Randy Thompson’s In the Zone column: A summer of bowling

Whew!! The NRV SuperBowl has concluded a great summer of bowling.

The summer included league bowling, entertaining youth, hosting the Virginia State Open Bowling Tournament, and the 2012 Subway Commonwealth Games produced what many would believe should earn a well-deserved rest.

While that may be true, the local center is ready for what promises to be a fall season of league bowling that is unmatched in this part of the state.

However, I will focus this week’s column on the end of the summer league season. There were many outstanding performances in the final weeks of the season. I will also salute the top performances of the season.

The Thursday No-Tap League had a trio of superb performances on Aug. 9. As a reminder, the no-tap format  means you are credited with a strike if your first shot in each frame knocks down at least nine pins. It is not as easy as it sounds to knock nine down.

Brian Johnson and Rawlin Jefferson did not have a problem – as each of them recorded a 300 game. Steve Martin barely missed joining the exclusive club as he registered a 297 game.

The top female scores for the week were turned in by Pamela Sola, Tena Price and Deana Hancock.  Special recognition goes to Jeanette Webb with the third highest scratch game and the high handicap series.

There were six 300 games for the season with Johnson and Jefferson (sounds like a law firm) being joined by Jerry Linkous, Steve Martin, Carl Bishop and Mike Phillips.

Another of the fun niche formats this summer was the Crazy 8 League (where 8 pins or more on the first ball results in credit for a strike.)

On Aug. 8, Warren Coats, who is one of the best senior bowlers and a super pleasant competitor, rolled a 300 game. Len Attisano joined Coats with an identical perfect score.

A mother/daughter duo of Gerri and Tiffany Mohler paced the ladies for the weekly league. Local Hall of Fame bowler Joann Britt rounded out the high scoring trio.

For the season to date, 300 games were turned in by Roy Jones (just like the boxer of the same name, he must have had delivered quite a punch that day), Bob Taylor, Brian Atkinson, Don Sowers, Oliver Edwards, Don Compton, Cecil Sowers,  Pam Thurman, Coats and Attisano.

Anna Farley and Barbara Hundley-Sowers nearly cracked the 300 barrier as they had high games of 297 and 294 respectively.

The Tuesday Summer League has concluded its session with Jerry Linkous, Nick Norton and Travis Foutz finishing with the high games among the men. Linkous’ 279 game was the top mark while Norton’s 267 game was a single pin higher than Foutz.

The Tuesday Coffee League, which continues to grow in numbers of competitors for the 10:30 am start, ended their last week of the season with Darrell Bandy having the high game. Brian Atkinson and Jack Smith followed Bandy at the top of the leaderboard.

Scottie Smith paced the ladies with her 215 game. Brittney Sulloway and Evelyn Wilson both had games above 190 to grab the next two spots.

Now is the time to begin thinking about fall leagues. The NRV SuperBowl is still accepting bowlers and teams for all the leagues.

With leagues in morning, afternoon and evening, the SuperBowl has an opportunity for all its league bowlers. Additionally, they are forming a Beginners League, which sounds like a lot of fun for those who always have wanted to compete  in a league with their friends and family.

It’s good to get back into the “swing of things” with fall bowling.  I would like to thank everyone who has said a kind word or two about this column.  I look to a great year.

Until next week, good bowling to everyone!!

-Randy Thompson, special to The Burgs

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