THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 2, 1995 TAG: 9503310243
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
The 64th annual Virginia State Duckpin Tournament is under way at Bowlarama for a five-weekend run.
In an effort to increase the participation this year, no pre-registration is being required as in past tournaments. Walk-in bowlers will be accepted.
This is the oldest continuous bowling tournament in the state.
Opening weekend action produced three local leaders - in men's doubles, mixed doubles and four-bowler teams.
Oneil Wynne banged out a scratch 519 series, pairing with George Smith for the doubles lead with a handicap total of 1,021. Wynne rolled games of 177, 169 and 173.
Gerry Jones and Keith Saunders grabbed the lead in mixed doubles with 986.
The Wash team topped the four-bowler category with 1,708.
Other pacesetters included Nancy Bageant in women's singles with 539, Donald Miller in men's singles with 509 and Beverly Hoh and Bageant in women's doubles with 930.
The tournament continues through April 23.
Bowler of the Week honors go to Joe Rabel, who rolled the highest game of his long duckpin bowling career with a 229 in the Tidewater Pro League at Bowlarama.
Ranked among the top bowlers in the nation nearly four decades ago, Rabel returned to league competition a few years ago after a lengthy stint on the sidelines. In 1993, he showed his old form with a 204 game.
``I've never had a game with seven strikes before and nothing close to the 229,'' he said. He had nine marks, including a game-opening four header and a triple strike. He also converted one split.
He finished with a 485 series.
``But you never know what's going to happen in this game,'' he added. ``Two weeks ago, I had a flat 89.''
Tenpin topics: Two bowlers in the Pinboy's Classic League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake missed out on 300 games on their final pitch. Roger Dunaway closed with a 6 for 296 in a 758 series. Robert Price had a 7-hit for 297 in a 687 series. . . . Shot of the week: the 7-10 conversion by Dave Johnson in the Grif/Han League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . . Eleven-year-old Steven Vadnais, who averages 147 in the Junior League at Pinboy's of Military, walloped a 276 game and 661 series. . . . Carwell Gardner joined the Century Club with his 279 game in the Cosmopolitan League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. Gardner, who had a 670 series, averages only 149. . . . In the Screwballs League, Peter Wellman gained Century Club honors with a 272. He averages 154. In the same league, Linda Dozier rolled a 276 single in her 599. . . . Mike Johnson, a 161-average bowler in the Monday Nite Mixed League at Pinboy's of Military, had the thrill of hitting his first 600 with 604. . . . Dan McKnight gained 700 Club membership with games of 243, 226 and 241 for 710 in the Cosmopolitan League. . . . Trae Cummings pitched an award-winning 298 in the Monday Scratch Doubles League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . . . Louis Simonic soared 205 pins over average with his 730 series, which included a 263 game, in the Pioneer Mixed League at Pinboy's at the Beach. . . . Fine 289 games were rolled by Ken Gorman in the Poplar Halls League at Indian River and Tom Brown in the Pinboy's Classic loop. . . . All-spare games in the Charles Peete League at Pinboy's of Norfolk were notched by Bobby Dizon (178) and Nancy Riddick (184). In the Commercial League at the same center, George Bennett had an all-spare 177. . . . Leslie Livesay returned to action after a back injury and promptly pitched a 636 in the Charles Peete League. In the same loop, Darlene Pace had her first 600 with 607. . . . Tommy Tuttle, a frequent participant in regional professional bowling tournaments in this area in bygone years, was inducted into the ABC Hall of Fame in the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev. Tuttle still calls King, N.C., home.
Duckpin data: Death claimed two more of the area's longtime bowlers. Lyn Monell, 71, died last Sunday. She was a regular in the Monday Morning Mixed League at Victory Lanes. One day earlier Leo Hamilton, 65, passed away. Hamilton participated in two leagues before he was sidelined by illness. And when he was unable to bowl, he still came to the center to watch son, Billy Joe, compete. . . . Youth league bowlers went on a rampage. In the Bowlarama Youth League, Daniel Anderson, who averages 108, hurled a 457 series and James Truelock, who averages 105, shot 408. In the Victory Youth League, Kendra Allen registered a 179 game and 440 series, and 9-year-old Michelle Sims, who averages 65, came up with a 105 game. . . . Sylvia Hart fashioned a 167 game in the Monday Morning Mixed League. Linda Lauer, who averages 99 in the same league, followed a flat 90 with a 150 game. . . . In the Wednesday VPA Doubles League, Jane Atwood converted the 4-5-7-10 and Butch Warren picked up the 1-7-8-9. In the same circuit, Van Malone, who averages 110, heaved a 408 series. . . . Mike Price fired a 188 game en route to his 466 in the Naval Shipyard League. . . . The third round of the 21 Tournament at Victory Lanes resumes today with the field chasing frontrunners Wes Garriott and David Driskell. by CNB