THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 5, 1997 TAG: 9701030280
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Around the Alleyways
SOURCE: BY MICHELLE SCHLOFF, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 66 lines
Shawn Warren of Virginia Beach wasn't baking Christmas cookies over the holidays, but he was rolling in the dough.
Warren set the high series record of 816 at Pinboy's of Western Branch in the Tuesday Mens Commercial League with games of 246, 270, and 300 on Dec. 17.
Warren's scores were so good that Santa Claus, in the form of Pinboy's of Western Branch, visited Warren to deliver him a check for more than $800 for the high series and perfect game.
``I spent all of my money on Christmas presents,'' said Warren. ``It sure did help out.''
Warren's series broke the record of 814 shared by Dave Umberger and Mark Tarkington. Both set their series records last year.
The record setting frame was a bit of a nail-bitter for Warren and his teammates.
``A pin came around and knocked the 4-pin down late,'' said Warren. ``It didn't look like it was going to go down at first, but it did. Yeah, I was a little worried watching it go.''
The crowd that gathered around Warren wasn't surprised that he made the record.
``He threw three good balls,'' said Steve Sook, the center manager. ``Some guys would get real lax on that last ball, but he didn't. I watched the tenth frame with everyone else and he did just fine.''
Not only did Warren set the serious record, but he also rolled a perfect game.
``That was my fourth 300 game,'' said Warren. ``I bowled two at Indian River Lanes and the other two here. Only two of them were sanctioned. It was really neat.''
Although he considers Western Branch his home lanes, Warren also frequents Indian River Lanes where he bowls in the Big Chiefs league.
Bowler of the Week: Richard Griffin of the TGIF league at Pinboy's of Chesapeake is this week's bowler of the week. Griffin's 300 game was the only one besides Warren's which was reported over the holidays.
Tenpin tidbits: Gill Salang came close to the big one when he rolled a 299 in the Saturday Charles Peete League at Pinboy's of Norfolk ... Brian Lidgette put together a 769 series in the Masters League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven ... Rodney Waterfield whacked a 718 series in the Friday Screwballs and a 712 in the Charles Peete League at Pinboy's of Norfolk ... Terry Klos notched a 287, almost a 100 pin improvement over a beginning-of-the-season average of 187 in the Ford Mixed at Indian River Lanes ... ... Ronnie Schindler soared to a 735 series in the Tuesday Splitters at Pinboy's of Military...Ross Wheatley rolled a 758 in the Indian River Commercial League at Indian River Lanes ... Ray Williams smashed a 298 game in the Monday mixers at Pinboy's of Chesapeake.
Duckpin data: Donnie Long rolled a 178 game in the Tidewater Pro League at Bowlarama ... Long also rolled a 441 series, which was matched by Alan Angivine, also of Tidewater Pro ... Tiger Baker put a few pins in the oven when he rolled a 467 in the Tidewater Pro...For the ladies at Bowlarama, Willie Sraver blasted a 420 in the Tidewater Pro.
Bowling note: A retirement luncheon in honor of longtime bowling columnist and sports writer Bill Leffler will be on Jan. 20 at noon at the Holiday Inn Portside in conjunction with the Portsmouth Sports Club. Anyone interested in attending the luncheon should contact Jackie Taylor at 399-7951 (day) no later than Jan. 13. Tickets are $7.
All weekly bowling notes and scores should be submitted by mail or faxed to 533-9004 no later than Wednesday at noon. All scores received after noon will not appear in the Sunday paper.