By By Mike Carson / bowling columnist
Oct. 29, 2002
Tournament action returns to Meridian for the next three weekends as the 14th Annual Mississippi State Mixed Tournament makes its home at Dixie Bowl Lanes. Hundreds of bowlers from around the state will converge locally in hopes of taking home the coveted championships in Team and Doubles events. Shift times will be 9 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday of the tournament. Entry forms are available at both Dixie Bowl and NAS McCain Lanes. I encourage all teams in local mixed leagues to take part. We will need your help if we are to realize our goal of 200 Teams. If each mixed team would bowl just once during the tournament, it would go a long way of achieving this goal. Teams may consist of any combination of men and women; doubles must be composed of one man and one woman. If you don't bowl on a mixed team, get together with some of your friends and form a team or two. You may enter up to 30 minutes prior to any shift, but remember that late entries are accepted on a "lanes available" basis.
Entry forms are also available for the 22nd Annual Mississippi State Seniors Bowling Tournament which is slated to take place at Larwil Lanes in Jackson. Last year's championships were held her in Meridian and two of our local bowlers will be attempting to defend their crowns. C.W. "Shine" Gray will be looking to defend his title in the Class A division (70 and above) while C.O. Gray tries to hold on to his Class D (55-59) title. There are five separate divisions with the winner of all but the Class E division receiving a paid entry into the National Seniors Tournament to be held in Reno, Nevada.
Locally, a good time was had by all this past weekend during the Annual Halloween Scotch Doubles Tournament. Congratulations to Leon Fike and Candace Blackmon on an excellent event. I hope to have a list of the winners for you next week.
The guys seem to be in a big of a scoring slump lately while the ladies continue to pile up the numbers. For the second time this season we went a full week with no 700 Series. Kenny Mattson came close to lead the guys with a 699. Congratulations to Bill Jones who took the high game of the week with a career high 276. Bill just missed earning the coveted Century Award by bowling 99 pins over his average. I believe that Andy LeBlanc also reached a career high with a 265 in the Wednesday Night Mixed league.
If you need help guys, you might try asking some of the ladies for assistance. Matar McClinton led the way with a nice 664 series in the Dixie Belles league, including games of 226 and 235. The high game of the week belonged to Shirley Gaines who reeled off nine straight strikes to record a fine 276 game while on her way to a 654. Sue Kirkpatrick checked in with a 244/639 effort and Janie Tisdale pounded the boards for a 226, 222,/627. Other ladies strutting their stuff last week included Debbie Jones (226), Teresa Nance (223), Judy Bounds (222) and Mona McGrane (222). Keep up the good work, ladies. The guys are sure to follow!
Sympathies and condolences are extended to Robert Johnson of the Monday Nighters league following the recent passing of his brother. Our thought and prayers are with you in your time of sorrow.
Don't forget to get those entries in for the State Mixed Tournament. . . until next week. . . Good luck and good bowling.