Al Pearsall doesn't bowl as much as he used to, but the many time tourney champion and former Senior PBA player can still turn it on once in a while.
Last week in the 725 Classified League at Little's, Pearsall opened his first game with 11 strikes in a row. But a stubborn 7-pin in the final frame ended his bid for his 14th career 300 game and the season's third in the city.
"It was a wobbly 7-pin, flush in the hole," said Pearsall. "I thought for sure I had it.
Pearsall believed chances of shooting another 300 had long passed him by.
"I never thought I would get this close again," said the 63-year-old Pearsall. "Geez, I was thrilled went I got to nine in a row."
Pearsall's close call led a high-scoring night in the downtown league, which also included a 290 game by Tom Brendgord and Doris Kimmerle's 717 series, which led the women last week.
Ross Bartell was high for the week for the men with a nice 740 series in the Little's City league. Bartell's set included games of 255 and 269.
Kimmerle, warming up for this weekend's Ladies Classic, had games of 279 and 227 in her big series.
At the Elks, Chuck Martin fashioned games of 257 and 243 on his way to a 723 series in the Tuesday Men. Steady Barb Baumgartner was high for the women with a 236 game and 638 series in the Friday Mixed.
There were quite a few good scores last week from Pin & Cue topped by the 716 effort turned in by Bill Schlosser. Schlosser, competing in the Wednesday Mixed, had games of 269 and 257.
Also in the Wednesday Mixed, Heather Vukasin fired a 626 set, on games of 203, 209 and 214, to lead the women on the westside.
I couldn't go without giving my friend Howard Clodfelter a nod. Clodfelter opened his week with a 279 game and a nobody-shoots-a-699 series last Tuesday in the Little's City. He turned around on Wednesday at the Elks and put together games of 258 and 245 for a 686 in the Bull Elks. Nice week.
Speaking of the Ladies Classic, entries have reached a total of 30 with a few days left to go. The scratch tourney, which offers a $1,500-added purse, still has plenty of room. Shift times are 1 and 4 p.m. on Saturday with an entry fee of $90. Phone Little's at 452-4116 for more information or to reserve a spot.
A youth score of note from last week.
Robbie Schwenck, bowling in the CMR League at Pin & Cue, reeled off games of 257, 257 and 223 for a big 737 set.
Miller Low Lifes, out of Bozeman, fired a 2,575 during this past weekend to score the team victory in this year's Montana USBC Mixed Tourney.
The Low Lifes beat out The Alley Kats, who totaled 2,559 on the last weekend.
BBNF, who led the tourney going into the last weekend, finished third with a 2,558.
Livingston's Kym Roberts and Izzy Kadrmas waited until the last weekend to win the doubles. The pair recorded a 1,348 to beat Billings' Michelle and Frank Calley, who turned in a 1,341 total.
Next year the tourney will be held at Bigfork, and state board members are looking for ways to draw more participation and interest in the event.
Here are the rest of last week's honor scores from around the region:
Little's Lanes
Women's scores
Teacher's Mixed— Sue Harpine 186 +51.
Monday Ladies Classic— Cristy Snider 207.
Casino League— Pam Brendgord 209, Marsha Kummer 222.
Wednesday A.M. Trio— Deb Erwin 203.
A to Z— Janet Huston 201, Vera Holtom 181 +55, Veronica Myre 194 +62.
Mix Masters— Kristen Dehn 231, 245, 215 - 691, Sally Callery 213, Doris Kimmerle 213, Barb Lankford 246, 211 - 654, Guyla Streit 216.
725 Classified— Doris Kimmerle 279, 227, 211 - 717, Kristen Dehn 240, 202 - 625.
Classic Trio— Anna Salois 187 +87.
Satellite Mixed— Patti Byrn 171 +59, Connie Dickman 223, Bobbi Olguin 201.
Men's scores
Senior Citizens— Roger Deitz 227, Pat Terry 204, Bill Claassen 201, Dennis Smrdel 222, Marv Aune 210, Steve Lyczewski 228, Dave Shadrick 233, Leonard Buls 225.
Teacher's Mixed— Charlie Compton 229.
Casino League— Roger Deitz (sr) 236, 213, John Dixon 259, 236 - 690, Vance Weckworth (sr) 242 - 600, Rod Schwantes 225.
Tuesday Night Mixed— Bernie K. Dickman 246 - 692, Rex Sonsteng 238, 212 +59 - 629 +170.
Little's City— Ross Bartell 255, 269 - 740, Sergio Carrion (sr) 286 - 614, Howard Clodfelter (sr) 216, 279, 204 - 699, Curby Dennis (sr) 205.
