Perfect games were almost the norm last week as three of them were rolled and a Choteau man added his name to the list of 800 series bowlers.

Rich Crawford, Gale Swanson and Leonard McNee all joined this season’s 300 club and Wayne Maurer went sky high with the first 800 ever rolled at Choteau’s Alley Kat Lanes.

Crawford started the week with his second career 300 in Murph’s Christian Intramural League last Monday.

Crawford’s perfect game was the first rolled at the eastside facility this season.

Swanson followed with his first-career 300 game, bowling in the Tuesday Men’s League at the Elks.

“I was a little nervous on the last ball, because the the ball in the 11^th frame went Brooklyn,” said Swanson. “But the last one was in the pocket and there was no doubt about it.”

Swanson, who left a ringin’ 10-pin two years ago for a 299 game, finished the night with a 662 series, adding games of 221 and a subpar 141.

McNee got into the act putting the perfect 12 together in Pin & Cue’s Friday Night Mixed League.

“He felt like his legs were numb on the last ball,” said his wife, Linda. “But, he was so excited about bowling his first 300 game.”

Since his bypass operation three years ago, McNee, 63, has been bowling much better, according to his friends and family.

McNee’s night ended with a 661 series.

“I was just in the groove,” said Maurer, who reeled off games of 289, 279 and 255 for an 823 last Wednesday night. “It was like the pocket with eight inches wide.

“It was just a magical night.”

Maurer’s series — a career high — was a new record for the Choteau center, breaking Jason Petrillo’s 795 set a couple of years ago.

“After the first two games, it is usually time to crumble,” said Maurer, who ironically is Swanson’s teammate in the Tuesday league at the Elks.

Crawford, Swanson and McNee join Don Jordan, Reid Michel and Willie McGee in this season’s 300 club. McGee’s 300 came earlier this month in the  John Willey Memorial at Little’s. Michel’s was the first thrown at Pin & Cue.

If the 300s and the 800s were not enough, Paul Dehn converted the 7-10 split, part of a huge 763 series. Dehn, bowling in the 725 Classified at Little’s, had games of 247, 278 and 238.

As expected the 1,510 score put up by the duo of Doris Kimmerle and Bruce Hruska held up as the pair captured the 2007 mixed doubles title at the USBC City Mixed Tourney, which wrapped up Sunday at Little’s Lanes.

In the team event, Dickman’s, composed of the father and son Bernie E. and Bernie K. Dickman, Amy Coure and Deb King, shot a second-week 2,895 to capture the team title.

For Hruska, it was his first-ever 800 series.

A 240 game in the last game of the team event sparked a 278, 269 and 255 effort for Hruska in the doubles.

“That was a lot of fun,” said Hruska, who has been working hard on improving his game the last few months. “I kind of started thinking 800 during the second game.”

Hruska and Kimmerle combined for a 1,408 scratch score and over the six games the pair averaged a sizzling 234.

Mike and Karen Arps finished second in the doubles with a 1,458 and Dave Schwertfeger and Bobbie Olquin were third at 1,421.

The Kristen Egan-captained Halftime Sports Bar took second in the team event with a 2,743.

A total of 24 teams and 35 double entries competed in the tourney.

Cascade’s Dolores Standley, Marge Preble, Ardith Holefelder and all brought home titles from the Montana  State USBC Senior Tournament, which concluded this past weekend at Bigfork’s North Shore Lanes.

Standley was the women’s Division A singles winner with a 1,389 total. Preble won the Division B singles title with a 1,297 total, while Holefelder claimed the Division C singles with a 1,378.

Congratulations to all three winners.

Other top finishers included Norma Robinson, who was third in the super-senior division with a 1,257. Boomer Bruner took second in the men’s B Division with a 1,336 and Shirley Durran was second in the C Division with a 1,291.

Dehn’s 763 won men’s honors last week, while Doris Kimmerle led the women with a 268 game and 693 effort in Little’s MixMasters.

McNee’s 300 game stole the show on the westside, but Bob Orham’s 267 game and 690 series also deserves mention. Sara Hathaway, bowling in the Ladies Nite Out league, was high for the Pin & Cue women with a 588 set. Ardith Holefelder’s 243 was the high women’s game.

Scores continued to climb at the Elks with a slew of high 600 sets, paced by Randy Guill’s 677, coming on games of 233 and a pair of 222s. Shirley Christianson, bowling in the Thursday Seniors, took women’s honors with a 223 game.

Crawford’s 300 was part of a 715 set, leading the men at Murph’s. Janelle Scott’s 202 game was high for the women.

Curt Backa, the Colorado Rockie of the bowling world, is a Tribune sports and news copy editor and fulltime kegling junkie. Backa, more trick than treat, can be reached at 791-6569, 800 438-6600 or e-mailed at cbacka@greatfallstribune.com

Pin & Cue / Great Falls

Women’s scores

Sunday Mixed — Betty Peterson 224, Nobi Sirucek 200

Monday 535 — Nobi Sirucek 213, Linda Michel 200

Ladies Nite Out — Sara Hathaway 203-202, Ardith Holefelder 243

Wednesday Mixed — Trina Linabary 217, Sheila Egged 217, Nobi Sirucek 226, Norma Miller 226

Morning Glories — Darrel Kimmel 3-10 split; Barb Nelson 6-7-10 split; Ruth Kuusisto 6-10 split

Friday Mixed — Marsha Kummer 2-7-10 split

Men’s scores

Sunday Mixed — Boomer Bruner 212 (sr.), Dewey Sutphan 232, Richard Ferderer 235, Dan Woodcock 225, Leonard Peterson 223-604 (sr.

