Published: January 25, 2009 12:32 am      

Nickleson tops area again with 764 series

Shane Nickleson rolled the week’s top score of 764/279 at White Oak Lanes. Jack Hendershot was next high, scoring at White Oaks scoring 689/235.

Bob Greene was highest at Wilson Lanes posting 752/279 and 749/257 in Thursday’s Men’s Trio and Doubles Leagues. Tom McDonald bowled 715/279.

At the Bowler, Mat McKenzie’s 734/279 was the top mark. Scott Brant followed rolling 684/258.

Dave Simmons scored 725/268 at Par-Matt Lanes for that center’s high for the week. Tim Chapman’s 688/238 was next high. Jay Tressler and Chad Mellinger rolled their first 600’s during the week.

Rodney Helsley’s 678/267 was the high for the week at Rainbow Lanes. Brian Jose’s 651/247 was next.

In the PBA Experience League at White Oaks, JM Sites was highest, rolling 731/247. Mike Brobst and Don Green were next, rolling 673/262 and 598/212, respectively. Felicia Deremer scored 524/190.

Stephanie Edwards was the area’s top lady bowler scoring a big 246 game and 677 set at The Bowler. Dawn House rolled a big game, a 245 in her 641 set.

Michele Hitchens’ 603/224 was the ladies’ high at White Oaks. Melyssa Leasure was next rolling 561/218. Lois Natolly scored a big 240 game.

Billie Jo Baker’s 567/195 was highest of the Par-Matt ladies. Mary Liller’s 552/190 was next high.

Pam Brinkman scored 566/224 for the ladies’ high at Rainbow Lanes. Lou Dille’s 548/202 was next high at that center.

Janine Buff rolled 541/219 for the ladies’ high at Wilson Lanes followed by Patsy Gwizdale’s 525/199.

Anna Durst and Tanya Ritchey were the top lady bowlers at Sherwood Lanes. Durst bowled 533/191 and Ritchey rolled 505/183.

Darrell Boatman was the area’s top senior bowler for the week rolling 613/232 in Antique Seniors League at The Bowler. Bill Middleton rolled 569/232 at White Oak Lanes.

Youth bowler Tyler Mansfield bowled a 741/259 at Rainbow Lanes. Ben Russell rolled 596/209 at Sherwood. Shawn Bennett scored 588/204 at Par-Matt. Amanda Greene bowled 586/237 at Wilson’s. Larissa Blizzard scored 578/209 at White Oaks and Michael Hendrickson rolled 516/204 at The Bowler.

We are all well aware of the effect on scoring that open frames cause. For right-handed bowlers the ten pin spare shot is apparently the most difficult. Why should this single pin spare be so difficult to convert?

Part of the answer is mental. The bowler is upset over the fact that a pocket hit did not strike that his focus is not adequate. Another part of the answer is that the bowler uses a hooking ball that will never strike the ten pin because it will either go in the channel or else miss on the inside of the ten pin.

Your best chance of making that spare is to position yourself as far left on the approach as you can and then throw straight at the pin. In other words, give yourself the largest possible target area for hitting the pin. Learn to throw that hooking ball straight or else get a plastic spare ball, have it label drilled and then practice, practice and more practice.

Good luck bowling and have fun striking out!

Howard “Pete” Peterson is the bowling columnist for the Times-News. He can be reached at petesbowling@atlanticbb.net.