Mix Masters— Paul Dehn 236 - 652, Mike Arps 256, Jody Bastas 253, Don White 247, Mike Bowles 237 - 661, Bob Orham (sr) 216, 220, 226 - 662, Steve Howse 237, Lucas Cyr 235, Terry Pearsall 258, 227 - 697, Al Pearsall 238, 236 - 661, Ross Rambo 226, Brian Christianson 247 - 668, Steve Martin 235, Steve Volk 255, Ken Curry 235, Hank Rimkus 226, Mike Brown 232.
725 Classified— Jim Kernaghan (sr) 210, Doug Yates (sr) 221, Fred Sadler (sr) 200, 245 - 601, Ron Corkin 253, 255 - 700, Tom Brendgord (sr) 205, 290 - 677, Mike Carrethers (sr) 237 - 619, Dan Schaaf 234, 278 - 716, Wes Baker (sr) 225, 240 - 641, Al Pearsall (sr) 299 - 624, Ron Underwood 233, Glen Jeffrey III 244, Willie McGee (sr) 222, 232 - 615.
Thursday Night Mixed— Brad Harthun 245, 229 - 664, Doc Shampo 243, Joe Paranteau 268, 247 - 736.
Short Season Trio— Kelly Gilligan 227, Jerry Meredith 219 +50.
Straight-A-Way (PBA Experience) — Willie McGee 225, 245, 237 - 1057 (5),Leonard Peterson (sr) 209, Bruce Hruska 225 - 1018 (5), Mike Judd 1095 (5), Ron Corkin 230, Pat Terry (sr) 211, 204, Jim Pickering (sr) 203, John Brodersen 238, 229 - 1051 (5), Ross Rambo 241, Lucas Cyr 233, 229 - 1008 (5), Jack Hawley 225, Bruce Steffani 268 - 677 (3) 1103 (5), Paul Dehn 230 - 1014 (5).
Satellite Mixed— Matt Harthun 254 - 653, Abe Zigan 238, Bernie K. Dickman 235, Mike Arps 258, Tyler Sidor 201 +50, 202 +51, Lucas Cyr 267 - 655, Mateo Jara 226, Hank Rimkus (sr) 206, Ron Blaquiere (sr) 205,Roy Hensley 202 +54, Andy Schindele 232.
Pro Alley Bowl / Belt
Belt Valley Mixed— Darin Osterman - 193 +50; Jeff Blomgren - 179 +50; Jerry LaPlaunt - 212 +50; Cathy Maki - 157 +45 (sr); Vickie Snyder converted 5-10 split
Jack's Lanes / Fort Benton
Thurs. Nite Men— Tom Willson 235
K-Lines / Rudyard
Women's scores— Amy Huber 5-7 split; Betty Marshal 4-9-10 split; Linda Foster 4-9-10 and 3-10 splits
Men's scores— Gordon Standiford 257-646
Pin & Cue
Women's scores
Monday 535— Linda Michel 234, Chris Dittus 213, Terry Nall 205, Mary Orham 220
Ladies Nite— SueAnn Fenner 227
Wednesday Mixed— Nobi Sirucek 201, Heather Vukasin 203-209-214-626, Jenice Freer 202
Men's scores
Sunday Mixed— Leonard Peterson 222-219-605 (sr.), Barry Fleshman 200 (sr.), Don White 214 (sr.), Jerry Girres 256, Ducky Faler 203 (sr.)
Monday 535— Ken Haugen 216 (sr.), Reid Michel 257-661, Steve Quinby 247-668, MikeBowles 259-231-685, John Kramarich 236, Don White 246-217-210-204-673-877 (4), (sr.), Les Bruner 279, Randy Guill 206-247-638 (sr), Trent Reeve 236, Dan Woodcock 202 (sr.), Ducky Faler 200 (sr.), Bob Orham 211-211-245-667 (sr.), Jay Lewis 256
Wednesday Mixed— Joe Smith 231, Mick Brown 234, J.D. Denning 227, Ducky Faler 224 (sr.), Kevin Hieb 225, Bill Schlosser 269-257-716, George Levandoski 235, Steven Bankhead 203-215 (sr.), Dale Alexander 230-223-625 (sr.), Boomer Bruner 212 (sr.), Arnie Depping 233, Jerry Cross 258, Ducky Faler 6-7-9 split
Black Eagle Lanes / Great Falls
Wicked Wednesday— Mel Raffensberger 326 series (+107)
Black Eagle Bums— Drew Wanner 234, Rich Marten 225, Jack Hawley 223 (+54), Josh Calvert 206 (+51), Chris Greenfield 205 (+65), Ron Simonsen 226
Tuesday 55 Club— Barbara Dower 162 (+56)
Monday Volunteers— Jim Miller 199 (+54), Clinton Houge 190 (+56)-532 (+126)
Snowy Lanes / Lewistown
Women scores
Wed Afternoon Ladies— Jody Hamilton 177(+51)
Wed. Pinetoppers— Pat Hubble 230, Karin Longshore 203
Thursday Seniors— Ellen Baldwin 211-476(104), Sarah Duncan 191(+70)
Thursday Money— Terri Waltari 203
Men scores
Mon. Commercial— Dewey Rosman 253-676, Fred Wood 226, Hanley McGiboney 221(+71), John Nilsen 198(+55)
Mon. Doubles— Rex Coleman 248, Dewey Rosman 229
Tue. Trio— Kevin Raty 201(+78), Mike Monfils 187(+64)-470(+101), Dave Witt 204(+61), Gary Kalin 197(+56)
Tue. Skyliners— Tom Koski 235
Thursday Seniors— Bill Baldwin 245, Chuck Sifert 194(+49)
Thursday Money— Dewey Rosman 276-662, Bill Heath 227-599(140), Eric Swenson 203(+55), Rod Wesselmann 221(+54)
Thursday Merchant— Dean Person 232, Dewey Rosman 226, Jon Larson 216(+70), John McBurney 222(+67)
Sunday Mixed— Dewey Rosman 267, Rex Coleman 256-665, Dean Person 255-651, Tim Anthony 213(+50)
Elks Lanes / Great Falls
Women's scores
Jack & Jill Mixed— Tracy Rigor 213; Heather Dahlman 203(+64); Gwen Tigart 158(+55).
