By By Mike Carson/Bowling Columnist
Feb. 12, 2002
Your local city tournaments are upon you. Yes, bowlers, the Meridian Bowling Association and the Meridian Women's Bowling Association annual city championship tournaments begin this weekend. For the first time, both the men and ladies will be holding their respective championships at the same time. Entries are now closed for the ladies. Schedules are posted at Dixie Bowl. Be sure to look them over so you will know when you bowl. Remember, check-in is thirty minutes prior to shift time so be sure to arrive on time. If you need to make any changes contact Phyllis Clay.
As for the men, while reserved entries are now closed, you can still enter any squad up to 45 minutes prior to the start of each shift. Those of you who have not submitted your entries need to get on the ball. Last minute entries will not be guaranteed, so don't put off your entry. Contact Jeff Gaines or Ken Miller and get your entries in ASAP!
Also remember that entry forms are available for both the men's and women's state tournaments. The ladies will travel to Rivergate Lanes in Natchez. Your entry deadline is Wednesday, March 6. As with the city tournament, entries received after this date will not be accepted. The tournament begins April 6 and runs each weekend through June 16. The guys will stay at home since Dixie Bowl is the host for this year's championship.
Reserve entries close at midnight, April 4. Good local participation is needed to help make this tournament a success. Meridian already holds the record for hosting the largest tournament, established the last time the event was held here in 1994. Dixie Bowl manager M.A. Copeland is hoping to surpass that mark and urges all local bowlers to participate.
In local action this week Alan Terral came oh-so-close to perfection when he connected for 11 straight strikes before coming up just short on the 12th ball to end with a 298 during action in the Hucklebuck League. Terral also recorded the week's high series with a 764. Congratulations Alan!
J.R. Phillips hung a seven pin in the first frame and then went on to string the next 11 strikes to record a 290, while Mike Cothern connected on his first 10 before finishing with a 289. Cothern also added a 279 game to the mix. Curtis Rutledge and Johnnie Blackmon each pounded out a 280 game while Randell Palmer came close to imitating teammate Bob Timms' performance the week before when he recorded not one, but two 278s. Other big numbers this week included Johnnie Blackmon (758, 724), Robby Relinski (744), Mike Cothern (724), Mike Holcomb (737), and Tim Van Doren (727). Billy Priester completed the rare triplicate by pounding out three 202s in the Hucklebuck League.
There was no lack of excitement for the ladies. Teresa Young not only reached the 200 plateau for the first time, but she did it in a big way by recording a nice 245 to lead all the ladies this week.
Shirley Gaines punched out a 231, Debbie Jones stayed hot with a 223 while Rhonda Covington and Janice Kasper each recorded a 220. Sue Kirkpatrick took the high series with a 610 effort and Dana Carson rounded out the top scorers with a 601. Josh Coleman led the juniors with a fine 227/616 performance in the Wednesday Fun Time league.