End is near for local bowlers
By By Mike Carson / bowling columnist
May 11, 2004
League action continues to wind down as the 2003-04 Fall &Winter season comes to a close. Last week saw the final week of competition in the Monday Nighters and Hucklebuck leagues. The team "Gladiators" took home the top prize in the Monday Nighters league. Team members are Lillie Hudson, Gwen Miller, John Lott, Bill Kalinowski and James Dillard. Next door, the Pioneer Inc. team of Tyrone McAlpine, Robby Relinski, Allen Byrd, Jim Broderick Jr. and Barry Woods used plenty of strikes to capture the crown in an 8-team roll off.
This week sees the conclusion of the Senior Citizens, Wednesday Nights Mixed and Ball &Chain leagues. The Queen City league will officially bring down the curtain on the season next week.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our bowlers for being a part of our family this season. We hope you will join us during the summer, but even if you choose not to do so, we look forward to seeing you back in August. Thank you all for helping make the 2003-2004 season a success.
Be sure to check out the Summer league schedules and join us for 11 weeks of fun and competition beginning May 24. Summer leagues are a great way to keep that bowling form in shape and an excellent opportunity for new bowlers to learn what league bowling is all about. This year's slate includes four-person mixed leagues on Tuesday and Friday and the popular Trio league on Thursdays. The Adult-Junior league will take its regular spot on Mondays just ahead of the Weekly Scratch Sweeper. This four-game format will be bowled on a sport-shot condition. Also featured this summer is a No-Tap Tournament the first and third Wednesday of each month. Once again, the Random league will return, which allows you the opportunity to bowl anytime during the week that lanes are available. The only exceptions are Friday and Saturday nights.
Despite the limited leagues still bowling, there were several big numbers coming out of local bowlers' arms. Alan Topcik closed out the season in style with a week high 740 followed closely by M.A. Copeland's 736. Close behind him was the 732 reeled off by Stan Bottorff. Ken Miller pounded a 729 while Tim Van Doren checked in with a 728. Rodney Bounds found the range for a 714 and Tyrone McAlpine closed out the leaderboard with a 708. Joe Hasson pounded out a nice 260 game and Walt Scott used a nice 258 to collect his first career 600 Series with a 620. Other guys getting on the bandwagon included Willie Griggs, Dick Jentoft, Bill Fike, Bob Davis, Greg Taylor, Jason Pierce, Andrew Clayton, Billy Priester, Johnny Tinsley and Shayne Barfield.
Shirley Gaines stayed hot with a fine 268 game/667 series to lead the way for the ladies. Kim Shirley was smiling after using a 235 game to collect a 610 set while Mary Copeland used a 609 effort to just squeak out the high average in the Bowlerettes league. Janie Tisdale cranked out a 608 series and Nita Fike gets to read her name here after scattering pins in a nice 225 game.
Don't forget the Relay for Life No-Tap Benefit next Monday and Tuesday at 6:30 each evening. Please come out and support this worthwhile cause.
That's all for this week. Until next week, good luck and good bowling.
