Story by Greg Tartaglia – Record Sports

NORTH BRUNSWICK — The Hammer nailed down the best showing by a boys bowler in Park Ridge history.

Sophomore Joe Mahoney advanced all the way to the stepladder finals at Friday’s NJSIAA individual tournament. He averaged 231 in six qualifying games and 235 in the stepladder before bowing to Joe Ocello of Neptune, 229-224, in the title match.

In the girls final, Paige Peters of Toms River North defeated Warren Hills’ Olivia Ostrander, 261-140.

The last Park Ridge bowler to reach the state’s final five was Dan Wuhrman, who placed third in 2012. Mahoney was 13th in this same tournament as a freshman.

“Overall, I bowled really well [Friday] and executed a lot of good shots,” he said. “I’m blessed to have this honor.”

The right-hander – who favors the crank-and-crush style with a big windup – got the nickname “Hammer” from a friend’s father around age 6, about a year or so before he began bowling.

“Most people just know me as ‘Hammer’,” Mahoney said.

He placed third in the tournament’s first round with a 718 series, which cut the field of 76 down to 18, and earned second-high game honors with a 287.

Mahoney held on to third with a second-round 668, then threw 18 strikes in his first two stepladder matches: a 242-214 win over West Deptford’s Brandon Parker and a 251-137 victory against Howell’s Brian Garofano, in which he opened with eight straight.

He went to the 10th frame in the title match needing a strike to pull ahead, but his first shot left a ringing 10-pin.

“I didn’t catch all of the pocket, but overall, I think I made a really good shot,” he said, “especially under pressure like that.”

 What it means 

Mahoney will receive serious consideration for North Jersey Boys Bowler of the Year, which will be given at the NorthJersey.com Sports Awards in June.

“He’s had a great season,” Owls coach Blair Buscareno said. “We’ve never had anyone bowl as well as Joe has. He’s, by far, smashing our school records.”

Four other North Jersey boys made it to the second round. North Arlington senior Eric McKenna’s 625 was the cutoff score.