The Ballard men's varsity bowling team came up just short in a hard-fought match against Pella at Cardinal Lanes in Newton, falling by a slim margin of 2886-2861.  The Bombers showcased strong performances throughout the match but couldn't quite overcome Pella's top scorer, junior Carter Failor, who delivered a remarkable 524 series and a high game of 279.

Ballard senior Brenden Wright led the Bombers with an impressive 491 series, including a high game of 246 that placed him second among all bowlers.  Sophomore Kyler Johnson and junior Braden Skurdal contributed solid performances for the Bombers, rolling series of 393 and 358, respectively.  Johnson also recorded a high game of 198, while Skurdal added a 194. Pella's Alex Bishara, a sophomore, rounded out the top scorers with a 405 series and a high game of 243.

"We were right there until the end," said Ballard coach Corey Vespestad.  "I'm proud of the way our guys competed.  Brenden and Kyler both had great days, and the whole team stepped up.  We'll take what we learned from today and use it moving forward."

With the loss, the Bombers drop to 4-2 on the season but remain optimistic about their progress. They'll return to action on Friday, January 17, hosting Greene County in a non-conference meet.