9-26-2006

Big scores on the lanes this week

It didn't take long for the next 300 and the first 800 of the season to be bowled.

Brian Christianson rolled his fourth-career 300 and first since 2000 last Friday night in Little's Straight-A-Way League.

"It's was so long between 300s, I was still pretty nervous," said Christianson. "Every ball was in the pocket and on the last one it was a little light and the 7-pin was the last to go down."

The 300 was part of a big night for the veteran righthander, who added a pair of 247 games for a 752 three-game set and finished the five-game night with a 1,223 total and a salty 244 average on the evening.

Terry Pearsall opened the week with his third-career 800 series bowling in the popular MixMasters, also at Little's.

Pearsall started the night with a solid 259 and then strung the first 11 in the second game and missed a 300 leaving the bucket in final frame for a 297. "I came up a little light with that ball," said Pearsall."

"I started thinking about an 800 after the second game," said Pearsall, who owns the all-time city high with an 857. "I then started with the first five in the third game and I knew I had a chance.

Pearsall's final game was a 244 for an 800 right on the nose.

"I had a good shot all night and I never had to move," said Pearsall.

His three 800s have been spread out over the last 10 years. His first, an 814, came in 1996.

Pearsall, who admittedly says he doesn't shoot too many high scores, got off to a fast start last week.

"That's what you have to do to shoot 800," said Pearsall.

Both bowlers, along with Brus, will receive USBC awards for their honor scores.

·  ·  ·  In the "just so, you know" department.

There are 5,580 bowling centers in the U.S. with 114,866 lanes, as well as an additional 67 centers and 1,196 lanes in Puerto Rico and on U.S. military bases around the world.

Pennsylvania has the most centers with 396 while Michigan had the most lanes with 8,096. Wisconsin was second in centers with 373 followed by New York with 365.

Montana, in 2005-2006 statistics, had 68 centers with 780 lanes. A total of 17,876 bowlers participated in league play and there 603 adult leagues in the state. An additional 2,955 youths bowled in a league and there were 141 YABA leagues last year.

A complete state-by-state breakdown of centers is available on bowl.com.

·  ·  ·  Some of the top bowlers in Montana, the Northwest and Canada will be here Oct. 7-8 for the renewal of the John Willey Memorial Tournament at Little's Lanes. Entries, which are $125, are being taken at the downtown facility.

Great Falls' Paul Dehn, who captured his first Willey title last October, is the defending champion.

Phone Little's at 452-4116 for more information about the tourney.

·  ·  ·  Don't forget to get your entries in for the 18th Montana State Mixed Tournament, which will be held the last two weekends in October and the first two weekends in November, at Lewistown's Snowy Lanes.

Entry is $66 for a four-person team and and $34 for doubles. Phone Rex Coleman at 535-3473 for more information and shift times.

·  ·  ·  Christianson's perfect game and Pearsall's 800 stole most of the honors last week, but a few other high scores of note should also receive recognition.

The same night as Pearsall's high score, Bob Orham also flirted with an 800 series settling for a 772 on scores of 256, 259 and 257.

Leading the women last week was Kristen Egan, who took advantage of a solid shot at Little's with a 245 game and 659 series, also in the MixMasters.

Looking around the area, Al DeBortoli got hot in the Elks Tuesday Night Men's League. DeBortoli reeled off games of 256, 233 and 202 for a 691 for men's honors.

Karin Osborn opened the week with a 255 and 625 in the Jack & Jill League for the women's high.

No 300 at Murph's this week but there were some good scores. Mike Preston led the week with a 693 set, on games of 224, 247 and 222. Bill Thomas was right behind with a 690 series, which featured a 279 game.

Amber Brandt's 203 game took women's honors.

On the westside, Les Bruner put together games of 258, 237 and 212 for a 707 set in the Monday 535 League to lead the men. Chris Dittus' 602 series was high for the women.

Curt Backa, not one to shoot many high scores of note, is a Tribune sports and news copy editor and resident kegling afficionado. Backa, when not trying out to be Alabama's new place kicker, 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, including Cut Bank's Glacier Lanes, who return to the fold.

