Aklestad nearly rolls second 300

Whatever the odds, Jim Aklestad almost accomplished the rare feat last Wednesday night in Little's MixMasters League.

Aklestad, who threw a perfect game on Oct. 19, strung out the first 11 in his final game last Wednesday only to leave a stubborn 4-pin on his final ball to end the quest.

"I wanted one 300 game," said Aklestad, who has had two career 300 games. "I never thought I would get two, especially in back-to-back weeks."

Oddly, Aklestad's 300 game, the city's fifth thrown this season, was the first thrown in league play by a regular league bowler at Little's in over a year. Last season, Greg Thomas tossed a 300 game, but he was only substituting and did not count.

Little's 300 bonus that usually is pocketed or split up by all bowlers rolling a perfect game went unclaimed last year and rolled over to this year.

If Aklestad's 300 game holds up, it will, indeed, be a handsome payday.

·  ·  ·  Barb Lankford knew exactly when to turn it on in this past weekend's Classic 50s Ladies Invitational Scratch Tournament at Little's.

In her final three games of Sunday's match play, which incidentally came in the all-important position rounds, she tossed games of 247, 223 and 215 for a lofty 685 three-game set.

In the stepladder, she added a 211 game in the semifinals and a 233 in the final to finish out the day.

Her five-game average during crunch time was an unbeatable 225.8.

No wonder she took home the top prize.

·  ·  ·  In Saturday's qualifying, only six women averaged better than 200 over the six games, led by Billings' Julie Redfern, who shot a 1,310 — plus 110 — good for a 218 average.

It took a —79 or a 186 average to make the cut this year and 10 bowlers advanced into Sunday's match play with less than 200 averages.

On Sunday, it took a 195.8 average (-47) over eight games of match play to make the final eight and a 204.45 to make the top five stepladder.

·  ·  ·  Here are the unofficial results from the second Great Hurrah Elks Tournament, which wrapped up Sunday at the Great Falls Elks Club:

Men's singles — 1. Rich Reeve, Dutton, 705. 2. Jack Anderson, Fairfield, 697. 3. Roger Winterrowd, GF, 657

Women's singles — 1. Sharon Reeve, Dutton, 637. 2. Lauretta Gifford, GF, 629. 3. Deb Holman, GF, 628

Men's doubles — Jerry Kenik-Jerry Ferderer, GF, 1,237. 2. Rich Reeve-Darwin Reeve, Dutton, 1,258. 3. Gary Willits-Lee Leveque, GF, 1,234

Women's doubles — 1. Deb Holman-Kay Kinzinger, GF, 1,265. 2. Dawn Vernon-Mo Downey, GF, 1,232. 3. Jean Ostlie-Lisa Dunn, GF, 1,221

Men's team — 1. Mary's Midway, 2,630. 2. Spot Bar, 2,551. 3. Ryan's Station No. 1, 2,529.

Women's team — 1. Wild Bunch, GF, 2,478. 2. Montana Mountain Glass, GF, 2,299.

Mixed doubles — 1. Steve Vernon-Karin Osborn, 1,377. 2. Jean and Shannon Ostlie, 1,332. 3. Lisa Dunn-Duane Zeier, 1,327.

Mixed team — 1. VW Four, GF, 2,625. 2. Odd Couples, GF, 1,609. 3. Braves, GF, 2,481.

Tidbits:Bob Orham will be playing host to a coaches clinic this Sunday at 9 a.m. at Pin & Cue. This is a USBC official clinic and instructs adults on how to teach children how to bowl. ... Thanks to Pat Terry for subbing for me last week during my vacation. ... Murph's, Little's Lanes, Black Eagle Lanes and Fort Benton's Jack's Lanes were not included in last week's roundup. Those scores were listed in last Saturday's edition (Oct. 29). Black Eagle's scores are listed in today's roundup. My apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused, but I'm blaming it all on Pat Terry.

Curt Backa, who is always willing to pass Terry the blame, is a Tribune sports and news copy editor and resident bowling mook. Backa, when not stealing trick-or-treat candy from the little kiddies, can be reached at 791-6569, (800) 438-6600, or e-mailed at cbacka@greatfal.gannett.com.

Here is a roundup of last week's honor scores:

Glacier Lanes/Cut Bank

Women's scores

Friday Mixed — Jolene Potts 187(+50)-231(+96(

Men's scores

Sunday Mixed — Jimmy Luttrell 200(+60)

Thursday Commercial — Ed Arensmeyer 180(+53), J.W. Eaton 225-232-671, Al Hillius 175(+59), Dennis Lenoir 192(+51), Tim Luedtke 211(+66), Bill Powell 213(+79), Scott Roberson 206(+70), Don Weaver 230

Friday Mixed — Jim Croff 229

Elks

Women's scores

Jack & Jill — Lauretta Gifford 200

Thursday Ladies — Leila King 215-505(+118), Karin Osborn 203, Nina Otter 447 series(+104), Sheila Brady 530 series(+104)

