THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605250162
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Around the Alleyways
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: 160 lines
Whopping averages, including an all-time area record in men's tenpins, are sported by the All-Metro bowlers for the 1995-96 season.
For the eighth consecutive year, the men's tenpin leader has changed. Bobby Thompson of Virginia Beach climbed into the No. 1 position, unseating last year's champion, Chris Baron.
The other three pacesetters from last season, women's tenpinner Fran Sansone and duckpinners Donnie Long and Kendra Allen, continue atop the rankings.
There were a lot of changes in the top 10 of all divisions, however. And the top spot in men's tenpins seems to be a really elusive position.
Jon Stites led in 1994. In 1993, it was David Cupp. Rich Finnigan headed the field in 1992. Cupp won in '91. Gil Brown was the leader in the 1990 season and Mike Luck was No. 1 in the 1989 rankings.
Sansone, from Norfolk, has clearly shown she is in a class of her own in the women's tenpin division. This is her sixth No. 1 ranking in seven years.
In men's duckpins, Long is a three-time leader. The Chesapeake bowler also won the area crown in 1990. Allen, a Portsmouth youngster competing in adult leagues for the first time, was No. 1 a year ago as a youth league bowler.
TENPINS
MEN
In many years past, a 200 average was good enough for top ranking. This year, it took combined averages of 213 in all leagues for bowlers even to crack into the top 10. This year's overall averages for All-Metro bowlers are an all-time high.
Only three of last year's top 10 ranked bowlers managed to hold spots on the two All-Metro squads.
Thompson set an area record with an overall 222 for two leagues. At 208 last year in his return to the lanes after a long absence, he was unranked. In the early 1980s, Thompson, 45 next month, carried the best average in the area. Until last year, he was away from bowling for eight years.
``I'm just an old dog trying to keep up with the young pups,'' said Thompson. ``I really think back in the old days when I carried 210, I was a better bowler than I am now.''
Baron won last year with an overall 215 and tumbled to the honorable-mentions this season, despite a 216 in one league.
The runner-up berth went to Larry Martinez at 220. Martinez had league marks of 221 and 219. Steadily climbing, he was seventh last year and an honorable mention in 1994.
John Confalone grabbed the No. 3 position with a 217 composite for four leagues. He carried 224 in his best league, 220 in another. Confalone boosted his average from 205 from a year ago when he was unranked.
Also at 217 overall, Rodney Waterfield placed fourth. Waterfield maintained a 222 in one league, 220 in another. Showing the high scoring this year, Waterfield slipped a notch from his third ranking last year despite improving his average by three pins.
Bumm Beach took fifth, the same position he held last season. One of the area's most active bowlers, Beach had an overall 216 for seven leagues. He maintained a torrid 225 in one, 221 in another.
Rick Phillips, who has moved out of the area, and George Ensor headed the second unit with composite 215s. Phillips had 218 in his best league. With a four-league 208, he was not ranked last year.
Ensor had four league averages ranking from 213 to 217. He moved up from last year's honorable mentions.
At 214, Stites placed eighth. His three-league total included a 217. He also advanced from last year's honorable mention list.
Todd Allred, another seven league participant, finished in ninth place. Allred's overall 214 average included 222 in one league and 210 in his worst. He was an honorable mention last year and ranked No. 2 the previous season.
Tenth place went to Mark Tarkington, a single-league participant with a 217 average. Tarkington was up from 197 last year.
The honorable mentions, ranging from 214 to 211 overall, included Ed Pitcavage, Andy Vuckovich, Gil Salang, Bob Shesler, Thomas Linton, Ken Shick, Philip Penny, David Cupp, Mike Smith, Brett Williams, Robert Huryn, Pat Dineen, Jeff Harrison, Rusty Martin, Anthony Petrello, Mark Starling and Baron. Without enough games to qualify was Gary Riggins, who had part-time averages of 227 and 209.
WOMEN
The premier woman bowler in the area for the fifth straight year, Sansone had an overall average of 197. She sported a 207 average in one league, matching her best achievement of 1995.
Sansone managed to edge out a new challenger in runner-up Renita Rock. A year ago, Rock was a single pin shy of qualifying for the honorable mention list with an overall 183. This season, she had a single-league 197.
Consistent Andrea Thorpe captured the No. 3 position for the second year in a row, averaging 193. The previous two years, Thorpe was ranked fourth.
