MINSTER – The Versailles Lady Tiger bowlers took to the lanes for their first league match on Saturday at Community Lanes in Minster.

“Starting off the season with the defending state champs of Wapakoneta we knew we were going to have a challenge, but we worked hard in practice and felt ready,” coach Tyler Phlipot said.

The Lady Tiger bowlers where hanging right with Wapakoneta during game one, but with a few missed spares they ended up down 847-898.

The Lady Tigers started off slow and never got things rolling like they wanted to, losing the second game 720-876. Leading the way for the Lady Tigers was Maggie Hedrick 223, Hannah Niekamp 191-168 and Makenzie Berning 163.

Going into the bakers games the Lady Tiger knew they had work to do if they wanted to win the match being down by 207 pins.

“We remind the girls often that baker games are where teams either win or lose a match,” Coach Phlipot said.

The girls stepped it up rolling scores of 159, 149, 181 and 184 to Wapakoneta’s 142, 153, 124 and 138. Down 91 pins going into the last baker game, the Tigers couldn’t pull out a win, and Wapakoneta came out on top 173-133.

“I was proud of the girls,” Coach Phlipot said. “They never gave up and fought hard to the end. The girls made Wapakoneta work and put pressure on them. Morgan Barlage and Morgan Heitkamp both bowled well in their first varsity match.”

The next match will be Saturday at Pla-Mor Lanes in Coldwater. The Lady Tigers bowlers will take on the Celina Bulldogs.

To view stats and standings, go to www.WOHSBC.com.