Taking an inside look at this past weekend's tourneys

by Curt Backa

1-5-2010

      

Here are few tidbits from this past weekend's Eagle Beverage-Bud Light Over 40 Singles and 40/90 Doubles.

First, I failed to mention in Monday's story that the stepladder finals of the doubles were competed in the Baker format, with each bowler rolling alternate frames.

That fact makes the championship match — in which Rich Crawford and Rick Perry beat Steve Martin and Paul Dehn 245-244 — pretty remarkable.

Both teams combined for seven strikes over 10 frames, with Dehn and Martin putting together a six bagger over frames three through eight.

Crawford and Perry strung five in a row between the fifth frame and ninth frame.

Both duos had opportunities to put the match away, with Martin ending the strike run with a nine count in the ninth and Crawford going too wide in the first ball in the 10th for a seven count.

Dehn, who unfortunately tossed a six count when he needed eight on his final ball to win the match, threw a perfect ball in the 10th frame that would have won it, but unfortunately left a ringin' 7-pin.

  • On Dehn's six-count in the 10th, I have never heard a bowling facility go so quiet.

    "It was almost like a church," said Little's Don Jordan. "I have not heard a place go so quiet, so fast."

  • Although no 300s were tossed, both tournaments had their share of big games.

    Calgary's Jack Guay led the qualifying in Saturday's singles with a 217-over total of 1,217, good for a 243 average. Guay had games of 267, 258 and a pair of 245 efforts in his five-game set.

    It took almost a 206 average to make the top-24 cut in the singles.

    In the match play, Butte's Mark Hodges fired a 269 game in his semifinal win over eventual champion Ken Curry.

    Curry had the high game of the weekend with a 290 in qualifying.

    In the doubles, Crawford and Perry averaged a blistering 234 each over 14 games in the doubles.

    It took a 210 average to cash in the top eight of the doubles.

  • The longer I know Bruce Steffani, the more I am amazed.

    In Saturday night's match-play round of the singles, Steffani decided to throw a back-up ball to combat the dry conditions the righthanded bowlers were experiencing.

    All Steffani did was average 229 over five games.

    Remarkably, Steffani was able to make his backup ball look like a lefthander's effort, with plenty of break resulting in a perfect angle into the 1-3 pocket.

  • In all, the singles drew 66 bowlers, including reentries. Because of some late injuries, a total of 30 duos were entered in the doubles. Earlier in the week, the doubles were full with 32 teams.

  • Some of the bowlers from this past weekend will be joined by the younger set in the Miller Masters at Sleeping Giant Lanes in Helena this weekend

    Shift times on Saturday are at 9 a.m., 1 and 5 p.m., with six games of qualifying.

    Match play starts at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.

    Phone Sleeping Giant at 442-1004 for more information or to reserve a spot in one of the shifts.

    In action last week, Jock Rodger knocked on the door of a perfect game not once, but twice last Wednesday night during the Bull Elks at the Elks.

    Unfortunately, Rodger was turned back both times but still recorded games of 277, 276 and 240 for a huge 793 series to lead the week.

    Kristen Dehn was high for the women firing a 667 set in the Wednesday Mixmasters at Little's. Dehn's games included a 226 and a 244.

    Roxie Arps led the women at the Elks with a 627 set in the Sunday Early Birds. Arps had games of 224, 202 and 201.

    Paul Dehn led the men at Little's with a 755 series, coming on games of 289, 255 and 209, also in the MixMasters.

    Nathan Beebe led the scores at Black Eagle with a nice 279 game and 620 series in the Black Eagle Bums.

    Curt Backa, who suffered an injury and was put on the IR list before Saturday's Over 40 Singles, is a Tribune sports writer, copy editor and resident kegling fanatic. Backa, who is listed day-to-day — but aren't we all, 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 region:

    Snowy Lanes / Lewistown

    Women's scores

    Tuesday Trio— Arvadel Bodvig 212, Kacey Demars 180(+56)

    • Wednesday Pinetoppers —Karin Longshore 202, Pat Hubble 196(+62), Nicole Tholt 167(+58)

    Men's scores

    Monday Commercial— Fred Wood 233, Ted Campbell 215(+57), Brian Jackson 182(+56)-482(+104)

    Monday Doubles— Rex Coleman 258-676, Dewey Rosman 258

    Tuesday Trio— Bill Heath 224(+76)-605(+161)

    Tuesday Skyliners— Todd Davis 538(+112), Nick Thompson 198(+109)

    Wednesday Doubles— Bill Baumgartner 166(+63)

    Sunday Mixed— Rex Coleman 236, Dean Person 234, Tom Koski 233, Scott Baldwin 214(+74), William Vanhaur 179(+71)

    Little's Lanes / Great Falls

    Women's scores

    Monday Ladies Classic— Chris Tinker 197+55, Jean Fayden 191 +63, Linda Michel 244-614, Marie Walsh 200, Tammy Baber 147 +51, Tracy Eisenbarth 202, Ellie Finlayson 157 +50, Donna Eastwood 158 +54.

    Casino League— Dawn Vernon 209.

    Tuesday Night Mixed— Lisa Voss 202, 228.

    Mix Masters— Barb Lankford 217, 203-607, Kristen Dehn 226, 244-667.

