December 28, 2004

Elusive 300 for Hackett
It took many years but Rod Hackett took full advantage of a rare opportunity to accomplish the bowler's dream.

"I've never gotten the first 11 strikes before," Hackett said. "I've had the back 11 many times, but never the first 11."

Hackett didn't waste his first opportunity last Tuesday night at the Elks, successfully throwing a 12th frame strike for his first-career 300 game.

"All I could think about on the last ball was Duane Zeier," Hackett said. "He always said to throw it hard and straight on the last ball.

"That's what I did and there was no doubt."

All of Hackett's balls were in the pocket, except the ninth, when he crossed over and carried.

"I finally got the elusive 12 in a row," Hackett said. "All in the same game."

Hackett finished the night with a 258 game for a 749 series, the high for the week across town.

The Elks' manager got it going again Thursday afternoon putting together games of 279, 255 and 214 for a 748 set.

Even Hackett's father, Les, got into the act with a 166 game, which was 45 pins over the 95-year-old's average.

The perfect game was the third one rolled this season, and Hackett joins Greg Thomas and Dave Jacobs in the 300 club.

 

  • A sad note from St. Louis, once recognized as the center of bowling and a city that's home to the International Bowling Museum Hall of Fame, the historic Western Lanes — St. Louis' last full-sized bowling facility — will soon close its doors.

    AMF Bowling Worldwide Inc. says that the 36-lane center will end a run that began in 1962.

    Richard Weber, AMF's district manager, said Western, financially, "has really gone south," starting to lose serious money more than a year ago.

    St. Louis, along with Milwaukee, Detroit and the emergence of Las Vegas, have always been considered the hotbeds of bowling, ranking in the top four annually in the number of league bowlers.

    In fact, Las Vegas, with a proliferation of 72-lane centers is rapidly moving the center of bowling west.

    Pin & Cue will be one of several local bowling centers offering New Year's Eve activities. The westside center will have a Monte Carlo night starting at 8:30. Check your favorite kegling establishment to make your New Year's Eve plans.

    Hackett's perfect game and 749 and 748 series occupied the top spots last week, but there were some other strong efforts turned in during a holiday-shortened week.

    At Little's, Marlin Cross and Rich Crawford tossed a pair of nice 700s. Cross, bowling in the MixMasters, put together games of 246, 237 and 248 for a 731. Crawford, in the 725 Classified, rolled a 721 sporting 269 and 268 games.

    Kristen Egan's 640 series, with a 258 high game, set the mark for the women downtown. Barb Baumgartner led the women at the Elks with games of 229 and 211.

    Nathan Beebe threw a 697 and Bruce Steffani, making a return to league bowling, had a 696 to lead the men at Murph's. Shawna Lane's 223 and 201 games were high for the women.

    At Pin & Cue, Rock Rayl, bowling in the 535 Scratch, earned men's honors with a 679 set. Stretch Richards rolled a 630, with a 251 game, in the Leftovers, for women's honors.

    Bob Chesko's 619 was high for the men at Black Eagle. Kay Webb's 58-pin over average 197 deserves mention for the women.

    Curt Backa, always considered a hotbed of bowling, is a Tribune sports and news copy editor and sometime columnist. Backa can be reached at 791-6569, (800) 438-6600 or e-mailed at cbacka@greatfal.gannett.com.

    Here are the rest of last week's honor scores:

    Jack's Lanes/Fort Benton

    Monday Nite Mixed — Jim Zanto 217(sr.), Jack Willson 235-255-691

    Tuesday Nite Mixed — Guyla Streit 201-215-246-662, Karl Apple 203(sr.), Jim Zanto 214(sr.), Roy Lundy 207-208-603(sr.)

    Triple L — Charleen Elliott 203, Naldine Nash 211, Susan Yager 212

    Thursday Nite Men — Cameron Tuss 226-257-666, Stan Klimas 212-215(sr.)

    Elks

    Women's scores

    Jack & Jill — Halie Jacobs 224, Lauretta Gifford 216, Sharon Kunz 203

    Elks Seniors — Kay Kinzinger 211, Lois Hering 204, Betty Noble 182(+54)

    Thursday Ladies — Lauretta Gifford 210

    Early Birds Mixed — Barb Baumgartner 211-229, Becky Gordon 205, Deb Holman 202

    Men's scores

    Jack & Jill — Tony Gribble 237

    Thursday Men — Rod Hackett 300-258-749, Martin Treis 257, Mike Beggs 257, Jeff Dennen 256-225-694, Ken Beck 242, Jim Taylor 238, Al Ridder 236-653, Bill Brown 234, Chuck Martin 231, Steve Vernon 230

    Bull Elks — Scott Rodger 266-248-701, Don White 255, Dan Rollheiser 243, John Dixon 242, Gale Swanson 235, Bill Poser 226, Darwin Reeve 225, Gary 'The Common Bowler' Forsman 223(+54), Jim Basta 201(+63)

    Elks Seniors — Rod Hackett 279-255-214-748, Roger Sherman 255-207-644, Darwin Reeve 246, Willy Heupel 223, Bob Bann 222-203-603, Ralph Brackett 215, Dave Wise 214, Jim Remsh 212, Chuck Dailey 212, John Kelly 210, Mel Kerbs 208-202, Dave Shadrick 207, Mel Wardell 203, Ray Lincoln 201, Emil Nygard 201, Sherm Mills 200, Chuck Hackman 193(+53), Wendell Peck 191(+51), Les Hackett 166(+45)

    Early Birds — Bernie K. Dickman 238-265, Dave Gifford 236-227, Rod Hackett 233

    Pro Alley Bowl/Belt

    Monday Ladies — Teri Cummings 205, Becky Breznik 182(+55), Sanna Skelton 193(+64)

