THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 29, 1996 TAG: 9609270230
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: AROUND THE ALLEYWAYS
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: 103 lines
Maybe it's a little early for that Christmas present for the bowler who has everything.
But there is something out now that it's unlikely he/she has.
The Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum has come up with a history-of-bowling throw blanket. It is divided into six sections, tracing the game from ancient Egypt in 3200 B.C. to the 1990s.
The blanket measures 50 inches by 60 inches. Produced to help benefit the Hall of Fame, it sells for $39.95 plus $5 for shipping and handling.
To order, just phone 800-966-2695.
The Bowling Hall of Fame, which has 50,000 square feet of exhibits on three levels at its museum in St. Louis, Mo., has lined up most of bowling's colorful history.
A favorite has to be a picture and story of the game's biggest hustler, John ``Count'' Gengler. A top bowler in the 1920s from Luxembourg, Gengler earned his nickname by his regal bearing and the fact that he always appeared in full dress.
It's claimed that he walked into a bowling center one night and stated that he knew the lanes so well he could bowl strikes in the dark. Substantial money was raised to bet against such an achievement.
The lights were turned off after Gengler threw one practice ball. After his first official delivery, the lights were turned back on and he had thrown a strike.
He accomplished the feat again. And again.
This went on until a string of 12 strikes was completed. The Count had achieved perhaps the only perfect game ever rolled in the dark.
Bowler of the Week honors go to Team No. 6 in the 37-team Masters Tenpin League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven.
The four-bowler team shot an area record game of 1,047.
Gil Salang posted a 267, Mitch Phillips had 254, Monty Montgomery rolled 269 and anchor Todd Allred hit 257.
Tenpin topics: Glenn Sheehan came within a wiggle of a perfect game in the Almost Friday League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven, finishing with 299. He struggled afterward with a 147 and then came back with a 200 for a 646 series. Sheehan averaged 190 last season. . . . Also popping a 299 game was Mike Murray, who accomplished the feat in the Thursday Nite Mixed League at Pinboy's at the Beach. Murray had only a 176 average last season. . . . Ada Peterson joined the Century Club with a 226 game in the Ladies Nite Out League at Pinboy's Military. Peterson, a new league bowler, averages 112. . . . The Saturday Classic Mixed League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake is an example of how a properly run league can grow. For the fourth year in a row membership has increased. The league has 30 teams this year. . . . Don Morton slammed a 287 game en route to his 703 series in the Charles Peete League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . . Earl Stutz banged out a 298 game in his 704 series in the Tuesday Men's Commercial League at Pinboy's of Western Branch. In the same circuit Kevin Anderson put together games of 232, 210 and 279 for 721. . . . Dawn Leonard's 232 game helped her to a 617 series in the Thursday Mixed League at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . . . In the Virginia Beach Industrial and Commercial Men's League at Pinboy's at the Beach, Rich Augun blasted a 724 series, including a 274 single. . . . The August/September issue of Bowling magazine features a color photo of Dee Pouttu, an area bowler who is president of the Virginia Women's Bowling Association. A story (first announced in Around the Alleyways) accompanies the photo, detailing how bowling license plates are now available in the state. . . . The open meeting of the Tidewater Women's Bowling Association is Saturday at Pinboy's of Chesapeake at 11 a.m. with free lunch.
Duckpin data: Most bowlers would be exuberant over a 500 series. Charlie Wilkinson popped 501 in the Tidewater Pro League and quickly pointed out he had missed three one-pinners in front of three strikes. ``Could have been much better,'' said Wilkinson. ``But it's my first 500 in quite awhile and that pleases me.'' Wilkinson fired games of 171, 183 and 147. . . . Bob Louk had the unusual experience of leaving the 7-10 on his first pitch in four consecutive frames in the Thursday loop at Bowlarama. Wonder if that is an all-time record? . . . Alice Carlo flipped a flat 93 game in the Monday Morning Mixed League. . . . Robin Driskell reached the 400 barrier exactly in the Stormy Weather League. . . . Jason McCready soared over the 400 barrier in the Victory Youth League with a 150 game in a 410 set. Lee Hoggard followed a 404 with a 378. Brianna Vain, who averages 89, notched a 133 game. . . . Bobby Wetherbee sports a powerful 152 average after four weeks of action in the Industrial League. He also carries a similar average in the Tuesday Majors. He closed out his 191 game in the Industrial the past week with a five-header. . . . Deepest sympathy to Walt Laughon on the death of his father. The elder Laughon was a longtime former director of the Beazley Center and his late wife, Mary, was among the finest women bowlers ever in this area. Alice Durham hit a 150 single in the Thursday Night Ladies League. . . . A fractured right leg (from a softball mishap) didn't keep Ronnie Ketchum off the lanes. He still posted a 389 series in the Industrial League. . . . It's a special occasion when Bill Schepp misses his bowling in the Sunday School League. And one came up the past week. Schepp was married and now bowls to the nickname of Honeymoon. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
AT LEFT: The history-of-bowling throw blanket is divided into six
sections, tracing the game from ancient Egypt in 3200 B.C. to the
1990s.
Photo
AT RIGHT: Dapper Count Gengler could bowl strikes in the dark.
Gengler earned his nickname by his regal bearing and the fact that
he always appeared in full dress. by CNB