Bowling season doesn't start 'til Michel throws a 300

by Curt Backa

9-16-2008

Early season 300 games are becoming the norm for Reid Michel.

For the second time in his career, Michel registered the first perfect game of the season in Great Falls.

Michel, bowling in the Bull Elks League at the Elks, tossed his third career 300 last Wednesday.

Five years ago, Michel also registered the first perfect game of the season, and just last year tossed his second early in the 2007-08 season.

"I was just as nervous on the last ball as the other 300s," said the smooth-stroking lefthander. "All 12 were right in the pocket.

"It was a a good shot most of the night. If you threw it a little tight it would hold. If you went a little wide it would break back in."

Michel's 300 was the last of the evening and he started out with a 247 then backtracked to a 171 to finish with a 718.

·  Good news, the Belt bowling vagabonds can return home.

Pro Alley Bowl is back open and ready for business.

"Yes sir, it feels better than good to be open," said owner Tony Wall.

The lanes have been out of commission for the last two seasons while Wall tried to incorporate some new machines that he purchased from Townsend.

The job, frankly, turned into a bigger project than Wall had expected and he did the best thing — he went looking for help.

"I looked on the Internet and found Shem Bowl out of Madison, Wisconsin," said Wall. "They were the only ones who returned my call."

By luck, the company which usually doesn't refurbish lanes in the West, had a job in Gillette, Wyo.

"While they were in Gillette, they said they would also refurbish ours," said Wall. "It took 2 1/2 days and one mechanic had everything up and aligned.

"There are still some little problems, but we are up and running."

Plus, the lanes now have automatic scorekeepers.

"Strike 12 helped me out with those," said Wall.

So far, Wall has had plenty of opening bowling and the Belt Valley Mixed and Highwood Mixed are both scheduled to use the lanes for league play this season."

The Belt mixed league has bowled at Murph's the last two seasons.

And the seniors will lead us.

Hank Rimkus turned in the top series last week for the men.

Rimkus bowling in the Sunday Satellite Mixed at Little's reeled off games of 225, 267 and 229 for a 721 series.

Also, deserving a few kudos is Bruce Steffani, who tossed a five-game total of 1,186 in Little's Straight-A-Way. Steffani's set included games of 267 and a pair of 245s and the former USA Team member averaged a lofty 237 on the night.

Doris Kimmerle registered the high score for the women with a 627 set in the MixMasters at Little's. Her set was highlighted by a solid 267 game.

Michel's 300 and 718 led the week at the Elks, while Barb Baumgartner was high for the women. Baumgartner, in the Early Birds, rolled a 233 game and 611 series.

Pin & Cue's highs were Bob Orham for the men and Terri Nall for the women.

Orham, bowling in the Monday 535, went 238 and 245 for a 687 three-game set. Nall, also in the 535, turned in a 223 game and a 582 series.

Drew Wanner, bowling in the new Tuesday Night Handicap League at Black Eagle, carried the week with a 224 game and 621 series.

And at Murph's, Gary Tomes deserves a mention after a 259 game and 693 series in the Christian Intramural.

Next week, details on the upcoming John Willey Memorial and the new scratch tourney for women, the Magic City Ladies Classic.

Curt Backa, quickly approaching senior status, is a Tribune news and sports copy editor and resident kegling addict. Backa, when not searching for Sarah Pahlin look-a-like glasses, can be reached at 791-6569, 800 438-6600 or e-mailed at cbacka@greatfallstribune.com

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

Little's Lanes / Great Falls

Women's scores

Little's Seniors— Tina Buls 207, Shirley Christianson 211, Dorothy Vukasin 192 (+53)

Monday Ladies Classic— Laurie Ueland 201, Cristy Snider 203, Tammy Cady 211-205; Toni Westermeyer 229, Nancy Swanson 216, Jackie Wines 207