Aces High / Malmstrom

Thursday Mixed — Michael Jurauld 231, Kenny Deeb 235, Jeff Adams 240

Murph's / Great Falls

Women's scores

Friday Night Alibi — Amber Brandt 203

Men's scores

Wednesday Men's Handicap — Mike Preston 247-693, Butch Preston 235, Bill Thomas 228-279-690, Mark Pepin 225, Terry Brus 223-214-633(sr.), Robert Rioux 239, Jack Hawley 226, Tony Milovich 278-663, Jerry Wagner 244, Burt Tschetter 237, Ray Simonsen 245

Black Eagle Lanes / Great Falls

Women's scores

B.E.C.C. Seniors — Mary Reuter 186

Men's scores

Friday Club 55 — Ray Voeller 203

Howard Ghee Thursday Mixed — Leonard Peterson 213(+52), Brett Schoenen 193(+51)

Little's Lanes / Great Falls

Women's scores

Little's Seniors — Kay Kinzinger 201

Monday Ladies Classic — Tracy Eisenbarth 212, Emily Robinson 135(+51)

Tuesday Afternoon Trio — Shirley Baune made the 6-7-10 split; Caroline McKinley converted the 3-9-10 split; Alta Buford made the 4-7 split

Casino — Jackie Undem 215

Wednesday A.M. Trio — Sharon Reeve 193(+50)

A to Z — Shirley Shoquist made the 3-7 split

MixMasters — Judy Jackson 214-205-605, Karin Osborn 247-222-653, Barb Lankford 228-223-650, Doris Kimmerle 214-222-216-652, Kristen Egan 222-245-659, Guyla Streit 233

725 Classified — Doris Kimmerle 206-276-203-685

Little's Classic Trio — Renee Leveque 181(+60), Pat Polzin 194(+53)

Straight-A-Way — Amanda Steffani 234-203, Sheila Thomas 205

Satellite Mixed — Connie Dickman 200-202, Karen Arps 201, Georgia Moe 205, Tanya Buennemyer 201

Men's scores

Little's Seniors — Chuck Dailey 205, Wes Martin 214, Jim Remsch 206, Mel Kerbs 205, Elwood Sayler 234, Dennis Smrdel 201-206-600, Mearl Christianson 233, Rod Hackett 201-265-256-722

Teachers Mixed — Charlie Compton 234-246-693

Casino — Matt Muretta 208(+61), Bob Muretta 257, Jim Dixon 237

Tuesday Mixed — Don Jordan 238-248-689, Scott Thompson 235-234-693, Tony Degele 215(sr.), Johann Claassen 200(+53)

MixMasters — Terry Pearsall 259-297-244-800, Al Fenner 234, Robby Jackson 238, Ross Rambo 232, Bob Orham 256-259-257-772, Don Jordan 232-672, John Balzarini 265, Marlin Cross 239, Brian Christianson 238-671, Mike Arps 227, Paul Dehn 260-237, Steve Martin 226, Jim Dixon 248-257-233-738, John Dixon 246, Steve Volk 235-287-742, Mike Carrethers 254-236-705, Roger Wirtanen 225

Business House — Kyle Grossman 227, Brad Harthun 226, Tom Gossack 242, Mike Christensen 239

725 Classified — Bruce Hruska 234, Jim Kernaghan 228-247-660, Brian Christianson 238, Mike Christensen 233-226-679, Jody Bastas 257-233-704, Jack Lien 266-254-724, Pat Terry 259-675, Fred Sadler 248-236-694, Thom Babinecz 247-226-660, Dan Schaaf 265, Glenn Jeffrey III 279-681

Thursday Mixed — Jim Rothweiler 268-672, Duane Dolender 228, Bruce Chaney 266, Fred Berry 232, Jim L. Miller 222(+58)

Straight-A-Way (5 games) — Jim Pickering 236-241-265-650, Dan Jackson 229, Ron Corkin 234-267-226-721, John Balzarini 257-246-269, Wade Thompson 258, Willie McGee 267-234, Don Jordan 234, Wayne Quinby 239-265-239-743, Mike Carrette 234, Bob Orham 232-279, Roger Wirtanen 236-652, Mike Christensen 236-226-259-666, Robert Olson 227, Mike Judd 226, Mike Carrethers 244, Brian Christianson 247-300-247-752(3)-1223(5), Donnie Zuhoski 232, Richard Crawford 268-237-727

