By Joe D’Amodio | damodio@siadvance.com
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Brooklynite Anthony Arias claimed his second career Staten Island Singles Classic crown by defeating three-time winner Jeff Scire, 237-236, in the championship game of the Top 24 finals Saturday at Rab’s Country Lanes.
Scire, shooting last in the title match, needed the first two strikes in the 10th to win the 47th annual event — which has been dubbed “A Donnie Walters Tradition” after its founder — but he pulled his 11th shot, resulting in victory for Arias, who had struck out in the 10th frame prior to Scire stepping up on the lanes for his final frame.
“It’s a good thing I made my spares,” said the right-handed, soft-stroking Arias afterwards on the live stream from Rab’s. “I was just trying to hit my target but make sure I was getting a little bit right.”
Arias, 44, who said the championship pair conditions were a little tighter than his first four matches, won his first SISC title in 2021.
Arias’ win also denied Scire of his unprecedented fourth Staten Island Singles Classic title.
“I got lucky to beat one of the best in Staten Island,” said Arias. “I faced Jeff in a match some years ago and I missed five 10 pins to lose. Today, I didn’t have an open frame in all my matches and that was the difference.”
Scire, a righty, advanced to the final by beating Dennis Nicol Sr., 245-234, in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Arias beat Rob DeSimone, 227-187, to get to the title match where Scire, the king of Staten Island bowling who was fresh off his second consecutive New Year Singles Classic win in January, was waiting.
In the title game, Scire took an 11-pin lead with the help of five-bagger starting in the fourth frame, but Arias struck in five of six frames starting in the third to keep the match within striking distance.
By the time Arias got up in the ninth frame, he trailed by just nine pins. He spared the ninth and struck out in the 10th, setting the stage for the always dangerous Scire, who couldn’t pull off the win.
“It was the worst shot of my day,” said Scire of his 11th frame in the title game. “I feel like I went too quick. Knowing that shot was the biggest shot of the day, I should have waited. But if I waited too long I could have gotten nervous, too, so I got caught in between.”
NOTES: Scire won his SISC titles in 1995, 2018 and 2019 … Scire and Rob Vinci are tied for a tourney-high three crowns … Bill Salvatore, the 2012 champion and oldest bowler in the finals field, reached the quarterfinals and placed fifth overall … Defending champion Nicole Maugeri finished 11th.