Tuesday Afternoon Trio— Max Frank 220

Casino League— Pam Brendgord 204

Tuesday Mixed— Laurie Ueland 201

A to Z— Margie Hillyard made the 6-7-10 split

MixMasters— Doris Kimmerle 267-627, Barb Lankford 237

725 Classified — Doris Kimmerle 209, Kristen Dehn 211-225-624, Jackie Graham 201

Thursday Mixed— Sarah K. Bernier 202, Anetta Baldwin 200, Kathy Chaney 200

Straight-A-Way— Guyla Streit 205

Satellite Mixed— Jackie Graham 202, Nadine Symons 193 (+65)

Men's scores

Little's Seniors— Jim Pickering 213-213-210-636, Dick Gipe 201, Al Decker 206, Roger Deitz 204, Chuck Dailey 215-204-609, Leonard Buls 220-203, Dan Ruff 209

Teachers Mixed— Kyle Grossman 264

Casino League— Roger Deitz 212 (sr.)

Tuesday Night Mixed— Bernie K. Dickman 236-267-701, Greg Tierney made the 2-7-10 split

Little's City— Andy Anderson 230, Ron Fleming 235, Frank Blaney 235, Steve Krattiger 230, Brian Lee 241-659

MixMasters — Jim Svir 231, Jody Bastas 226, Brian Brown 232-257-692, Mark Hewitt 228, Mike Bowles 254-254-714, Tarl Dixon 238, Pat Terry 234, Bob Jackson 244, Don White 234, Steve Volk 248, Brian Lee 244-650, Bruce Hruska 225, Steve Howse 244, Bob Orham 232, Ross Rambo 232, Ryan Moody 245

725 Classified— Wes Baker 224 (sr.), Pat Terry 204 (sr.), Al Pearsall 213 (sr.), Jim Kernaghan 203 (sr.), Mike Carrethers 222 (sr.), Bob Orham 255-621 (sr.), Carl Conte 200 (sr.), Fred Sadler 225, Ron Underwood 231

Thursday Night Mixed— Dan Wilkerson 241-214-647 (sr.), Fred Berry 208 (sr.)

Straight-A-Way— Bruce Steffani 245-267-245-1,186 (5), Lynn Taskila 212 (sr.), Willie McGee 222-209 (sr.), Pat Terry 206-212-210-208 (sr.), Bruce Hruska 237-276-1,052 (5), Jim Pickering 209-244 (sr.), Bob Orham 201-221 (sr.)

Satellite Mixed— Roy Hensley 206 (+55), Steve Volk 269, Mike Byrn 216 (+62), Hank Rimkus 225-267-229-721, Lucas Cyr 265-226-666, Kyle Grossman 243, Bernie K. Dickman 247-230-676

Snowy Lanes / Lewistown

Women's scores

Tuesday Skyliners— Karin Longshore 203

Wednesday Afternoon Ladies— Carol Strander 203

Wednesday Pinetoppers— Karin Longshore 205

Men's scores

Commercial— Travis Jaynes 234

Thursday Seniors— Chuck Sifert 223

Thursday Money— Dewey Rosman 225

Thursday Merchant— Rex Coleman 235-650, Dewey Rosman 234

Sunday Mixed— Rex Coleman 254-743

Elks Lanes / Great Falls

Women's scores

Jack & Jill— Tracy Rigor 203

Thursday Seniors— Carol Martin 179 (+59)

Thursday Ladies— Tracy Rigor 201, Lauretta Gifford 191, Angi Brown 132 (+50)

Friday Mixed— Barb Baumgartner 257, Jeri Bartels 237, Linda Summers 219, Jean Ostlie 219-200-609 (+123), Nobi Sirucek 202-196 (sr.), Bert Gresham 183 (+64)

Early Birds— Barb Baumgartner 233-611, Carol Tigart 190(+71)-483 (+126), Kally Hasenkrug 160 (+56)

Men's scores

Jack & Jill— Dave Gifford 268-205-202-675 (sr.), Steve Vernon 243-236-235-714, Bernie Dickman 225, Rod Hackett 200 (sr.)

