Howard "Pete" Peterson, Columnist
Keith Tenney rolled an honor score 299 in his 756 set at The Bowler in their Harmony League on Oct. 18. Tenney’s score was the highest for the week at that center and topped the list of six 700’s for the week. Tim Yutzy’s 731/279 was next high. Scott Brant scored a 280 game in his 721 set.
Wilson’s Joe Shoemaker bowled the area’s top score for the week rolling 762/255. Bill Kyle followed scoring 745/266.
Joe Mullenax was the top gun at White Oaks for the week posting a 738/279 high. Jeremiah Howsare followed scoring 721/258. Mullenax was also highest on the scoring list of the PBA Experience League at White Oaks. His 658/266 demonstrates the difficulty in scoring on lane conditions that the pros live with. Mike Sipple and Doug Otto were next high in that league bowling 630/229 and 621/229 respectively.
At Rainbow Lanes, Steve Zirk bowled 701/254 for the week’s high. Kevin Mansfield was next rolling 678/247.
Butch Young’s 690/225 was highest of Sherwood’s weekly scoring. Ralph Knieriem was next high rolling 642/258.
The area’s top lady bowler for the week was the Bowler’s Dawn House. House rolled a big 254 game and 692 set in the Appalachian League. Jean Marco was next high scoring 575/202.
Alice Monahan was the top lady for the week at Sherwood Lanes bowling 629/224. Pam Brasky was next rolling 550/196.
Julie Greene and Melissa Snyder were Wilson Lanes’ top lady bowlers for the week. Greene scored 611/237 and Snyder rolled 577/220.
Michele Hitchens bowled the ladies’ high 584/209 at White Oak Lanes. Mary Beth Riley’s big 257 game and 567 set was next high.
Rainbow’s Sandy Hott scored 533/183 and was that center’s top lady bowler for the week. Sally Suter was next high rolling 509/175.
The area’s top senior bowler for the week was The Bowler’s Ray Foster. Foster scored 615/211 in the Antique Seniors League. Paul Williams in the AARP Seniors League was close behind rolling 612/216. Brad Deter at White Oaks bowled 555/191. Betty Richards rolled 480/167.
Wilson’s Justin Boyer was the area’s top youth bowler for the week scoring 640/219. Rainbow reports show Charles Abernathy bowled 610/225. Sherwood’s Ben Russell rolled 609/219 in their Youth/Adult League. Scottie Brown scored 603/239 at White Oaks and Adam Brant rolled 601/206 at The Bowler.
Spare shooting continues to be the major factor in holding down most bowlers averages and limits their top scores. One open in a game requires at least one double (two consecutive strikes) to score close to a 200 game.
If you have two or three opens in a game the game total drops to the 150’s or 170’s at best. Practicing to increase your accuracy at spare shooting is the most effective way to improve spare shooting performance. Don’t waste your valuable practice time to be concerned about your total game score. Work on that part of your game that needs it and chances are that making more spares is your major problem.
On a solemn note, many bowlers were good friends of former bowling columnist Bill Menges who passed away late Sunday, Oct. 18. Bill will be missed, especially by several youth who learned much about life as well as bowling from a great coach.
Howard “Pete” Peterson covers bowling for the Cumberland Times-News. He can be reached at petesbowling@atlanticbb.net.