Teri Jeske placed fourth with a four-league 190. She averaged 196 in one league and 193 in another. With four leagues in the 170s last year, she was unranked.
Rising star Leslie Livesay, 20, claimed the fifth spot with an overall 190. She posted league marks of 193, 192 and 185.
The second unit was topped by Monica Bauserman and Gina Forehand at 189. Bauserman moved to sixth from last year's honorable mention category. Forehand had 194 in her best league but was hampered by a 183 in another.
Beth Bulko, not ranked last year at 180, boosted her average to 187 in taking eighth place.
There was a tie for the final two berths on the second team between Nancy Stalcup and Kathy Sartain at 186. Stalcup, unranked last year, raised her average from 178. Sartain is a newcomer to the rankings.
The honorable mention list included bowlers with overall averages between 183 and 185. In this group were Dawn Leonard, Bonnie Smith, Lori Lawson, Monique Dill, Joyce Wright, Regina Cullom and Sheri Zanke. Two of the area's finest, Carrie Paisley and Carolyn Cotterell, did not have enough games to qualify.
DUCKPINS
MEN
Although his overall average of 142 for two leagues was slightly under his efforts from a year ago, Long was pushed by only one bowler for top honors.
Long had high average in both leagues in which he competed, carrying a 143.19 in the Tidewater Pro League for the area's best single mark.
A year ago, Long had 145 and 143 for his two leagues.
David Campbell, also carrying a 142, vaulted into the runner-up spot. Campbell was unranked last year. He tied for eighth two years and was 10th the two previous seasons.
Returning to the lanes a few years ago after an early bowling career in which he was among the nation's leading bowlers, Joe Rabel zipped into the No. 3 position at 140. Rabel was sixth at 137 last year and an honorable mention in 1994.
Larry Cubilla was fourth at 139. He held the same ranking last year with a 138 average.
At 138, Bobby Wetherbee took the fifth position. He also was fifth a year ago in his first ranking, averaging 137.
An overall 137 gave Tiger Baker the sixth spot. Baker was ranked second last year and No. 1 two years ago.
Walter Laughon, another former No. 1 ranked bowler, was seventh. Laughon had a two-league 135. He was on last year's honorable mention list and was seventh in 1994.
Seventh went to Oneil Wynne at 134. Wynne, another oldtimer who was ranked nationally in earlier years, moved up from the honorable mentions.
Eighth, also at 134 and a leader in three of the four leagues in which he competed, was Raymond Askew. Askew moved up a notch from 10th a year ago.
Also at 134 were Jimmy Boswell and Wilton Drury. Ninth went to Boswell, who had 136 in his best league. Drury claimed 10th with 135 and 133 averages. Drury was ranked ninth last year and Boswell, who missed part of last season with knee surgery, was an honorable mention.
The honorable mentions included Tim Hux, David Driskell, Keith Saunders and Alan Angevine.
WOMEN
Allen compiled averages of 132 and 131 in repeating as the top-ranked woman bowler. She was down slightly from the previous year's 134 overall mark.
In 1993 and 1994, she was ranked No. 2 while competing in the youth league.
Willie Sraver was a holdover in the No. 2 position with a pair of 126 averages. Her overall average increased two pins, however. Sraver was third two years ago and fourth in '93.
Lynette Narciso, fourth last year, advanced into the third spot with averages of 126 and 125. She continues to climb as she was fifth in 1994.
The No. 4 position was captured by Mary Underwood. Underwood had averages of 125 and 123, actually better than the overall 121 that placed her third last season.
The other first-team berth went to Lynne Harris at 121. A perennial All-Metro, Harris also was fifth last year. She was fourth in 1994.
Martha Rush, with an overall 119, repeated in the No. 6 spot. She edged Leeanne Harris, who was not ranked a year ago.
Sharon Thoms, another newcomer to the rankings, finished seventh at 116.
The other second-unit members all had overall 115 averages - Georgia Dingle, Joanna Cubilla and Robin Driskell. Dingle was unranked last year. Cubilla was ranked ninth. Driskell retained her No. 10 ranking.
The honorable mentions were headed by Christy Mattern, who moved away in mid-season, and Gerry Jones. Also on the honorable mention list were Jane Atwood, Rae Angevine, Marilyn Meath, Hope Shull and Wanda Strawderman. MEMO: This is the final Around the Alleyways column of the season. by CNB