Elks Seniors — Della Johnson 213, Kay Kinzinger 202

Friday Mixed — Lisa Dunn 214

Sunday Early Birds — Dawn Vernon 205

Men's scores

Jack & Jill — Harry Jacobs 174(+52)

Tuesday Men — Jim Rothweiler 266-233-698, Shannon Ostlie 257, Rex Tanber 248-652, Joe Summers 245, Rich Teesdale 227

Bull Elks — Scott Rodger 257-227-685, Norm Miller 246, Reid Michel 235, Shane Benton 228, Dave Sand 214(+75), Aaron Paul 221(+51)

Elks Seniors — Rod Hackett 230, Chuck Dailey 216, Rich Ferderer 213, Harlan Lartch 209, Cal Hering 205 and coverted the Big Four split (4-6-7-10), Shannon Ostlie 202, Ben Brown 202, Bob Buley 190(+54), Dale Gullings 464 series(+104)

Friday Mixed — Chuck Bartels 257-236-678, Rex Tanberg 232

Sunday Early Birds — Duane Zeier 257, Jon Harpole 237, Lee Leveque 228, Bob Standley 225

Snowy Lanes/Lewistown

Women's scores

Tuesday Skyliners — Karin Longshore 211, Kenda Horacek 201

Wednesday Ladies — Angela Swanson 155(+57)

Pinetoppers — Karin Longshore 237, SharLa Lalum 204, Arvadel Bodvig 201, Corrie Knerr 198(+67), Verna Fisher 192(+61), Sharon Nelson 179(+59), Mary Duncan 189(+57), Pat Hubble 190(+54), Karen Munich 174(+53)

Thursday Seniors — June Dormady 187(+46)

Thursday Money — Rose Huston 200

Men's scores

Monday Commercial — Keith Conrad 219(+72), Glenn Roberts 220(+62)

Monday Doubles — Rex Coleman 276-702, Gary Mane 236, Dewey Rosman 227

Wednesday Doubles — Jim Fuller 173(+50)

Thursday Seniors — Hanley McGiboney 185(+46)

Thursday Money — David Maier 210(+53), Fred Wood 616(+100)

Thursday Merchant — Dean Person 225, Dewey Rosman 223(+59), Steve Lalum 195(+55)

Sunday Mixed — Rex Coleman 228-650, Keith Bersuch 188(+55)

Aces High/Malmstrom

Loonie Tunes — Sharon Gribble 202

Intramurals — Doug Yates 289-662, Thom Babincez 257-226-653, John Kurtz 268, Dwight Pearch 233, Chad Brewer 247, Nelson Messimer 238

Thursday Mixed — Paula Livingston 200, Rock Rayl 279-710, Valerie McClellan 166(+59)

Jack's Lanes/Fort Benton

Dust Bowlers — Rusty Danreuther 244

Tuesday Mixed — Guyla Streit 207-213

Triple L — Cindy Farwick 213, Charleen Elliott 215, Jayn Meeks 228, Patty Paulsen 201

Thursday Men — Dick Fisher 239, Cameron Tuss 237, Jack Willson 242, Darren Rowe 225, Tom Willson 226

Little's Lanes

Women's scores

Teachers Mixed — Shirley Sundquist 188(+55)

Monday Ladies Classic — Cristy Snider 202, Debbie Skinner 183-183(+51), Laurie Ueland 220, Robyn England 180(+55), Roxie Fox 194(+51), Trina Shaw 187(+57)

Tuesday Afternoon Trio — Caroline McKinlay made 3-10 split, Donna Schroeder 180 all-spare game and made the 4-5 split; Elaine Surrendonk converted the 5-6 split

Casino — Marianne Sepich 216

Tuesday Mixed — Leslie Atkinson 178(+66), Terri Nall 204

Wednesday A.M. Trio — Karen Kernaghan 202

MixMasters — Barb Lankford 231, Doris Kimmerle 205-214-618, Guyla Streit 229, Judy Jackson 244-212-628, Karin Osborn 236-220-630

Short Short Season — Tammy Dillon 184(+53)

Little's Classic — Doris Kimmerle 202-247-625, Karen Kernaghan 202

Satellite Mixed — Shawna Lane 236

Men's scores

Casino — Mark Pettis 231, Jim Dixon 235, John Dixon 245

Tuesday Mixed — Ed Archey 222(sr.), Rick Beyer 257, Tim Drazich 234

Little's City — Chad Waltz 220(+52), Chuck Winn 236, David Cashman 215(sr.), Keith Kercher 238, Ken Curry 265, Mitch Bressler 221(+54), Ron Fleming 227

MixMasters — Al Fenner 225, Brian Christianson 270-265-749, Jim Aklestad 299-669, Jim Esther 234, Jody Bastas 226-231-678, Ken Curry 246, Mel Willey 226-227-247-700, Rich Crawford 239-663, Roger Wirtanen 259, Steve Volk 232

Business House — Dick Cunningham 215(sr.), Harry Schultz 202(sr.), Howard Clodfelter 274-232-699