Ag League — Rick Cummings 213 (sr.)

Monday 535 — Leonard Peterson 215-213-602 (sr.), Matt Harthun 235, Randy Guill 205-246 (sr.), Arnie Judd 244, Tank Judd 247, Bob Orham 267-224-690, Reid Michel 247, Chuck Lull 216-204 (sr.), Mike Bowles 226-234, Don White 223 (sr.)

Wednesday Mixed — Kelsey Klundt 259-665, Rock Rayl 244, Gordon Gies 213 (sr.)

MFCU — Arnie Depping 234, Steve Edwards 236

Friday Mixed — Jack Gillespie 202-212 (sr.), Mike Bowles 219-225-624 (sr.), Leonard McNee 300-203-661

K-Lines / Rudyard

Women’s scores — Marjie Spinler 208 and picked up the 3-10 split; Christine Finbeiner 5-6 split

Men’s scores — Monty Groth 235, Chris Pappas 236-244, Gordon Standiford 225, Darrell Massa 5-7 split

Elks / Great Falls

Women’s scores

Jack & Jill Mixed — Lauretta Gifford 212, Jodi Paulson 202

Thursday Seniors — Shirley Christianson 223, Luella Merriman 183 (+78), Betty Noble 168 (+55)-481 (+142(

Friday Mixed — Heather Vukasin 222, Jeannette Bartels 215-200-582 (+108), Peggy Vloomfield 158 (+51), Lisa Dunn 499 (+109)

Early Birds — Renee LeVeque 179 (+50)

Men’s scores

Jack & Jill — Steve Vernon 235, Dave Gifford 232-213-636 (sr.), Zane Paulson 224

Tuesday Men — Gale Swanson 300-221-662, Jerry Ferderer 268-651, Gary Willits 259-220-662, Ken Ferguson 253-624 (sr.), Brian Brown 246, Jack Anderson 245, Doug LaPierre 245, Al Ridder 244-234-671, Lee LeVeque 244-201-200-645 (sr.), Don White 238, Mike Beggs 225, Rod Hackett 218 (sr.), Joe Summers 214 (+62)-556 (+100), Martin Treis 210 (+71)-544 (+127), Wayne Maurer 617 (+128), Ed Buresh 209 (+60), Bob Standley 203-203, Jim Skovron 190 (+60)

Bull Elks — Shane Benton 263-659, Jim Pickering 256-233-669, Jock Rodgers 256, Paul Threlkeld 245, Randy Guill 233-222-222-677 (sr.), John Basta 234, Bob Meyers 234, Shane Brown 225, Herry Berg 211-203 (sr.), Darwin Reeve 211, Chuck Dailey 209-206 (sr.), Fid Fitterer 204-200 (sr.), Ken Ferguson 202 (sr.)

Thursday Seniors — Mel Wardell 234, Tony Degele 218-214, Jim Remsh 214-201-614, Mel Kerbs 213, Nick Cetto 211, Rod Hackett 209-203-600, Chuck Hackman 205-537 (+150), Byron Morse 205-480 (+102), Roger Sherman 203, Len Buls 202, Ed Mattix 201 (+51), Pete Peuchel 186 (+55), Fred Green 185 (+53)-512 (+116)

Friday Mixed — Josh Lyle 247-600 (+183), Mike Baumgartner 234, Steve Vernon 227, Dale Sirucek 221 (sr.), Tim McCune 224 (+77), Robert Smith 216 (sr.), Chuck Bartels 633 (sr.)

Early Birds Mixed — Bob Standley 245-200-586 (sr.), Lee LeVeque 213-208-610 (sr.), Ken Beck 225, Chuck Martin 225-206-620 (sr.), Jack Mallory 216 (+70), Gary Willits 206-201 (sr.), Josh Wuertz 173 (+73)-412 (+112), Josh Allen 186 (+50)

Glacier Lanes / Cut Bank

Women’s scores

Friday Night Mixed — Theodora Weatherwax 187 (+60)

Men’s scores

Sunday Night Mixed — Leonard Fugle 524 series (+110), Jimmy Littrell 182 (+77), Daryl Sletten 217 (+67)-561 (+121)

Thursday Commercial — Wilson After Buffalo 190 (+50), Paul Augare 216 (+57)-210 (+51), Albert Jordan 223 (+63), Tom Lane 240-640 (+121), Tim Luedtke 211 (+62)

Friday Mixed — Ted Lee 159 (+51)

Snowy Lanes / Lewistown

Women’s scores

Skyliners — Corrina Kuipers 426 (+108)