Thursday Seniors— Gloria Pueschel 203(+52); Kathy Murphy 193(+56).
Thursday Ladies— Sharon Feeler 177(+53).
Friday Night Mixed— Barb Baumgartner 236/213/638; Dawn Vernon 202; Judy Twedt 199(+58)Judy Rogers 176(+58).
Early Birds— Roxie Arps 211/200.
Men's scores
Monday Ag League —Larry Howes (sr) 236; Art Schmidt(sr) 212.
Jack & Jill Mixed Monday Night— Steve Vernon 269(+62)/244/226=739(+118); Rod Hackett(sr) 244/236/206—686; Rich Teesdale 240(+65)216—625(+100); Joe Stroup 204(+51); Paul Threlkeld(sr) 203/200; Barry Fields(sr) 201(+56).
Tuesday Nite Mens — Chuck Martin(sr) 257/243/223=723(+135); Bob Standley(sr) 278(+79)223/679; Rex Tanberg(sr) 259; 610; Ken Ferguson(sr) 258/220/206/684; Rod Hackett(sr) 244/610; Josh Lyle 244 Gale Swanson(sr) 240/619; Bill Brown(sr) 235/233/662; Myrle Gollaher(sr) 233; Jerry Ferderer 232; Wayne Maurer 229; Al Ridder 228/225/; Steve Ketterling 227; Dave Woolsey(sr) 222/204/608; Mel Wardell(sr) 213; Vince Geocke(sr) 209204; Larry Veatch(sr) 208; Mike Beggs(sr) 205; Joe Summers(sr) 204; Jack Howard(sr) 204; Mearl Christianson(sr) 201.
Weds. Bull Elks — Randall Reeve 258(+67)/652; Howard Clodfelter(sr) 258(+69)/245/686(+119); Rich Reeve 255; Rod Hackett(sr) 245/206/612; Randy Guill(sr) 249/237/666; Jim Pickering(sr) 240/218/208/666; Scott Rodger 235; Charlie Compton 231; Dave Gifford(sr) 223207/611; Rick Turner 222(+58) Bill Poser(sr) 212/200; Joe Tropilia(sr) 208(+66)/528(+102); Aaron Paul(sr) 203.
Thursday Sr League — Rod Hackett 265/635; Dave Shadrick 249/615; Len Buls 236(+54)/225/221/682(+136); Dave Woolsey 236/224/659(+113); Tony Degele 226/213/205/644; Jim Remsh 225; Mel Kerbs 221(+55); Doc Basta 216; Roger Sherman 213/202; Millard Ketterling 213; Bob Bellaver 207; Don Kuntz 206; Mel Wardell 203/202; Bob Ramsted 203; Harlan Lartch 202; Ken Price 202; Chet Knab 201.
Friday Night Mixed — Steve Vernon 256/658; Robert Smith(sr) 244(+67)/201; Doug Casity(sr) 240(+79)/203/619(+136); Mike Baumgartner 237; Joe Summers(sr) 222; Rex Tanberg(sr) 217.
Early Birds Mixed — Rod Hackett (sr) 212/201; Gary Willits(sr) 248/217/203/668; Chuck Martin(sr) 238/227/649; Ken Beck(sr) 234/205/628; Bob Chesko(sr) 228/216/643(+127); Cory Arps 238; Chuck Bartels 239; Josh Wuertz 198(+50)/553(+109)
Curt Backa, who approved this column, is a Tribune sports and news copy editor and regular kegling distraction. Backa, more of an absentee than a voter, can be reached at 791-6569, 800 438-6600 or e-mailed at cbacka@gftrib.com.