By By Mike Carson / bowling columnist
Oct. 22, 2002
After one weekend off, the activity picks up again Saturday and Sunday when the 3rd Annual Halloween Scotch Doubles will take place at Dixie Bowl Lanes. Shifts will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. with an entry fee of $10 per person. In this unique format, partners are decided in a luck of the draw with a "high" average bowler being paired with a "low" average bowler just prior to bowling. The lead-off bowler will throw the first ball in a frame and the anchor bowler will deliver the second ball. Should the lead-off bowler make a strike, the anchor will deliver the first ball of the next frame. All proceeds from this event will go to benefit our local youth bowlers so come on Saturday and Sunday and enjoy the fun.
Next weekend will see the beginning of the 14th Annual Mississippi State Mixed Tournament, named for former Dixie Bowl manager as the George Steingruber Memorial and sponsored by the Mississippi Bowling Council. As in the city tournament, teams may consist of any combination of men and women while doubles must include one man and one woman. The goal of this year's tournament is to feature 200 teams. In order to do this, we need the cooperation of our local bowlers. The tournament runs three weekends so if each mixed team would enter just once, this would go a long way of reaching this goal. Don't bowl in a mixed league? Then put together a team and come take part. Let's go bowlers! Let's all get together and help make this year's tournament the largest ever held in Mississippi.
Entry forms are available for the 22nd Annual Mississippi State Seniors Bowling Tournament which is open to all ABC members 50 and over. This year's event will be held at Larwil Lanes in Jackson. There are five separate average divisions, with all but the Class E champions receiving a paid entry in the National Seniors Tournament in Reno, Nevada.
In local action, Mike Cothern continues to hold a hot hand in posting the high series of the week with a 717. Rodney Bounds was a close second last week with a 715, Andrew Clayton added a 709 and Jim Broderick, Jr. rounded out the top scorers with a 703. Several bowlers tied for the high game of 279 including Rodney Bounds, Billy Priester, William Allen and Larry Mann. Only one 600 series to report for the ladies as Pat James recorded a 621, but several big games were bowled led by Candy "Little Dynamite" Blackmon who posted a nice 258 game. Sue Kirkpatrick made the board twice with games of 221 and 235 and Shirley Gaines fired a nice 236. Crissy Bonner punched out a fine 226, and, if I am not mistaken, this is her career high game Karen Mattson pounded the pins for a 225, Janie Tisdale added a 222 and Barbara Holden rounded out the top scorers with a 221.
On the junior circuit, congratulations to Josh Coleman who pounded out games of 242, 202, 229 for a nice 673 series in the Wednesday Fun Time Doubles.
Wouldn't you know it . . . Just as I wrote last week of the MBA Strike Pot's climb over the $300 mark, William Allen stepped in and broke the bank during action in Friday night's Ball &Chain league. William pocketed $323 for his efforts and the jackpot was reset to $100 last Monday. So far, it hasn't been broke, but maybe I shouldn't say that!
Finally we all extend our condolences to long time bowler Richard Belvin on the passing of his father last week. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.