THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504280167
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Long : 122 lines
Something new in league play is coming next bowling season for the youngsters.
It's called Speed Bowling.
The Young American Bowling Alliance, the sanctioning body for boys and girls in youth tenpins, will set up a new division for Speed Bowling in the 1996-97 season.
It will be a transitional division between bumper bowling and regular youth leagues.
Participants will throw only one ball per frame. ``No more frustrating spare misses for these bowlers,'' says YABA executive director Joe Wilson.
Scoring will be different, too. Double points will be awarded for knocking down the head pin.
Speed Bowling has received rave reviews in test areas, according to Wilson.
It will not be implemented until next season to set up rules and special awards and to work with manufacturers to adapt machinery and scoring software to accommodate the new game.
Says Wilson: ``Coaches can spend more time on teaching young bowlers how to successfully deliver the all-important first ball. And we feel the youngsters will begin to comprehend the game while still having fun. It will help relieve bowler burnout.''
Bowler burnout?
So now we know. It comes from missing spares.
Bowler of the Week honors go to Leslie Livesay, who followed up an outstanding performance in the Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour regional at the Norfolk Naval Air Station with a record-breaking series in the Fun Seekers Tenpin League at Pinboy's of Norfolk.
Livesay had games of 207, 289 and 238 for a 734 series, the ninth highest ever in local league play by a female bowler. Her game wasn't a league record, however, as she posted that earlier this season with 296.
The Portsmouth youngster, who works at the Norfolk center where she bowls, took second-place in the LPBT Regional behind winner Cindy Shea of Springville, N. Y. Livesay won $700.
``I feel great,'' said the 19-year-old Livesay after the tourney. ``I have a lot of confidence now. This is my first year out of the junior bowling league and I thought, `Hey, why not enter and give it everything I've got.' ''
But she had one unpleasant surprise when she learned that she had to pay taxes on her winnings. Bowlers should remember to deduct their tournament expenses when they don't win anything to balance off this ridiculous taxation.
Tenpin topics: Another Portsmouth bowler, Andrea Thorpe, placed ninth and won $315 in the LPBT Regional. Carrie Paisley of Chesapeake was 16th, Regina Cullom of Virginia Beach was 19th and Chesapeake's Pam Westfall was 30th. The local bowlers all were amateur entries. . . . Three more bowlers chalked up perfect games in league play. Kevin Ferguson shot a 12-striker en route to a 770 series in the Southern Comfort League at Indian River. Jeff Harrison had a 300 in his 793 series in the Ball & Chain League at Indian River. Mike Smith fired 300 between games of 235 and 202 for 737 in the Playmates League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . . . David Pribble just missed 300 Club membership with a 299 in the Sunday Nite Mixed League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. He finished with a 686 series. . . . Gary Smith joined the Century Club with his 277 game in the Saturday Classic Mixed League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. He averages 157. In the same league Jeff Keller blasted a 278 single. . . . Fran Sansone's 656 series in the Thursday Nite Mixed League included a 256 game and she came roaring back with 704, her second 700, in the Saturday Nite Live League at Plaza Bowl. . . . Mike Starling's 731 series in the Federal Mixed League at Pinboy's of Norfolk featured a 290 game. . . . In the Tuesday Morning High Rollers loop at Pinboy's of Chesapeake, Teet Cotterell zipped 77 pins over average with a 238 single. . . . Yukie Foley jumped 101 over average with a 203 game in the Senior Social League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . the Poplar Halls League at Indian River. . . . Other big gems of the week: 289 by Jim Marrion and 279 by Dave Umberger in the Friday Finest League at Pinboy's of Western Branch, 290 by Roger Dunaway in the Playmates League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake, 288 by Pat Dineen in the Virginia Beach Commercial League at Plaza Bowl, 279 by John Gardner of the Westside Christian League at Pinboy's of Western Branch, 278 by Jeff White in the Monday Scratch Doubles League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake, 280 by Dean Stephens in the Automotive League at Indian River, 278 by Bill Skillman in the Moose Mixed League at Pinboy's of Western Branch, 289 by Joe Gatling in the Tuesday Men's Commericial at Pinboy's of Western Branch and 279 by Bill Ray in the Sunday Lousy Bowlers League. . . . Floyd Cross notched a 146 triplicate in the Thursday Nite Mixed League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . . . Ray Clifton, who averages only 128, registered a 584 series in the Kings & Queens League at Indian River. . . . In the Primetimers Seniors League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake, Wanda Taylor had a best-ever 398. She averages only 106.
Duckpin data: Local bowlers grabbed four titles in the 64th annual Virginia State Tournament at Bowlarama, which concluded a five-weekend run. Tom Gregory and A.C. Paul shared the men's singles crown with 528. George Smith and Oneil Wynne won men's doubles with 1,021. Dot Smith and Linda Gaines captured women's doubles with 982. The Rabels claimed the team championship with 1,765. Women's singles and all-events both went to Nancy Bageant with 539 and 1,462. Janice and Bobby Jarrell won mixed doubles with 1,034. Other notable local finishes included runner-up honors in women's doubles for Joyce Akers and Dee Peirsol with 956, a third for Wynne in men's all-events with 1,456, a runner-up finish for Wynne and Charlie Wilkinson in men's doubles with 1,005, a second for Gerry Jones and Keith Saunders in mixed doubles with 986 and a runner-up berth for Four L in team play with 1,726. . . . Martha Rush had a record 424 in the Wednesday Morning League. . . . Henry Neal and Denny Jackson were the division winners in the Mary Crabtree Singles League and will bowl off Thursday night for the league championship. . . . Death has claimed Jimmy Dietsch, considered by many as the finest duckpin bowler of all time. The 69-year-old Dietsch, a Baltimore native, had been in failing health since a heart attack six years ago. He was ranked No. 1 seven times and in the top 10 for 22 consecutive seasons and bowled locally on many occasions. . . . A youth world record game of 262 was rolled by 16-year-old Amy Bisson of Newington, Ct. Unbelievably, she had 10 strikes, getting a nine-hit and missing the spare in the third frame and throwing a four on her final pitch. Mark Amy down as the next major female star. She shot a three-game girls record of 567 last year. . . . The 65th annual National Duckpin Tournament will commence on May 6 at Holiday Lanes in Manchester, Ct. It runs through June 4. Sharon Williams of Norfolk finishes up her first term as president of the NDBC and will be a candidate for reelection at the annual congress meeting on May 5. by CNB