THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601260222
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Around the Alleyways
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Long : 132 lines
It was a big week for the area's oldest and youngest league bowlers.
Robert Gay was honored by the Seniors Friendship Tenpin League at Pinboy's of Western Branch as the 80 bowlers celebrated his 95th birthday.
T. J. Eckman bowled the highest series in his - if you want to call it such - career. He rolled games of 25, 76 and 56 for a 157 series.
Not bad for a lad with a 25 average. And just 3 years old.
After helping devour a huge birthday cake recognizing him as ``Tidewater's oldest league bowler,'' Gay recalled his first venture in bowling - at the age of 79.
``The Chesapeake Senior Citizens started this league and there were 30 of us,'' said Gay. ``I'm the only one still living.
``I was a hunter and a fisherman. One time I had 15 dogs out in Isle of Wight County. But when I wasn't able to hunt and fish much anymore I was looking for some other activity. Bowling is perfect.''
A Portsmouth native born on Jan. 21, 1901, Gay still resides in his hometown. He chauffers himself to the Chesapeake bowling center. In fact, just before his birthday he had his driver's license renewed for six years.
``When you're my age, you're a very careful driver,'' he explained. ``If there was an accident the first thing you would hear is that man is too old to drive.''
Gay's current bowling average is 100. His season high is a 129 game and a 364 series. But just a year ago, he bowled a 212 game.
``The difference now is that I had to do away with my 14-pound ball,'' fussed Gay. ``I have to throw a 10-pound ball and I want to raise it up and loft it instead of putting it out on the lane. But I'm gonna conquer it.''
A demonstrative bowler, Gay gives a rebel yell whenever he throws a strike.
His teammate, Gerald Eavey, says nobody has more fun than Gay.
``And we've got last place in the league locked up already,'' added Eavey.
Helping celebrate Gay's birthday were his son, grandchildren and two great-grandchildren visiting from Fort Worth, Texas.
The first time T. J. Eckman went bowling, the Norfolk youngster tripped over the approach step onto the lane and busted his chin on the ball.
But being a real trouper and a true lover of the sport, he went to get his cut stitched up and immediately returned to the lane to finish up his game.
That was when T. J. was only 2.
Now a crafty veteran of the game and believed to be the youngest league bowler in the area, the 3-year-old has no memory of the mishap nearly half his life ago.
Probably because he spends so much time working on his game.
You have to remember - he is only 3 and we're not talking about bumper bowling here.
When T. J. started bowling in the Prep Superstars Tenpin League out of the Norfolk Naval Base, he had a 15-game average. A 10-pin increase since September is pretty good for such a novice.
T. J. started using a six-pound ball and is now up to an eight-pounder - a ball nearly a fourth his body weight.
``He loves to go every Saturday with his brother and sister,'' mom Clara Eckman said. ``His uncle in Pennsylvania just bowled his first 300 and all of us bowl all the time.''
And yes, T. J. uses two hands when he bowls.
Bowler of the Week honors go to Fran Sansone, who blasted her third 700 series of the season with a blistering 744 in the Friday's Finest Tenpin League at Pinboy's of Western Branch.
Sansone was just three pins shy of her personal best, shot in the 1991-92 season at the now defunct Plaza Bowl.
She backed up games of 225, 249 and 270.
Tenpin topics: Winners were crowned in the Tidewater Young America Bowling Alliance Invitational Tournament at Franklin Bowl. The tourney features the premier bowlers in the TYABA and drew a field of 69. John Glasgow, the Junior Boys champion, was the standout with games of 235, 257 and 233 for a scratch 725 series. His handicap 778 also was the tournament high. Other champions: Sara Barber, Bantam Girls, 651; Brandon Gregory, Bantam Boys, 656; Michelle Abrames, Prep Girls, 717; Eric Miller, Prep Boys, 723; Marylynn Jansak, Junior Girls, 740; Missy Windes, Major-Senior Girls, 691; and Danny Tepovich, Major-Senior Boys, 722. Tepovich rolled a scratch 660 series with games of 211, 212 and 237. Awards were presented to winners Saturday in a program at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . . . The Tidewater Women's Bowling Association Championship opens a three-weekend run next Sunday at Pinboy's at the Beach and Pinboy's of Lynnhaven. The Norfolk Bowling Association tourney begins Saturday, Feb. 10. . . . Chuck Vogt pitched a 300 game in the Midnight Madness Marathon, a 15-game event at Pinboy's of Western Branch. The scratch winner of the marathon was Randy Weiss. Shawn Warren captured the handicap title and George Murphy was the Seniors winner. . . . Robert Casey joined the Triplicate Club with a trio of 181 games in the Saturday Classic Mixed League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . . . Ross House Jr. registered a 299 game in his 713 series in the Tuesday Commercial/Divisional League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. The 194-average bowler joined the Century Club. . . . Bob Kulenguski's 290 game powered him to a 705 series in the Tuesday Men's Commercial League at Pinboy's of Western Branch. . . . Clifford French fired a 280 single in the N&C Mixed League at Indian River. . . . Ann Baudry had a century-award winner with her 256 in the Pioneer Mixed League at Pinboy's at the Beach. Baudry averages 146. Another Century Club addition was Chris Kohl, who averages 167 and banged out a 267 in the Friday Mixers League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . same center in the Pinboy's Falcons League. . . . Maybe the best sign posted in an area center belongs to the Lynnhaven Junior Mixed League. They tagged up a rate schedule which reads: Answers, $1.00; Answers which require thought, $2; Correct answers, $4; Dumb looks, still free. . . . Mike Aulby and Tish Johnson were picked as Bowlers of the Year by the Bowling Writers Association of America. Anne Marie Duggan, who bowled locally several years ago, was runner-up as the top female bowler. Tommy Evans was chosen as Senior Bowler of the Year.
Duckpin data: Barbara Turner brought a rod and reel with her when she competed in the Monday Nite Ladies League at Victory Lanes. Quipped a bowler in another league: ``I hear they're really biting on lanes 15 and 16.'' . . . Troy Tippin came up four pins shy of the league record series with his 433 in the Friday Nite Trio League. In the same league, Billy Mitchell, who averages 103, pitched a 161 game. . . . Chet Carpenito, a 91-average shooter, whacked a 148 game in the Wednesday Morning Mixed League. . . . Mary Underwood followed a 170 game and 434 series in the Monday Nite Ladies League with a 160 game and 426 set in the Tuesday Nite Mixed League. . . . The Portsmouth Match Game Tournament takes a break today for the Super Bowl and action resumes Feb. 4. . . . Rachael Schumacher, who averages 88, posted an 89 triplicate in the Victory Youth League. . . . Ask Herb Ripley how he managed to knock down only the 5, 8 and 9 pins on a first pitch in the Industrial League? This leaves a V set-up for the spare shot. . . . Oneil Wynne chalked up a 177 game en route to his 477 series in the Tuesday Major Trio League. . . . Rick Lieberman had the unusual experience of throwing a strike and being sidelined for several weeks on the same delivery. His back went out. . . . Georgia Dingle's 383 set in the Thursday Mixed League featured a 162 single. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
T.J. Eckman is believed to be the area's youngest bowler.
Robert Gay celebrated his 95th birthday by bowling in the Seniors
Friendship Tenpin League at Pinboy's of Western Branch.
by CNB