THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603160116
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Around the Alleyways
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Are bowlers and stock car racing fans one and the same?
The directors of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America obviously think so. A cross promotion involving bowling and NASCAR is planned.
At the outset of the fall bowling season, the promotion will start - providing a bowler two or three games plus a choice of a high-quality NASCAR jacket featuring five drivers. At present the suggested retail price is $9.95.
The five drivers are Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and Terry LeBonte.
The BPAA's test promotions around the country drew an average of 50 bowlers at each of the centers.
Bowler of the Week honors go to Joe Robey, only a 134-average bowler in the Sunday Night Mixed Tenpin League at Pinboy's of Western Branch.
Robey had never bowled a 600 series or even a 200 game before exploding for games of 222 and 270 in the front and back of a 114 struggle.
His 606 series closed out with a game 136 pins over his average.
Tenpin topics: Teatta Confalone pitched a women's record 697 in the St. Pius Mixed League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . . Barbara Lakey slammed a 246 game en route to her 604 series in the Pinboy's Saturday Classic Mixed League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . . . Mike Schropp registered a 287 in the Virginia Beach Industrial and Commercial at Pinboy's at the Beach. . . . Lynn Burger broke the 650 barrier for the first time, hitting 656 in the Thursday league at Pinboy's of Military. . . . Area bowlers are showing their usual generosity in support of area charities with benefit tournaments in progress at several area centers. . . . Danny Brooke socked a 263 game in his 638 series in the Saturday Youth League at Indian River. Krissy Kelly, a 140-average bowler in the same league, notched a 553 series. . . . Stewart Brown qualified for the Century Club with his 276 game in the TGIF League. He averages 168 in this league. . . . Ernie Jones became a Century Clubber with his 256 in the Tuesday Night Mixed at Pinboy's of Western Branch. Jones has a 154 average. Ditto Gary Lester in the Moonlighters League at the same center. Lester averages 134 and flipped a 247. . . . Leah Henry, who is 9 years old and averages 35, popped a 93 game in the Big/Little League. . . . Joyce Webster is taking bows for a 249 game in the Federal Mixed League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . . Brian Bapties soared 100 pins over with his 275 game in the Tuesday Lousy Bowlers League at Pinboy's at the Beach. . . . A 285 game helped James Gifford to his 699 series in the Tuesday Night Mixed League at Pinboy's of Western Branch. . . . Richard Griffin whacked a 277 game in the Military Doubles League at Pinboy's of Military. . . . Rusty Terwilliger's 768 series in the Tuesday Men's Commercial League at Pinboy's of Western Branch included a 279 closing game. . . . At the same center in Friday's Finest Rusty Martin heaved a 277 in his 755 series. . . . Robbie Smith came up with a nifty 287 single in the Industrial League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . Bowling Center. . . . The American Bowling Congress reports ABC has retained its ranking as the world's largest sports membership organization with a membership exceeding 2 1/2 million. . . . Believe it or not: there are 49 bowling centers in the country with only two lanes.
Duckpin data: Walt Laughon won the Virginia Pro Tour's March tournament at Bowlarama, defeating Richmond's Buddy Creamer in the final. David Driskell finished third. One observer asked Laughon how it felt to beat the state's premier bowler. ``Listen,'' said Laughon, ``I'm not sure that Creamer isn't the best bowler in the country.'' . . . In the Wayne Pack Memorial Match Play Tournament Ronnie Ketchum walked off with the $600 top prize. He also defeated Creamer in the finals. Charlie Rinker was third and Tommy Sheets finished fourth. . . . Christy Mattern is moving out of the area and closed out her bowling season with a 183 game and 454 series in her last outing in the Tuesday Major Trio League at Bowlarama. . . . In the Independent Loafers League Gerry Jones fired a 182 game in a 401 series. . . . Leoma Mehalic had her first 400 of the season with 402 in the Thursday Night Ladies League. . . School League, finishing at 193. ``It took 20 years for the first 200,'' said Williams. ``I didn't figure on getting two in the same season.'' . . . Bo Butler just missed joining the 200 Club with his 199 game in a 439 series in the Tuesday Major Trio League. . . . In the Monday Elimination Doubles League Kate Didio became the latest bowling casualty. She had a finger on her left hand bruised badly when she was hit by a returning ball while picking up another ball off the rack. . . . The Portsmouth Match Game championship went to Fred Genera. There were 17 in the 64-bowler field with averages higher than Genera, a 121-average bowler, but he swept though six matches without a loss. He defeated Robin Long in the final. Long averages only 108. . . . Rebecca Ashe converted the 2-7-8-10 for a spare in the Victory Youth League. In the same league Brandon Long, who averages 110, had a 148 game and Jason Smith, with a 100 average, rolled a 140. . . . Michael Tuckey, with a 113 average, had his first 400 of the season in the Naval Shipyard League. . . . The Virginia State Tournament runs through the end of the month. Leaders prior to this weekend's competition were Miriam Pugh in women's singles (538), Dick Long in men's singles (473), Mary Proffitt and Kay Eary in women's doubles with 907, Jay Proffitt and Jimmy Coiner in men's doubles with 936, Martha Rush and Don Ferguson in mixed doubles with 1,013 and the Lucky Stars in the team division with 1,685. by CNB