THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 8, 1995 TAG: 9510060220
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Around the Alleyways
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
There's always something unusual happening in bowling centers - from unbelievable spare shots to perfect games. We've had bowlers switching from a right-hand delivery to a left, real turkeys rolled down lanes and even a wedding or two in centers.
But there's never been anything like a recent occurrence at Plainview Bowl on Long Island.
I have no idea how the odds were figured but somebody said the probability of such a feat happening is one in 385,333,333,333. Almost like the chances on hitting the state lottery, huh?
What happened?
Twin brothers Jeff and Jim Lizzo both rolled 300 games in the same league at the same time.
A mathematician figures this might happen ``once every 10 million years.'' Those odds seem even higher to me.
Bob Ernest, sports information director at St. John's University, passed the information on to me. The twins bowled for St. John's in the mid-1980s.
Ernest says it was only fitting that Jim pitched his 12th strike right ahead of his brother ``because he was born six minutes before Jeff.''
But there is one major difference between the look-alike brothers. Jim is a lefthander. Jeff bowls righthanded.
Bowler of the Week honors go to Kendra Allen.
The area's No. 1 ranked female duckpin bowler last year as a youth leaguer, Allen is competing in adult leagues for the first time this season.
In the Monday Nite Ladies League at Victory Lanes, Allen shattered the center record for women with a 500 series.
She backed up games of 131, 190 and 179. She had a double strike in each game with nine marks in the second game and eight in the third.
Allen was named to the youth All-America team the past two years. She sports a blistering 143 average so far this season.
The old Victory Lanes record for women was 486, also belonging to Allen.
Tenpin topics: Sean Johnson and Louis Smith both registered 300 games in the Military Doubles League at Pinboy's Military. Johnson totaled 747 with other games of 245 and 202. Smith hit 717 with his 300 between games of 213 and 204. . . . Philip Penny subbed in the Sunsetters League at Pinboy's of Norfolk and pitched a 300 game. He had the perfecto between game of 196 and 185 for a 681 series. . . . Just missing 300 Club membership was Dave Thompson, who came within a wiggle with his 299 in the Masters League at Pinboy's of Lynnhaven. . . . David Pribble soared 158 pins over average with games of 248, 246 and 243 in the Military Doubles League at Pinboy's Military. League at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . . Fran Sansone walloped a 256 game in a 685 series in the Keglers League at Pinboy's Military. . . . The stepladder finals of the 1995 BPAA Women's U.S. Open was televised Saturday by ESPN. It's the first time the U.S. Open was held in an arena setting. It was conducted at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn.
Duckpin data: Oneil Wynne fired a 196 game en route to his 479 series in the Tidewater Pro League. In the same league Charlie Southworth tuned up to defend his title in the Herman Gaines Open with a 464 set. The Gaines Open got under way at Victory Lanes Saturday and continues through next weekend. . . . Robin Driskell notched a 185 game in her 428 series in the Stormy Weather League. . . . A 167 game helped power Barry Blythe to a 462 series in the Sunday School League. . . . Sylvia Hart blasted a 156 game to finish at 358 in the Monday Morning Mixed League. . . . Ray Askew fashioned his second 192 game of the year, getting this big single in a 458 series in the Elimination Doubles League. . . . Sue Forbes is taking bows for a triple strike in her 146 game in the Suffolk Mixed Nuts League. In the same league Tammy Williams converted the 5-7-10 for a spare. by CNB