Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 17, 1994                   TAG: 9402170185
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CROWELL BOWLS 300 GAME

Needing one more strike to record his first 300 game, Crowell dropped the ball on his delivery but still managed to knock down all 10 pins and attain perfection Wednesday night at Vinton Bowling Center.

"I dropped the ball, but it went Brooklyn [hit the wrong-side pocket] and carried. I couldn't believe it," said the 26-year-old Roanoker.

Crowell, an auto technician who carries a 184 average in the men's Dogwood League at Vinton, said he was feeling the heat after throwing 11 consecutive strikes.

"Everybody in the house was watching," he said. "It was getting intense. I had never had more than seven [strikes] in a row before."

Crowell's perfect game came in the first game of his league series. He added games of 235 and 213 for a personal-best 748 series.

"I hope it stays with me," said Crowell, whose previous high game was a 258.