Commanders Trophy Bowling: Hellifino and 3rd CCSS duel to a draw Published Jan. 22, 2008 By John E. Banks Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- The two teams with the highest total pin fall throughout the season faced off Jan. 16 at the Tinker Bowling Center. Hellifino, the second place team, and the 3rd Combat Communications Support Squadron, the third place team, battled and bowled to a draw. The first game saw the five bowlers from Hellifino get off to a fast start. Traci Applebee, Christopher Ferrell, Scott Bagensie, Dennis March and Dan Girardot opened up with six consecutive strikes as a team. Through the first four frames, Hellifino erased the 140 pin handicap disadvantage behind the consistent bowling of Applebee and March. They each had a string of four consecutive strikes giving their side a slight 416-415 advantage. Christopher Coffman, 3rd CCSS captain, kept his team close, but the high powered bowling of Bagensie, March and Applebee overshadowed his effort. Though Coffman rolled a team-high 258, Hellifino captured game one 1147-1124. "We escaped with this win," March said. "We tried to give it away. We had to score big in the 10th frame to keep this win." Hellifino got off to another great start in game two. After three frames, Hellifino cut the 3rd CCSS handicap advantage in half and the team took the lead for good in the fifth frame. Bagensie, March, and Girardot rolled three strikes apiece to pace their side. Coffman and Brian Chester tried to help their team make a comeback. Their strike bowling in the latter frames of game two cut the lead to four pins through the eight frames. However, Hellifino's Applebee, Bagensie, March and Girardot each rolled 200 games -- 200, 202, 234 and 230 scores, respectively - to ensure their team's win. The 3rd CCSS quintet of Kristi Coffman, Joseph Simmons, Jerry Harding, Chester and Christopher Coffman put a bowling display in game three that showed their true bowling prowess. Harding got his team going in the right direction when he opened game three with four consecutive. Christopher Coffman and Chester followed suit with strike bowling of their own and they opened up an insurmountable lead. Every time Hellifino tried to get back into striking distance they fell short. Harding, Chester and Christopher Coffman combined for a total of 15 strikes in game three, enabling them to capture the 1097-95 victory. The 3rd CCSS's 112 pin win in game three enabled them to capture the total pins advantage, which lead to a draw with their opponents. "The key to our victory was simple," Christopher Coffman said. "We got a few breaks during the game. I was able to string together eight strikes in a row and that put us in great position to win." The win by the 3rd CCSS quintet raised their season record to 88.0-56.0 and the loss dropped Hellifino to 90.0-54.0 in the season standings.