    Little's Lanes

    Women's scores

    Teachers Mixed — Donna Schultz 210

    Monday Ladies Classic — Crystal Kinman 209, Debbie Skinner 207-213, Linnea Luttrell 210, Laurie Ueland 201, Tammy Cady 215

    Tuesday Afternoon Trio — Crystal Kinman 206

    Casino — Autum Salvage 184(+58), Pam Brendgord 241, Marsha Teesdale 200, Rhea Harthun 225

    Tuesday Nite Mixed — Bonnie Ferda 202

    Wednesday A.M. Trio — Fern Voeller 193

    A To Z — Leona Burns made the 6-7-10 split; Layla Kidrick converted the 5-7 split

    MixMasters — Barb Lankford 224, Doris Kimmerle 224-202, Karin Osborn 201, Kristen Egan 224-258-640, Teresa Solomon 217-246

    Short Season Trio — Shanna Konesky 211-204-610(+190)

    Satellite Mixed — Paula Livingston 230, Shawna Lane 247-217

    Men's scores

    Teachers Mixed — Mike Balko 202(+53), Kevin Field 204(+55), Wes Mills 212(+55)

    Casino — Gary Hooks 218(+60), Matt Bundi 231, Kyle Grossman 233

    Tuesday Nite Mixed — Bob Ramsted 213(+58), James Oliver 246, Scott Thompson 244

    Little's City — Andy Anderson 212(+53), Nick Kynett 244-236-650

    MixMasters — Bob Orham 235-653, Glenn Jeffrey III 227-257-663, Marlin Cross 246-237-248-731, Mel Willey 259, Mike Carrethers 256-670, Paul Dehn 279-686

    Business House — Dave Grossman 212(+73), Dennis Bates 221(+57), Matt Bundi 234, Mike Christensen 279-662, Steve Johnson 227(+66)

    725 Classified — Al Pearsall 238, Dan Schaaf 232, Duane Zeier 238-235-679, Fred Sadler 226, Frank Maroney 246, Jody Bastas 248-258-688, Paul Dehn 236, Pat Terry 226-225, Rod Hackett 230, Rich Crawford 269-268-721, Wes Baker 245-227-695

    Thursday Nite Mixed — Dan Wilkerson 278, Jim Rothweiler 237, Jim Miller 212(+58), Russ Zanto 235(+59)

    Satellite Mixed — Chuck Livingston 242, James Oliver 238-235-684, Jo Ovalle 246-650, Kyle Grossman 234

    Little's Seniors — Cal Hering 214, Carolyn Kimmerle 199, Dale Sirucek 215, Dave Shadrick 232, Dick Newman 201, Don Hurd 190(+51), Ed Dobeas 224, Elwood Sayler 206-203-602, Maddy Anderson 190, Rod Hackett 225-204-612, Roy Curtis 257, Wes Martin 212

    Pin & Cue

    Women's scores

    535 Scratch — Tami Price 202, Linda Michel 213, Mary Orham 200

    Wednesday Nite Mixed — Chris Dittus 211-205, Nobi Sirucek 239, Stacie Olson 214, Heather Vukasin 213

    Leftovers — Stretch Richards 251-205-630

    Men's scores

    Sunday Nite Mixed — Don White 249, Ducky Faler 225, Elwood Sayler 237-618(sr.), Steven Bankhead 246

    535 Scratch — Joe Skaggs 238-228-630-858(4), Jack Skinner 222(sr.), Les Bruner 267, Rock Rayl 234-233-679-867(4), Chuck Lull 230, Mike Bowles 238, Paul Gerhardt 243, Nelson Messimer 246-860(4), Don White 256-852(4)

    Wednesday Nite Mixed — Bob Standley 235, Rock Rayl 226-236, Kelsey Klundt 225, Dave Gifford 226

    MFCU — Ducky Faler 208-212-205-625(sr.), Bryan Riphenburg 233, Jeff Anderson 254, Dean Wigger 231

    Murph's

    Christian Intramural — Bruce Steffani 259-242-696

    Tuesday Tornadoes — Michael Henderson 225, Nathan Beebe 258-235-697

    Wednesday Men — Rich Fisher 269, Ryan Moody 243-672, Terry Williams 224(sr.), Russ Kraenzel 227, Shane Brown 244, Stephen James 230

    Thursday Skyliners — Laura Manzer 205, Shawna Lane 223-201

    Black Eagle Lanes

    Women's scores

    Tuesday 55 Club — Kay Webb 197(+58)

    Volunteers — Kelly Albertini 188(+62)

    Men's scores

    Black Eagle Seniors — Elwood Sayler 233, Don Richards 235, Bob Chesko 229-217-619, Carl Kangas 201

    Volunteers — Dan Kolve 172(+59)

    Snowy Lanes/Lewistown

    Women's scores

    Monday Fresh Air — Lois Sifert 196(+61)

    Tuesday Trio — Fran Coats 201

    Tuesday Skyliners — Tina Stokken 197(+63)

    Wednesday Doubles — Cherie Errecart 202, Syliva Brandenburg 191(+55)

    Wednesday Pinetoppers — Arvadel Bodvig 214, Mary Duncan 200

    Thursday Money — Fran Coats 226

    Men's scores

    Monday Commercial — Dewey Rosman 243, Ike Waltari 235, Kermit Johnston 234, Dean Person 232, Tom Rau 211(+64)-561(+120), Jerry Johnson 212(+54)

    Monday Doubles — Gary Milne 234

    Thursday Seniors — Paul Degele 187(+59)

    Thursday Money — Duane Neeman 212(+59)

    Sunday Mixed — Wally Steffes 211(+59)

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