Utility — Norm Miller 227, Larry R. DeBolt 227, Kent Cox 260-660, Jeff Dennen 226-244-665, Jim Rothweiler 267-664, John Peters 244, Ron Brown 232, Steve Krattiger 246-672, Mike Sharp 230

Satellite Mixed — Joe Williams 221(+72), Mel Willey 226, Hank Rimkus 228-244, Gordon Peterson 228-243, Bernie K. Dickman 259-247-687, Mike Arps 246, Norm Miller 227

Elks / Great Falls

Women's scores

Jack & Jill — Karin Osborn 255-625, Tracy Rigor 203

Thursday Seniors — Donna Schultz 198(+79)-467(+110)

Thursday Ladies — Shelia Reeves 181(+90)-414(+141), Dorothy Vukasin 178(+57)

Friday Mixed — Dawn Vernon 214-209, Heather Vukasin 210-200-603, Barb Baumgartner 206, Roberta McCune 202

Men's scores

Jack & Jill — Bernie Dickman 226, Fred Sadler 208-208-604(sr.), Ron Meyers 212(sr.), Mel Zuidema 208(sr.), John Dunfee 201(sr.), Harry Jacobs 200(sr.)

Tuesday Men — Al DeBortoli 256-233-691, Bill Brown 255-236-685, Mel Wardell 234-614(sr.), Jeff Dennen 230, Bill Austin 220(sr.), Jerry Vukasin 212(sr.), Rex Tanberg 201(sr.), Barry Fields 206(sr.)

Bull Elks — Randy Guill 257, Scott Rodgers 236, Dave Culliton 235-664, Joe Murray 231, Talbert Bryan 231, Ken Ferguson 231-217-215-663(sr.), Gale Swanson 225, Dan Rollheiser 224-224-624(sr.), John Toeynes 205-606(sr.), Fid Fitterer 203, Chuck Dailey 215(sr.)

Thursday Seniors — Jerry Vosberg 226-579(+150), Bob Muretta 215, Dave Shadrick 212, Len Buls 211, Don Thrush 204, Sherm Mills 203, Ken Love 201, Len Ritzschke 179(+54)

Friday Mixed — Roger Winterrowd 237, Chuck Bartel 230, Joe Summers 211(sr.)

Sunday Early Birds — Steve Vernon 230, Lee Leveque 214(sr.)

Snowy Lanes / Lewistown

Women's scores

Wednesday Afternoon Ladies — Jean Kaurin 206, Carol Strander 200

Pinetoppers — Karin Longshore 203

Men's scores

Commercial — Dewey Rosman 243, Tim Thomas 233

Monday Doubles — Dewey Rosman 244, Gary Mane 241

Tuesday Trio — Merl Coats 231

Thursday Merchant — Dean Person 226

Sunday Mixed — Jim Rasmussen 259-270

Glacier Lanes / Cut Bank

Women's scores

Wednesday Ladies — Stacey Roush 215

Friday Mixed — Jolene Potts

Men's scores

Sunday Mixed — Mike Coen 254, Al Hillius 172(+62)

Thursday Commercial — J.W. Eaton 213

Friday Mixed — Carl Arnoux 234, Moose Jordan 228

Pin & Cue / Great Falls

Women's scores

Monday 535 — Chris Dittus 602 series, Terri Nall 235

Ladies Nite Out — Sharon Gribble 223

Wednesday Mixed — Jody Ryan 206

MFCU — Linda Lawson 201

Friday Mixed — Cristy Snider 207

Morning Glories — Emma Pengilly made the 4-5-6 leave; Barb Bessler converted the 3-10 split

Men's scores

Sunday Mixed — Barry Fleshman 224(sr.)

Monday 535 — Bob Berard 242-201-624(sr.), 257; Don White 229, Ross Rambo 255-668, Les Bruner 258-237-707, Steve Vernon 233-680, Joe Skaggs 267, Jack Skinner 200(sr.), Norm Jensen 233, Mike Bowles 236-648(sr.), James Guill 243-679, Bob Orham 233, Chuck Lull 251,

Wednesday Mixed — Jack Skinner 206(sr.), Rock Rayl 234-234-652