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Jeff Scire has been there and done that when it comes to just about anything significant on the Staten Island bowling scene.
He’s authored more than 100 perfect games, claimed three S.I. Singles Classic titles, copped last month’s USMBC Masters crown, and has won more than his fair share of local leagues and tournaments throughout the years in between.
Yet, in more than 30 tries, he’d never won one of the big ones. Jim Elliott’s New Year Singles Classic has long eluded the decorated kegler, who previously finished as runner-up in 2002 and 2006.
But not on Saturday. Scire took the bull by the horns and the lanes at Rab’s by storm, albeit while battling a thumb injury, to earn his first win at the 48th annual rendition of the prestigious local event.
The status of the 50-year-old, Rossville resident was in question leading up to Saturday’s 24-person final. Scire went two weeks without picking up a ball after aggravating a pre-existing injury during qualifying.
Nevertheless, he didn’t miss a beat and cruised into the final match.
Scire tossed games of 255, 259, and 268 before upending Anthony Arias, 206-162, in the semis. In the final, he ran into Robert Butler, who was similarly impressive in gaining the title round, but ultimately took care of business with a 257 to 247 triumph in a tightly-contested finale.
An emotional Scire accepted the trophy, and his $1,000 grand prize, from Elliott after the match.
“I was probably 15 or 16-years-old, so we’re talking 33 or 34 years that I’ve been trying to win this tournament,” said Scire. “This is the one tournament I never won. I can’t begin to tell you how bad I wanted it.”
“I feel like this was a monkey on my back and I got it off now. I finally did it,” he continued. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m going to wake up tomorrow and have to pinch myself to see if this really happened to me.”
He acknowledged that it was one of the most challenging wins of his illustrious career. His sister, daughter, and plenty of buddies were on hand for support.
“I hadn’t bowled in two weeks. I was hoping my thumb would hold up,” said Scire, who admitted he was “babying” his practice rolls on Saturday. “I was trying not to throw the ball hard, I was trying to stay soft and comfortable today. This is a great moment for me.”
“It was a great field today. There’s a lot of young kids in this finals,” he added. “I’m 50-years-old, but I feel young again right now. I feel amazing and I’m going to cherish this moment.”
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OUTLASTING THE FIELD
Two-time champion Steve Soss and six-time winner George Cretella were eliminated surprisingly early, in the first and second rounds, on Saturday. Perennial finalist Sean McAuliffe was also bumped in the second round.
Calista Iavarone, the only woman to qualify, was knocked out in round one.
With many of the regulars out of the way early, Scire had a clear path to the final and beelined to the end. He and Butler went toe-to-toe, and the 44-year-old, Great Kills resident gave the touted champion a run for his money.
Butler, who had a first-round bye, fired games of 180 and 268 before upending third-place finisher Todd David, 248-202, in the semis. In the opening frame against Scire, he left one pin standing — and the veteran kegler quickly capitalized.
The fire-balling, right-hander with a wicked hook spared the first frame before striking on the next six. Butler, meanwhile, spared the second frame and proceeded to strike on three through nine.
Scire finally cracked on eight and left the seven-pin standing, but salvaged a spare. Nevertheless, he bounced right back to strike on nine.
It all came down to the 10th frame, where Butler, ironically, left only the 10-pin standing — his first time failing to strike since the second frame. He managed a spare, but Scire, needing only a spare to win, promptly stepped right up and struck on 10 to stick the dagger in Butler’s chances and claim a victory more than 30 years in the making.
“I had a tough match, the last match, I just couldn’t figure out the lane,” said Scire. “(lanes) Seven and eight were tough. This match with Butler was absolutely fantastic. I hit a bad shot in the eighth and then I had to repeat that lane in the 10th and I was worried about the shot. I actually got up and then stepped off again because I felt like I was overthinking it. I wasn’t nervous, I was just overthinking.”
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Butler, a runner-up in 2007, also struggled with the conditions initially, but was satisfied with his performance.
“It’s really tough. I was in the same position in 2007 and lost then,” he said. “The first two frames were not good. The lanes were a little different than I thought they would be, so I had to adjust. Then, I threw seven in a row and was feeling good, but I needed them all and the 10th frame got a little light.”
“When you want to win one of these things, you’ve got to beat the best bowler and he’s the best bowler,” continued Butler. “I was playing catch-up since the second frame. I was forcing the mark and that’s all I could do. Would’ve liked to have that strike in the 10th, but it didn’t happen. If he makes a mistake, I win. I was one shot away. Hats off to him, I went down against the best.”
PAYOUTS
Prize money: Scire ($1000), Butler ($700), David ($450), Arias ($300), Jeff Martin ($225), Chris Riordan ($200), Cameron Laplant ($175), Joe Scianna ($160), Sean McAuliffe ($135), Vincent Desimone ($125), Cretella ($120), Robert Jew ($120), Peter Gluzmkinov ($110), Mike Vignola ($110), Joe Carrieri ($110), Shawn Kender ($110), Mike Barto ($100), Soss ($100), Richard Acosta ($100), Rob D’Onofrio ($100), Iavarone ($100), Lou Parisi ($100), James Trapanese ($100), Ron Bell ($100).
RESULTS (* denotes first round bye)
First round: Scianna def. D’Onofrio (278-214), David def. Acosta (212-207), Gluzmkinov def. Iavarone (209-199), Riordan def. Soss (255-236), Scire def. Trapanese (255-191), Carrieri def. Barto (253-236), Kender def. Parisi (257-180), Arias def. Bell (226-161).
Second round: Scianna def. *McAuliffe (248-240), David def. *Cretella (215-206), *Butler def. Gluzmkinov (180-179), Riordan def. *Jew (266-216), Scire def. *Desimone (259 to N/A), *Martin def. Carrieri (247-194), *Laplant def. Kender (224-204), Arias def. *Vignola (259-203).
Quarterfinals: David def. Scianna (216-186), Butler def. Riordan (268-212), Scire def. Martin (268-223), Arias. def. Laplant (193-191).
Semifinals: Butler def. David (248-202), Scire def. Arias (206-162).
Final: Scire def. Butler (257-247).