Led by a one-two punch of Cameron Touchette and Dallas Schroeder, the Columbia High School boys bowling team placed second at regionals and earned a spot in Saturday’s sectionals at Bel-Air Bowl.

Touchette, who placed seventh at state last year as a freshman, was the overall individual leader of Saturday’s regional played in Cahokia, posting a final score of 1,446. His average score was a 241 for the day.

Schroeder, a senior, was not far behind his high-rolling teammate, finishing second overall at 1,370. His average score was a 228 for the day.

“We started a little slow,” coach Bruce Jeffrey said. “After the first game we were in seventh place (out of 12 teams).After the second game, we were in eighth place and after three games we fell to ninth place.”

After a lunch break, the team caught fire.

“The boys started to bowl together as a team and shot a 1,117, which moved us up to fifth place,” he said. “After the fifth game we moved up to second place. We ended on a very strong note, but could only pull within 179 pins of the champions, O’Fallon High School.”

Jeffrey said that one of the surprises of the day was the performance of Cade Stein.

“He ended up 26th out of 67 bowlers with notable games of 215 and 227,” he said.

Spencer Jerome finished 31st, and Grant Phelps was 39th.

“I cannot express how proud I am of these bowlers. They really pulled together as a team,” Jeffrey said.

Advancing as individuals to sectional play were Waterloo boys bowlers Hayden Bode (1,308) and Troy Aldridge (1,251) and Gibault’s Caleb Weiler (1,272).