725 Classified — Bill Christianson 232, Brian Christianson 245-268, Doug Yates 227, Fred Sadler 245, Glenn Jeffrey III 229-234, Jody Bastas 237, Mearl Christianson 221(+55), Mel Willey 228-246-664, Mike Christensen 227-247-682, Paul Dehn 236, Ron Underwood 233, Terry Pearsall 247-245-652, Tom Brendgord 278-698, Wes Baker 280-665, Allen Lanning 202(+61)

Thursday Mixed — Ken Curry 235-246-692

Short Short Season — Jeremy Mellinger 232, Scott Coulston 188(+61), Shad Griffin 211(+63)

Utility — Bill Bury 229, Ron Brown 257, Steve Krattiger 232

Straight-A-Way — Bernie K. Dickman 225, Donnie Zuhoski 286-247-228-705-1,371(6), Jim Esther 248-660, Jim Pickering 253, Mike Carrette 266-237-225-728, Mike Judd 276, Rich Crawford 231-234-246-234-715, Roger Wirtanen 233-654, Ron Corkin 234, Tarl Dixon 246-673

Satellite Mixed — Hank Rimkus 656 series; Jeff Anderson 226, Mel Willey 245, Mike Arps 228-232-684, Mike Carrethers 245, Mike Christensen 255-653, Norm Miller 239

Little's Seniors — Al Decker 211-214, Andy Anderson 196(+62), Barb Skinner 155(+59), Cal Hering 211, Dale Sirucek 200, Dan Ruff 221, Dave Shadrick 209-211, Elwood Sayler 223-224, Joe Levesey Sr. 206, John Ferda 208, Julius Jodlowski 190(+56), Katie Grace 156(+50), Nick Cetto 251, Wes Martin 237

Black Eagle Lanes

Women's scores

Howard Ghee Thursday Mixed — Mary Reuter 210

Friday Fallouts — Roxie Foster 200

Volunteers — Jan Wolfe 172(+79)

Tuesday 55 Club — Norma Axelsen 445 series(+103)

Men's scores

Black Eagle Seniors — Don Richards 252-610, Carl Kangas 230, 207, Elwood Sayler 203, Frank Thompson 201, Cal Hering 201, Bob Chesko 246-608, Floyd Palagi 231, Lloyd Allee 201, Vern Petersen 194(+57)

Howard Ghee Thursday Mixed — David Capps 210(+58), Marc Leonard 203(+82), Jed Henthorne 201(+53)

Friday Fallouts — Dustin Curtis 244, 228; Cory Arps 235, Nick Hauer 183(+50), Bob Chesko 257

Volunteers — Andy Thomas 217(+55), Robert Smith 246, John Gort 211(+65)

Murph's

Christian Intramural — Lucas Cyr 231-655, Steve Bankhead 237, Bruce Steffani 268-257-715, Gunnar Hankins 224

Wednesday Men —Mark Pipen 233, Terry Brus 226, Rich Fisher 225-265-674, Abe Zigan 237-226, Drew Warner 231-232-666, Josh Moody 227, Bill Thomas 237, Jerry Brown 225, Mike Ryan 224, Tim Preston 231, Butch Preston 246, Kelly Gillligan 248, Wayne Quinby 241-232-688, Ron Simonsen 257-653, Lucas Cyr 235-238-695

Friday Alibi — Charlie Pepos 234, Ervin Crumley 236, Russ Palmerton 242, George Sayler 225, Nancy Brus 201, Josh Dowell 249, Terry Brus 225-226-652

Pin & Cue

Women's scores

Wednesday Mixed — Nobi Sirucek 208, Tracy Arndt 238

Thursday Leftovers — Stretch Thomas 243, Mary Orham 204

Friday Mixed — Nobi Sirucek 214, Sara Hathway 222-211

535 — Nobi Sirucek 213, Terri Nall 257, Linda Huddleston 201

Morning Glories — Donna Bossard made the 4-5-7 split; Emma Pengilly converted the 5-10 and 4-5-7 splits, Barb Bessler made the 5-10 split, Norma Robinson picked up the 3-7 split; Betty Warehime made the 6-7-10 split

Men's scores

535 — Tank Judd 269, Marlin Moss 258, Bob Orham 276, Don White 254

Wednesday Mixed — Rock Rayl 226, Rod Vold 235, Bob Standley 244

Friday Men — Jeff Dennen 654 series; Mike Bowles 277-660, Rick King 244-657

Friday Mixed — Josh Calvert 236, Rich Marten 226, Chad Konesky 233, Drew Wanner 242

K-Lines/Rudyard

Women's scores — Shirley Kline 219, Char Hoyer 206, Linda Foster 205, Marjie Spinler 211, Leata Hansen 213

Men's scores — Mark Aspevig 234-231, Chris Pappas 247, Todd Langel 225, Greg Munson 243, Pat Foster Jr. 241, Jerry Mellam made the 4-9 split