Published: April 23, 2009 12:14 am      

Smith perfect using friend’s ball

Troy Smith scored 640/300 on the Cheeta pattern in the PBA Experience League at White Oak Lanes on Friday night, April 17. Trying a friend’s bowling ball on the previous game, he then rolled the perfect game using that ball.

Mike Brobst bowled 760/280 and the top score in the PBA Experience League followed by Derek Yates’ 643/236 and Smith’s 640/300.

The area’s top score for the week was a 771/279, rolled by Bob Greene at Wilson Lanes. Brett Stenberg was next high at that center, scoring 742/248.

Troy Smith was also the scoring leader in the normal leagues at White Oaks, posting a 735/258 in the Industrial League. Butch Young’s 707/266 was next high.

Troy Cubbage rolled a big 280 game and 731 set for the high at The Bowler. Mike Oyer followed bowling 706/246.

John Leptic Jr. scored 699/241 for Sherwood’s high for the week, followed by Jason Clark’s 680/259.

Ernie Davis and C.P. Sines were highest of the Rainbow bowlers, rolling 650/234 and 648/232 respectively.

Autumn Gable was the area’s top lady bowler for the week, scoring a big 278 game and 628 set at White Oak Lanes. Melyssa Leasure’s 613/212 was next high at that center.

Crystal Uhl’s 624/238 was highest of the ladies at The Bowler. Dawn House was next, rolling 580/206.

Rainbow’s top lady for the week was Sandy Hott, who bowled 588/223. Dolly Sharpless was next, rolling 558/222.

Pat Gwizdale scored 554/247 for the ladies’ high at Wilson Lanes. Sandra Whittaker was next, rolling 535/221.

Pam Brasky’s 466/169 and Tanya Ritchey’s 450/193 were the top ladies’ scores at Sherwood Lanes.

Ray Ross scored 588/200 for the senior high at The Bowler and Kay Dewy rolled 511/225 in the Monday Seniors League at White Oak Lanes.

The area’s top youth bowler for the week was Ryan Keifer who rolled 652/268 at The Bowler. Larissa Blizzard bowled 615/212 at White Oak Lanes. Michael Bane’s 577/205 was the youth high at Rainbow Lanes and youth Randy Knieriem rolled 517/178 at Sherwood.

Many bowling leagues are completing their seasons during the next couple of weeks; some are already complete. Summer leagues are forming and I would suggest that they are an excellent way to experiment in order to improve your game. Summer bowling is usually less expensive so more practice is affordable and hopefully that will also improve your game.

Two-handed bowling is starting to be a serious contender on the PBA Tour and it will certainly be considered at local levels as well. Summer practice sessions are a good way to determine if you could benefit from a more radical change in delivery. I plan to give it a try — will report on it later (much later).

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.