Howard Peterson - Bowling
Curtis sets new season high
BJ Curtis bowled the best score of this season, rolling a big 299 game and an 824 set in the County League at The Bowler on Dec. 28. Curtis' 824 set topped Jack Burner's recent high of 817 by seven pins. Andy Brenneman was next high at that center, rolling 759/277. Some other big games were scored, including: Mike Oyer's 298 game and 731 set; Cary Lowrey's 289 game and 671 set, and Buck Lease's 280 game and 752 set.
Reuben Collins bowled a 290 game and a 781 set for the week's high at Par-Matt Lanes. Curt Glotfelty was next rolling 708/278.
At Wilson Lanes, Bobby Lannon scored highest for the last two weeks, bowling 719/258. Clay Corbin was next, only one pin back, scoring 718/254.
Vicki Coughlin was the week's top lady bowler scoring 650/235 in the Del's Mixed League at The Bowler. Missy Yates was next high bowling a 571 set.
BJ Riggleman rolled 576/220 and was Par-Matt's top lady bowler for the week. Mary Liller was next high scoring 539/204.
Bill Fairgrieve was the area's top senior bowler for the week rolling 671/245 in the AARP Seniors League at The Bowler. Don Bower also scored well at that center posting a 616/235 score.
Par-Matt's Harold Fike, a senior bowled 618/214.
Josh Oates was the high youth bowler for the week rolling 695/256 at Wilson Lanes. Amanda Greene, also at Wilson Lanes, bowled 687/256. Megan Kyle scored 654/232 at Rainbow Lanes and Melanie Martin bowled 563/203 at The Bowler.
Spare shooting is the most productive area for bowlers who want to improve their averages. Missing a single pin spare costs you a minimum of 11 points, thus you need a double (two consecutive strikes) to make up for that miss in order to get close to a 200 game.
Beginning bowlers usually fail to throw cross alley at seven and 10 pin spares. The other failing by many bowlers is throwing a hooking ball at those same pins. A right handed bowler throwing a hooking ball at the 10 pin has very little allowable lateral miss distance. His argument is that the dry boards on the edges will help the ball ride the proper line to the 10 pin. True only if the ball speed, rotation, launch angle and proper target is correctly executed. Very unlikely that the effect of those variables results in consistent accuracy of the shot.
We need to take advantage of what the professionals know and demonstrate. They throw a straight ball at all of their single pin spares and rarely miss. Practice sessions where you throw your first ball at the seven or 10 pin is an excellent way to get more out of that valuable time on the lanes. Whatever you think is a weak link in your game should determine the most important area for practice. Have a plan before you start and stick to it - it will bring improvement.
Good luck bowling and have fun striking out!
Howard "Pete" Peterson is the Cumberland Times-News bowling columnist.
- Howard Peterson - Bowling
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Lease’s 792/269 week’s high
Buck Lease scored a pair of 700’s during the week including the area high of 792/269 at The Bowler. Travis Walters scored a big 289 game and 736 set and was next high.
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Smith rolls 300 game, Coughlin 700 set
Troy Smith rolled another perfect game scoring 695/300 in the Thursday Night Mixed League at White Oak Lanes.
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Greene’s 788/299 week’s top score
Bob Greene rolled a near perfect 299 game and 788 set for the week’s top score in the local area. Greene also scored a 747 set that same evening.
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Evans, Williams roll 300
Shawn Evans in the County League at The Bowler rolled a perfect game in his 698 set. In the AARP Seniors League, Paul Williams also scored a perfect game in his 705 set. Too bad that league in not sanctioned, missing out on national recognition plus personal awards.
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Davis perfect, Gable leads area, Richards top senior
No scores from The Bowler this week. Snow kept me from picking them up. (Should have gotten them early on Tuesday.) I will include them in next week’s column.
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Walters area’s top roller
Peyton Hartman put together a triple-double Thursday evening in leading Keyser to a 12-point, 61-49, win over hosting Hampshire.
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Yates’ 813/300 best of blockbuster week
Some kind of a record was set for the week in local area bowling centers. An 800 and four 300s plus five scores of 280-plus were bowled in the local area. A very large number of games with 10 or more strikes.
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Brobst near perfect with 298
Mike Brobst, close to adding another perfect game to his 30-plus list, scored 755/298 at White Oak Lanes.
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Bishop rolls area high 298 game
AJ Bishop bowled an honor score 298 game and 737 set in the Tuesday Night Mixed League at White Oak Lanes.
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Wolford bowls week’s best set
John Wolford rolled 756/276 in The Bowler’s County League and was the area’s top bowler for the week. Tom Fairgrieve was next scoring 721/278. Steve Shook in the Tuesday Strikers League bowled a 284 game in his 702 set.
- More Howard Peterson - Bowling Headlines
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Lease’s 792/269 week’s high


