By By Mike Carson / bowling columnist
Sept. 9, 2003
The 2003-04 season is off and rolling and local bowlers are making sure that it is getting off to a good start.
The second full week of competition saw bowlers getting into the swing of things with Tyrone McAlpine leading the charge with the first 300 game of the season, and M.A. Copeland pounding out his third 700 Series in less than two weeks. Proving that dynamite does come in small packages, Judy Bounds had a tremendous week for the ladies with a couple of big series.
The week began with Allen Byrd cranking out his first career 700 during action in the Queen City league. The next nigh John Lott started off the second game of the Ball &Chain league with a spare, then strung eleven strikes to finish with a 290 game. Moments later, Tyrone finished off his second game with his twelfth strike, giving him his fifth career perfect game and the young season's first. He ended the night with a nice 715 series. At the same time, Judy went on a roll herself and recorded a big 259 game while on her way to a 600 series. Not to be outdone, husband Rodney Bounds strung out some strikes of his own before ending the nigh with the week's high series with a 725. Ron Coleman has also gotten off to a hot start, punching out a 266 but came up just short of the walking stick number with a 696.
Monday night's Hucklebuck league saw M.A. Copeland reel off a 709 set, giving him a "7" in three different leagues. Also that nigh, two teams strutted their stuff with big team games. The Wrangler Furniture team cranked out an 1163 scratch game only to find the Mr. Discount team edge past them with an 1185. In the Bowlerettes league, Denise Rutledge was the star of the night with a 222 game. Wednesday night it was Judy's turn to shine for a second time as she recorded the week's high series for the ladies with a 661, including a 236 game. Mike Cothern started the nigh off hot and finished with a 691 for the night.
Other big scorers for the week included Keith Fike, Eric Embrey, Bill Fike, Robert Jenkins, Leon Fike, Andrew Clayton, Clark Ramsey, Don Sabella, Dick Jentoft, Don McKee and Marty McMullen, all of whom recorded games in the 250s. And I don't want to leave out Robert Brown who scattered pins for a 265. Barbara Holden checked in with a 236 game and Nita Fike added a 223 to round out the scoring leaders for the ladies.
The 2nd Annual Doubles Handicap tournament concluded last Monday. Final results showed a total of 502 teams and a First Place prize of $5120. Thank you to all the local bowlers who participated, several of them many times. A complete listing of the prize list and final standings are posted at Dixie Bowl Lanes or may be found online at www.bowling100.com.
The Saturday Morning junior leagues are set to begin this Saturday, Sept. 13. Parents, we need your children to take part in our junior program. They are the future of our sport. If they can't make it Saturday, then our Wednesday afternoon program is an ideal alternative. Help build our future by getting your children involved.
It was good the see the Northwood Ladies league get back in action this week. I was sorry to learn of the passing of Dorothy (Dot) Price, who was one of the original members of the league. Our sympathies and prayers are extended to her family.
That's all for this week. Until next week . . . Good luck and good bowling.