The Marshalltown girls’ bowling team tried to stage an improbable comeback during the Baker rounds in an eventual 2,062-1,932 loss to Des Moines East on Thursday at Wayward Social.

The Bobcats (2-5, 2-5) trailed by 47 pins after individual play but fell behind as the Baker games began. After the third of five games, MHS had fallen behind by 112 pins.

But Marshalltown outscored East 154-102 in the fourth game, closing to within 60 pins in pursuit of the come-from-behind victory. The visiting Scarlets (2-4, 2-4) had other ideas, however, and closed out the win with their best of five Baker games.

Three of East’s five counting scores came on season-high series, led by Alivia Sheridan’s 169-203–372. Four Scarlets had their season-high games as well, including Sheridan’s 203.

Bailey Damman, one of three Bobcat seniors, celebrated with her career-high game and series to lead MHS with a 181-176–357. Aubrey Webber, a junior, came up just two pins shy of her individual best with a 146-150–296, and senior Camillya Thomas added a 120-151–271. Ariana Villagomez (234) and Ray Massa (185) closed out the Bobcat scoring.