Pinetoppers — Karen Moseman 221, Karin Longshore 201, Dolly Wells 561 (+102)

Thursday Seniors — Doris McCorkindale 173 (+56)

Sunday Mixed — Gayle Arntzen 189 (+66)

Men’s scores

Commercial — Hanley McGibboney 205 (+56)

Monday Doubles — Rex Coleman 229, John Johnson 182 (+58)

Thursday Money — Fred Wood 239, Tom Hartford 211 (+74)

Thursday Merchant — Larry Becker 219 (+79), Jeff Whitcraft 183 (+60)-507 (+138), Nate Behl 186 (+51)

Sunday Mixed — Dean Person 263, Jim Ramussen 229, Steve Horacek 220 (+59)

Little’s Lanes / Great Falls

Women’s scores

Little’s Seniors — Lois Hering, Kay Aune both made the 4-7-10 split

Monday Ladies Classic — Pat Hilgendorf 200, Georgette Schrader 199 (+58), Tracy Eisenbarth 200

Tuesday Afternoon Trio — Elaine Surrendonk 180 (+52), Kim Kongsfeld 213-200, Sherry Danishefsky 166 (+53)

Casino League — Kathy Dixon 196 (+70)

Tuesday Mixed — Bonnie Thompson 200, Laura Clark 169 (+53)

Wednesday A.M. Trio — Deb Erwin 223, Sharon Reeve 206

A to Z — Betty Quickenden 171 (+60), Mary Thronson 184 (+54)

MixMasters — Doris Kimmerle 268-224-693, Kristen Egan 224-604

725 Classified — Doris Kimmerle 236-234-641

Thursday Mixed — Patti Curry 203

Classic Trio — Joan Tierney 184 (+51), Sharon Yaeger 191 (+52), Linda Curtis 207

Satellite Mixed — Leann Larson 207, Karen Arps 213-201

Men’s scores

Little’s Seniors — Pat Terry 202, Dennis Smrdel 204, Jim Pickering 247-603, John Ferda 200, Darwin Reeve 244, Mearl Christianson 204, Rod Hackett 214, Cal Hering 204-213

Teachers Mixed — Ron Meyers 225, Harry Geer 181 (+52)

Casino — Mark Pettis 223 (+50), John Dixon 245

Tuesday Mixed — Bernie E. Dickman 234

Little’s City — Howard Clodfelter 227

MixMasters — Donnie Zuhoski 244, Brian Lee 232-676, Steve Martin 245, Ken Curry 236-225-666, Scott Hirschi 249, Steve Volk 234-289-737, Sean Howard 241, Mike Brown 256, Jody Bastas 236-244-679, Mike Christensen 279-692, Jim Svir 258-235-692, Brian Christianson 279-692, Ross Rambo 225, Gary Bestwina 258, Terry Pearsall 225

Business House — Duane Sanborn 230, Chad Cunningham 234

725 Classified — Tim Neuroth 225-23, Paul Dehn 247-278-763 also picked up the 7-10 split; Tom Brendgord 258-659, Glenn Jeffrey III 245-258-727, Duane Zeier 226-245-657, Mac McNeese 207 (sr.), Dan Schaaf 247, Mike Carrethers 258-691, Bruce Hruska 242, Rich Crawford 257-246-699

Thursday Mixed — Ken Curry 226-235-682, Beaver Schaeffer 206 (+61), Dan Wilkerson 201 (sr.)

Short Season Trio — James Galbraith 233-658

Straight-A-Way — Mike Christensen 259, John Balzarini 236, Lynn Taskila 221 (+50), Jerry Wagner 234, Bruce Hruska 226, Brad Harthun 244

Utility — Kyle Burwell 215 (+61), Jeff Dennen 225-651

Satellite Mixed — Bob Ramsted 223 (+63), Jo Ovalle 237, Mike Crosscutt 221 (+56), Steve Volk 267, Duane Zeier 227

Jack’s Lanes / Fort Benton

Dust Bowlers — Mavis Engellant 214

Tuesday Mixed — Robert Olson 232-236-653, Jack Willson 232, Guyla Streit 227

Ladies Triple L — Tracy Finlayson 203

Thursday Men — Jim Zanto 230, Jack Willson 227

Murph’s / Great Falls

Christian Intramural — Mick Brown 225, Gene Goulet 238, Janelle Scott 202, Justin Meyer 235, Rich Crawford 300-715, Bruce Steffani 254-246-694

Wednesday Men’s Handicap — Steve Quinby 267-675, Jeff Dennen 227, Al Debortoli 228, Terry Brus 243, John Quinby 225, Tony Milovich 228, Jeff Walsh 226, Josh Calvert 242

Friday Alibi — Rich Fisher 255, Terry Brus 202-214-211-627 (sr.)

Black Eagle Lanes / Great Falls

Howard Ghee Thursday Mixed — Brett Ingram 156 (+76), Tina Hanshaw 138 (+85)

Golden Seniors — Loretta Winers 176 (+50), Charlene Komers 195, Julia Stevenson 184

Friday Falldowns — Jake Reimer 231-564 (+108)

BECC Seniors — Don Richards 212, Dave Harris 216