    M.F.C.U.— Heather Helmbrecht 220-602.

    Satellite Mixed— Janice Zigan 211, Connie Dickman 245-635, Jeannette Laird 207, Sabrina Olson 213.

    Men' scores

    Senior Citizens— Wes Martin 223, Leonard Buls 213, Vance Weckworth 212, 246 - 625, Bill Yetter 210, Roy Curtis 202, Dale Sirucek 212, 213, 203-628, Pat Terry 202, 204, Dennis Smrdel 210.\

    Casino League— Vance Weckworth (sr) 205, Steve Vernon 227.

    Little's City— Ron Fleming (sr) 213, Steve Krattiger 266, Dan Barrett (sr) 206, Keith Hayes 235, Jim A. Miller (sr) 203, 216, Ron Nelson 226.

    Mix Masters— Jim Dixon 253, 235-663, Donnie Zuhoski 267, Bob Orham(sr) 210, 225, 233-668, Kenny Volk 228, Paul Dehn 289, 255-755, Mike Arps 238, 244-683, Pat Terry (sr) 236, 211, Chuck Lull (sr) 222, Don Jordan 224 + 57, Mike Bowles (sr) 236, 215-636, Don White 248, Bruce Hruska 236, Joe Levesey Jr. 245, Marlin Cross (sr) 221, Brian Christianson 236-664, Lucas Cyr 256, Charlie Pepos 227, Brian Lee 247-653, Steve Martin 227, 226 -668.

    M.F.C.U.— Steve Edwards 233.

    Satellite Mixed— Bernie K. Dickman 246, 246-650, Jerry Ferderer 234, Matt Harthun 246, Mike Sharp 225, 225, Hank Rimkus (sr) 204, 204, 245-653, Joe Bourne 233, Roy Hensley 211 +68, Norm Miller (sr) 222, Ron Blaquiere (sr) 244, Mike Byrn 228, Jeff Laird 226, 233.

    Elks Lanes / Great Falls

    Men's scores

    Early Birds— Josh Wuertz 243, Chuck Martin 228-225-221-674, Bob Chesko 225-224-640 (sr.), Josh Zuidema 194 (+70), Tyler Hasenkrug 213 (+63)-575 (+125), Ron DeBerry 220 (+61), Ken Beck 213 (+55), Arnold Schlagel 197 (+54)-532 (+103)

    Van's IGA Mixed— Jay Schmidt 234, B.J. Bentley 213 (+81)-514 (+118), Pat Luwe 201 (+57), Brad Hayden 210 (+57)-604 (+145), , Pat Dockter 204 (+56), Dave West 189 (+55),

    Bull Elks— Jock Rodger 277-276-240-793, Dave McGillis 256-225-658, Jake Jacobs 245-633 (+114), Gary Jensen 243-627 (+114), Rich Reeve 237-225-631 (+106), Talbert Bryan 236, Sherm Mills 234, Randy Guill 234-661, Ken Ferguson 233, Bud Hagen 232-553 (+115), Reid Michel 228, Dave Culliton 226, Charlie Compton 226, Jarret Toenyes 226, Dan Rollheiser 225, Fid Fitterer 222-602 (+110), Rich Charlson 219 (sr.), Doc Basta 210 (sr.), Lynn Taskila 209-201 (sr.)

    Jack & Jill Mixed— Daniel Raye 232, Jake Jacobs 228-630 (+123), Coley King 225, Bernie Dickman 222 (+64)-595 (+121), Tom Croskrey 223 (+53), Burt Tschetter 200 (sr.), Ron Miller 214 (sr.)

    Women's scores

    Early Birds— Dawn Vernon 226, Roxie Arps 224-202-201-627, Mary Ann Beck 203-542 (+116), Carol Tigart 181 (+50), Barb Zuidema 186-525 (+102)

    Van's IGA Mixed— Cristy Snider 228, Nancy Wiench 174 (+51)

    Jack & Jill Mixed— Lani Hanning 203.

    Glacier Lanes / Cut Bank

    Sunday Night Mixed— Dawn Barrett 210, Mark Barrett 181 (+50), Jamie Taylor 199 (+50)

    Tuesday Housewives— Amy Rooney 154 (+57)

    Monday Night Ladies— Patricia Boggs 185 (+51), Theresa Robertson 171 (+63)

    Black Eagle Lanes / Great Falls

    Wicked Wednesday— Jannett Larue 193 (+51)

    Tuesday Club 55— Kathy Hill 206

    Monday Volunteers— 194 (+50), Roy Porter 178 (+52)

    Black Eagle Bums— Nathan Beebe 279-620, Dan McIlvaney 202 (+59), Josh Laroque 190 (+57), Drew Wanner 227, Bill Thomas 225, Russ Simonsen 225

    K-Lines / Rudyard

    Women's scores— Linda Foster 209, Barb Snyder 5-10 split; Shirley Kline 3-10 and 5-7 splits; Gaynelle Gatzmier 5-7 split

    Men's scores— Shawn Rettig 232, Pat Foster 233, Dusty Kline 228, Dan Redding 247-629, Dan Hybner 225, Todd Langel 226, Dusty Kline 226-662, Greg Spinler 238, Chris Pappas 236, Gordon Standiford 245