THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604190254
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 27 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Long : 125 lines
Bowlarama in Norfolk will be the site of the National Duckpin Youth Championship June 21-23. Local youngsters really responded to the opportunity of getting a chance for a national title in the home area.
Only state champions advance to the National finals.
All of the qualifiers from the Virginia State Youth Tournament, held on April 13-14 at Victory Lanes, are area bowlers.
The rest of the state was blanked. Bowlarama gained three of the fourth berths. Victory Lanes won the other.
There is no National competition for the Pee Wees. But Bowlarama bowlers also captured this state title in the tourney at Portsmouth.
Bowlarama's Pee Wees (6 years and under) had a 1,405 total. Team members included Cathy Flusche, Brian Flusche, Ashley Lindenmuth, Bobbi Covell and Josh Covell.
Victory Lanes was runner-up with 1,340.
In the Prep Division (7-9) Bowlarama had a winning score of 2,069. Plaza of Richmond was second with 1,996. The Bowlarama squad included Matthew Sheets, Mia Mitchell, David Hooper, Aimee Miller and Billy Crook.
The Victory Lanes Jokers won the Bantam (10-12) title with 2,106. Another Victory team, the Circle, finished second and the Keglers of Charlottesville were third.
The Jokers consisted of Adam Perez, Tommy Ragland, Don Ferguson, Brittany Long and Ashley Johnson. Perez paced the win with 350.
Bowlarama Going Places won the Junior (13-15) championship with 2,167, posting a 25-pin edge over the runner-up Victory Lanes Jays. Team members were Shawn Meador, Bobby Coley, Theresa Meador, Jennifer Dollar and Molly Clemons.
The Bowlarama Dream Team was the Major (16-21) winner with a total of 2,173. Boot Scooters of Plaza Bowl in Richmond was runner-up and two Victory Lanes teams, the Blast and the Broncos, tied for third.
Dream Team members were Shawn Meador, Bobby Coley, Daniel Anderson, Jennifer Breedon and Charlie Gower. Coley rolled a 453 series, his highest ever, and won a $100 savings bond for high game and set among boys in the tournament. April Simpson of Victory Lanes won the $100 savings bond offered for girls.
The Striker's Scratch Tour, which will hold a monthly tenpin tournament at five area centers, has been organized.
If a pilot program is successful, an around-the-season tour will be set up for a September start. Both men and women can compete.
The first Striker's tourney was held at Pinboy's of Military last week. Without much fanfare, it attracted 26 of the premier bowlers in the area.
George Ensor won the inaugural tournament, defeating Jon Stites in the final, 238-235. Glen Tribble finished third, Ed Pitcavage was fourth and Michael Smith placed fifth. Ensor pocketed $270 for his championship.
Stites led the five-game qualifying round with 1,259. That's a blistering 252 average. During the three-game semifinals, Stites rolled a 300 game to gain the top-seeded berth in the finals. Pitcavage also shot a 300 game in an 803 series.
Ensor, who had a 298 in qualifying, was seeded second in the finals. He defeated Tribble, 224-171, to advance to the title match.
Next up will be a May 4 tournament at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven.
Tournaments will follow on May 25 at Pinboy's of Norfolk, June 22 at Pinboy's of York and July 6 at Pinboy's of Western Branch.
The directors are Gary and Edra Riggins. The Rigginses are newcomers to the area. Gary already has established himself as one of the premier bowlers here. Joining two leagues at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven in February, Gary now sports a 226 average in the Masters League and 210 in the Virginia Beach Schools League.
``We're from Seattle,'' said Riggins. ``My wife is on temporary duty here with the federal goverment so we probably will not be here too long. But we have this type of tour in Seattle and I am trying to set one up for the top bowlers here.''
If the summer tour is successful and becomes a full season competition for 1996-97, Riggins plans to reward the early participants. ``There will be an annual membership fee of $25 for next year but any bowlers who participate in these summer tours will be exempt from that fee,'' said Riggins.
Each tournament has a 10:30 a.m. check-in with bowling starting at noon. Qualifying consists of five games across 10 lanes. One of every three entries (16 bowlers based on 48 or more entries) advance to the semifinals. Bowlers then roll three head-to-head matches with the winner of each match receiving 30 bonus pins.
The five high scorers qualify for the finals, competing in a television-type stepladder format.
With 50 entries, the tour is guaranteeing $300 to the champion and prizes ranging down to $65 for 16th place. There will be one prize for every three entries.
There are no average requirements to enter but it's a nonhandicap tournament. Bowlers must have current ABC or WIBC cards. For information about the tour, contact Riggins at 631-1584.
Bowler of the Week honors are shared by a pair of 300 game shooters.
Kevin Ferguson pitched his 12 striker in the Big Chiefs Tenpin League at Indian River, finishing with a 715 series.
Bobby Buck opened with a 300 en route to his 705 series in the Men's Industrial Tenpin League at Pinboy's of Norfolk.
Tenpin topics: Renaldo Edmonds of Portsmouth won the Mid-Atlantic Scratch Bowlers Association tour at Petersburg. Runner-up was Sean Ealey of Smithfield. Two other local bowlers were among the top finishers, with Marc Daniels of Virginia Beach taking fifth and Malcolm Foust of Portsmouth placing sixth. The top series by a female entry was a five-game 964 by Rhiannen Allen of Virginia Beach. . . . Missing out on 300s on last-ball pitches were Ron Schindler, Russell McGuire and Mike Jacobson, all at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven. Schindler had a 299 in the Masters. McGuire also shot 299 and Jacobson hit 298, both in the Almost Friday League. . . . Bumm Beach opened with a spare and then fired 11 strikes in a row in his 290 in the Tuesday Nite Mixed League at Indian River. Beach had a 720 series. . . . Charlie Durr also fashioned a 290 in the Saturday Classic Mixed League. . . . Bruce Harrison forgot his 154 average and whacked out games of 243, 210 and 198 for a 651 series in the Late Starters League. . . . Monique Dill fired a 256 single in her 651 series in the Monday Nite Mixed League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . . Chuck Gates racked up a 201 triplicate in the Military Doubles at Pinboy's of Military. Partners Robert Huryn and Bud Jacobson paired for a 1,408 team pinfall in the same league. . . . Seniors bowler Mae Turner pitched a 245 game in the AARP Young at Heart League at Pinboy's at the Beach.
Duckpin data: Four-headers were chalked up by Wicky Chiera and Don Ferguson. Chiera shot a 184 game in the Industrial League. Ferguson had a nine-mark 197 in the Elimination Doubles League, a season record in this loop. 302 series. . . . Linda Bauer converted the tough 6-7-10 spare in the Elimination Doubles League. . . . O.D. Mootes walloped a 458 in the Golden Days League. . . . Lucy Barnes notched a 162 game in her 380 series in the Seniors League. . . . Mark Wilkins slammed a 184 game in the Tidewater Pro League. In the same loop, Donnie Long's 492 series backed up steady games of 167, 163 and 162. by CNB