Tuesday Men— Mike Beggs 269-660, Shane Brown 268-234-662, Bob Rioux 250-245-709, Aaron Paul 241, Ken Ferguson 203-202 (sr.) Jim Dixon 238-234-232-704, Jake Jacobs 233, Rex Tanberg 232-211-602 (sr.), Gale Swanson 209-203 (sr.), Lee LeVeque 204 (sr.)

Bull Elks— Reid Michel 247-300-718, Charlie Compton 257-225-657, Dave Keil 256-239-695, Bill Poser 242-203-605 (sr.), Don White 234, Jarrett Toeynes 233, Darwin Reeve 224 (sr.), Chuck Dailey 220-213-626 (+110), Jim Pickering 216 (sr.), Rod Hackett 216 (sr.), Randy Guill 214 (sr.), Dave Shadrick 211 (sr.), Aaron Paul 211 (sr.), Dave Gifford 210 (sr.), Ken Ferguson 205-201 (sr.), Bob Dickenson 204 (sr.)

Thursday Seniors— Chuck Dailey 243, Dave Shadrick 214-214-605, Bill Zacher 222-535 (+112), Aaron Paul 214, Jim Krommendyk 208, Bob Bellaver 206, Darwin Reeve 201-200, Dave Woolsey 201, Dick Newman 548 (+101)

Friday Mixed— Steve Vernon 236, Robert Smith 216 (sr.), Jerry Emerson 214 (+66), Vince Goecke 298, Alvin Bartels 165 (+58), Josh Lyle 224 (+57), Stephen Bush 221 (+55), Jim Dick 179 (+50)-488 (+101)

Early Birds— Chuck Martin 256-601 (sr.), Mike Baumgartner 243, Ken Beck 204 (sr.), Bob Standley 209-205-604 (sr.) Vern Durand 203 (sr.)

Pin & Cue / Great Falls

Women's scores

Monday 535— Terri Nall 223, Nobi Sirucek 203

Ladies Nite Out— Teresa Solomon 233

Wednesday Mixed— Holly Vukasin 203

Morning Glories— Barb Bredeson 201, Rose Ulery made the 5-10 and 5-7 splits

MFCU — Jackie Undem 202-202

Friday Mixed— Lori Reinhart 210-210

Men's scores

Sunday Mixed— Earl Rife 205 (sr.), Jerry Ferderer 213

Monday 535— Chuck Lull 226-233-614 (sr.), K.C. Watson III 246-235-650, Mike Bowles 205-212-247 (sr.), Bob Orham 204-238-245-687, Les Bruner 239-230-668, John Kramarich 229, Don White 228-220-641 (sr.), George Levandoski 277-660, Randy Guill 200-204-204-216-608 (sr.)

Wednesday Mixed— Kevin Hieb 226, Charles Keltz 203 (sr.)

MFCU — Dan McIlvaney 239, Steve Edwards 227

Friday Night Mixed— Mick Brown 202 (sr.), Charlie Pepos 214 (sr.), Bill Sybrant 221-211, Leonard McNee 207 (sr.), Joe Konesky 201 (sr.)

Black Eagle Lanes / Great Falls

Tuesday Men's Handicap— Drew Wanner 224-(+67)-215(+58)-621 (+150), Rich Marten 222 (+77)-197 (+57)-579 (+144), Ron Rose 216 (+65), Larry Debolt 209 (+53), Ken Huston 207 (+70)-195 (+58)-563 (+152), Joe Davie 202 (+51)

Golden Seniors— Louise Saltz 182

Murph's / Great Falls

Christian Intramural— Del Erickson 208 (sr.), Gary Tomes 225-259-693

Aces High / Malmstrom

Thursday Mixed— Jerry Rangistch 235-208-624 (sr.), Jeannette Laird 211, George Garber 224 (sr.), Tim Warden 623 (+119), Mandy Haumschild 393 series (+126), Charlie David 191 (+85)