By Staff
Mike Carson / Bowling Columnist
May 14, 2002
While the 55th Annual Mississippi State Bowling tournament continues, league action for the 2001-2002 season begins to wind down. Last week the season ending roll-off was held for the Wednesday Night Mixed league with Miller Chiropractic team consisting of Candy Blackmon, Johnnie Blackmon, Sheila Dearman and Arthur Dearman taking home the league championship. Roll-offs slated for this week include the Hucklebuck league, Senior Citizens league, Tuesday Night Mixed league, Bowlerettes league, Queen City league and the Ball &Chain league.
The end of one season means the beginning of another and next week the 2002 Summer League schedule kicks off with the Adult-Jr Baseball league on Monday and Wednesday, the Tuesday Summer Mixed league (4 person teams), the Summer Trio league on Thursday (3 person teams) and the Summer Ball &Chain league (4 person teams). Openings for team and individuals are still available in all leagues. All summer leagues will start at 7 p.m. If you are interested in joining any of these leagues contact Dixie Bowl Lanes, or you may sign up in person at the counter. Summer leagues will hold organizational meetings and begin league competition the same night so try to be at the lanes by 6:45 to enroll.
Competition continues in the Mississippi State Bowling Tournament at Dixie Bowl. My thanks to Austin Bishop and Ryan Satcher of The Meridian Star for their assistance in covering this event. Each Tuesday The Star will run an article featuring the current top ten standings in each event as well as coverage of the preceding weekend's action. Current top ten standings will also be posted at Dixie Bowl Lanes and online at www.bowling100.com
With regular league action winding down we have only a few big scores to report. Paul Samasuck had the top series for the week with a 714 while Leon Fike reeled off a 288 to take the high game. Leon also posted two 700s for the week (703, 704) and Stan Bottorff added a 702. Billie Coleman posted the high game of the week for the ladies with a 236 while Denise Rutledge added a 224 and Kathleen McDaniel carded a 222. Jane Gibson had the high series with a 602.
Finally, we all bid a sad farewell to Candace and Johnnie Blackmon, who will soon be leaving Meridian and moving to Jacksonville, Fl. In the past few years both of these fine people have become an integral part of our bowling community. Johnnie, who posted a local record 36 700 series this season, has served as Secretary of the Queen City league the last two years while establishing himself as one of this area's top bowlers. Candy served this past season as president of the Meridian Y.A.B.A. and has been instrumental in heading up activities relating to our hosting of the State Y.A.B.A. Tournament in June and July.
We will miss them and wish them well in all their future endeavors.