(By Coach Leonard Risinger) It is the start of the 2025-26 bowling season for the Plainview-Osmond Pirates, and this year we are merged with Osmond. This is great for each town as it helps grow the sport and now both teams, girls and boys, will have a full team with a sub if needed.
Since the Pirates were practicing and hosting home duels at Main Street Alley in Osmond, it just makes sense. New to the team as well is our new Assistant Coach Dale Krause. We got started on Friday, Dec. 5, with Spalding Academy Shamrocks coming to Osmond to bowl.
For everyone reading this, this is how a duel goes. There are two games with five bowlers on each team, and between one to three baker’s games to follow. The bowlers will not just be going for high team score but also one on one across the score board.
Each bowler can score a point for the team, up to five points for team with the higher team score will get an additional three points. The baker’s games are a unique set-up where all five bowlers will work as one to get one score alternating frames with each bowler getting two frames each to help their team.
The way to win the five points from baker’s game is to win two out of three games, unless the duel is decided before the baker’s, then there is only one. In recap, there are eight points per game times two games to equal 16 points and the five more points from baker’s, giving a total of 21 points. Each team’s goal is to beat the other team to 11, giving that team the win.
Just like last year, the Shamrocks only have a boys’ team, so the Lady Pirates will have the night off. However, with three girls on the boys’ team, both schools’coaches hope next year Shamrocks will have both teams so the Lady Pirates can bowl as well.
The first game, the Pirates came out strong, taking the game with a score of 648-556 with winning the points 6-2. The second game was more evenly matched between the teams with a score of 641-639 in favor of the Shamrocks, splitting the points 4-4 with the Pirates. So, after two games the Pirates have the lead 10-6 over the Shamrocks.
Now it will come down to the baker's games five points. The first team to win two of the three baker’s game will get those points. The Shamrocks were more than ready for the baker’s games, winning the first two games, 130-81 and 141-137, respectively. There is not a need for a third baker’s game so the Shamrocks won 11-10. The Pirates fall to 0-1 to start the season.
Leading the Pirates were senior Aiden Kemnitz, junior Kooper Gubbels and junior Donovan Heiman taking both of the points in each game. Senior Jaren Hergert got his point in the second game. High scores were from game one which was shot by Aiden Kemnitz with a 159 and Kooper Gubbels with a 152. The second game it was Kooper Gubbels with a 162 and Jaren Hergert with a 153.
The next morning, Dec. 6, the Pirates traveled to Broadway Lanes in Hartington to take on the Hartington-Newcastle Wildcats. The Lady Pirates got their first win of the season due to the Lady Wildcats not being able to fill a team, with two of their four girls suspended.
The NSAA says they could have bowled with three but not two, so they forfeited the duel. Broadway Lanes and the Wildcats let the Lady Pirates get a practice in since they travel to their lanes. Lady Pirates are now 1-0 on the season.
The Pirates were ready to redeem themselves after losing the duel the night before against the Shamrocks. The Pirates jumped out in front with a score 666-635 and the points 6.5-1.5 in favor of the Pirates.
The Wildcats were not going to let the Pirates run away with the second game and pounced back with a score of 718-592, taking the points 7-1. After the two regular games, Pirates were trailing the Wildcats 8.5-7.5.
This again meant we would go to the baker’s game to see who wins the duel with the last five points.
The Wildcats started off strong with a baker’s score of 136 to the Pirates’ 108. Pirates righted the ship and threw a 144 in the second game, beating the Wildcats’ score of 104.
The third and final baker's game would award the duel, with the Wildcats throwing a 170 to win the match versus the 92 thrown by the Pirates. The duel was over with the Wildcats victorious over the Pirates 13.5-7.5. The Pirates are now 0-2 on the season.
Leading the Pirates was Kooper Gubbels winning both of his points. Winning one point for the Pirates were Aiden Kemnitz and Jaren Hergert in the first game. Donovan Heiman split his point in the first game. The high scores in the first game were led by Jaren Hergert with a 160 and Kooper Gubbels with a 148. The high score in the second game was Kooper Gubbels with a 175.
