End of the year bowling review
By By Mike Carson / bowling columnist
Dec. 30, 2003
Just a few things to wrap up 2003 …
I hope each of you had a very happy Christmas and are looking forward to a safe and fun-filled New Year. All leagues are off this week until Friday when the Ball &Chain league will take to the lanes to kick off the 2004 portion of the season. Several leagues have concluded second round action while others will reach the official halfway point when we return from the break. Here is a list of the teams with roll off spots before the break: Dixie Belles – Bemco, Hucklebuck – Direct TV, Bowlerettes – Philadelphia Security Insurance, Wednesday Night Mixed – 12-N-A-Row. Roll off spots for the Queen City, Ball &Chain and Senior Citizens leagues will be decided when we return.
Wrapping up a few scores from the last couple of weeks, Mike Cothern led the parade with yet another perfect game while bowling in the Wednesday Night Mixed league. It was Mike's eighth 300 Game in league play at Dixie Bowl and I am sure there are more on the horizon. Keep up the good work, Mike. Speaking of 300s, Tim Van Doren cranked out on during the recent Stan's Classic Tournament 8-game Sweeper while finishing second overall to Scott Monteleone of New Orleans. Congratulations go out to Alan Topcik who recorded his first "Dixie Bowl" 700 with a 703 in the Ball &Chain league. Other guys topping the chart the last two weeks included Stan Bottorff, Bill Fike, Steve Eastman (2), M.A. Copeland (2), Robby Relinski, Chuck Gray, Rodney Bounds, Ronny Phillips, Robert Brown and Barry Woods.
Yolanda Edmonds finished 2003 in style with a nice 625 game and Eunice Dillard cranked out a 620. Diane Gable added a 607 series to the mix. Cathy Jones topped them all with a nice 633. Other ladies strutting their stuff included Mary Copeland, Pat James, Sharon Wade, Candace McRae, Shirley Gaines, Janie Tisdale, Matar McClinton, Annette Palmer, Nonie Embrey and Lisa Rickles.
The MBA Strike Pot Jackpot was not broken at all during the first half of the season and enters 2004 at nearly $1300. Several bowlers have come within a strike of success, but to this point, this is the longest the jackpot has gone without begin collected. The jackpot was last broken last spring.
A quick look at the stats board reveals that thus far in the season we have had five perfect games (Tyrone McAlpine, Mike Cothern, Barry Woods, Bill Fike and Albert Edmonds) and 119 700 Series with Mike Cothern leading the way with 17. Mike, Robby Relinski and Tim Van Doren all have had series of 790 or above. Bill Fike leads the High Average category at the midpoint with a 229.5 Also in the 220 range are Tim Van Doren and Mike Cothern.
As for the ladies,43 600 Series have been posted in the first half of the season. Shirley Gaines and Willie Mae Aikens are tied with the high game at 267 while Shirley has the high series all by herself with an impressive 689. She also carries the high average as we head toward the second half with a 192.8.
That about wraps up things for 2003. If I have overlooked you or one of your accomplishments, I apologize. I try to keep up with things the best I can, but with nearly 400 bowlers it is nearly impossible to keep track of everything.
I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and wish each of you the best of luck and good fortune in 2004.
