
DATE: Sunday, September 21, 1997            TAG: 9709190336

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 17   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY GABI CHAPMAN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   44 lines

KELLAM JUNIOR BENEFITS FROM SWITCH IN SPORTS

Phillip Craddock was an all-star pitcher and a soccer player in Virginia Beach four years ago. One night, Craddock took a break from the great outdoors and went bowling with his dad.

It was just an innocent father-son outing, but Craddock discovered that he really liked bowling. In fact, Craddock liked it so much, he immediately traded his baseball cleats for bowling shoes. Apparently, Craddock chose the right sport. Last year, he placed second in the district at the Coca Cola Classic.

``He bowled a 672. He was nine pins from qualifying first,'' said Craddock's dad, Douglas. ``That was kind of neat, too. He bowled in the morning, and then we flew out in the afternoon to see his grandmother.''

Last week, Craddock, 16, bowled 209, 222 and 254 for a 683 series at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven. He credits hard work and practice for improving his bowling average.

``When I started, I was averaging 119,'' Craddock said. ``I usually bowl 15-20 games a week.''

For the future, the straight-A student says he plans to study marine biology or business in college. He also would like to make the Professional Bowlers Association tour. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Graphic

PHILLIP CRADDOCK

Age: 16

Residence: Virginia Beach

Occupation: Student (junior at Kellam High)

Bowling center: Pinboy's of Lynnhaven

Current average: 207

Best score ever: 279

Best series ever: 698

Ball: Columbia 300 Primal Rage, 15 pounds

Bowling highlight: Watching a fellow competitor bowl a perfect

300 during the Coca Cola Classic in 1996