THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 27, 1996 TAG: 9610250222
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 74 lines
EDITOR'S NOTE: Bowling columnist Bill Leffler is recuperating from double bypass heart surgery. Nowhere will Leffler's talent and expertise be missed as much as in this space, but the bowling report must go on. . . .
In one 24-hour span, Lloyd Minton experienced a dramatic high followed by a serious low.
Minton, 68, was hospitalized Oct. 15 with heart problems, one day after he collected $1,000 for winning the third annual Herman Gaines bowling tournament.
``Don't worry, the two had nothing to do with each other,'' Minton said from his room at Portsmouth General Hospital. ``The fact is, I'm a 68-year-old man with an 80-year-old heart.''
A 111-average bowler in the tournament, Gaines scored an 846 for five games in the handicap tournament. Tournament averages were based on last year's play; Gaines said he's currently averaging 120.
``I had no idea I could do it,'' he said. ``But the way I look at it is, you can't win if you don't play.''
At press time, Minton said he was still undergoing tests to determine the cause of his heart trouble. Still, he remained upbeat about his condition.
``It's a serious heart ailment, but I'm not sitting here feeling sorry for myself and I don't want anyone else doing it, either,'' he said.
BOWLER OF THE WEEK: There are a thousand reasons why Minton should be considered for this honor, but he's already been taken care of with cold cash. So let's recognize Todd Allred, whose 767 series early last week at Pinboy's of Norfolk included a 300 game. Four days later, Allred had a 711 series.
PERFECTION: Allred had company in the perfect-game ranks. Willis Bullock also rolled a 300 at the Norfolk Pinboy's. And Art Bisner turned the trick as part of a 758 series in the Ball & Chain league at Indian River.
Another bowler narrowly missed the magic number. In Indian River's Ford Mixed league, Harves Brown turned in a 299 during his 650 series.
YOUTH REPORT: Heather Muncher, a Bantam bowler (age eight and under) with a 39 average, picked up the difficult 4-6-7-10 split at Pinboy's of Norfolk. . . Other strong games at Pinboy's of Norfolk: Matthew Clarke, 56 average, rolled three straight games of 86; Jeremy McConnell rolled a 204 series; Jerry Taylor had a 235 series and Jessica Bell had a 211 series. . . Shina Calbin, who has an 89 average, stepped up her game and delivered a 371 series (147-107-117) at Indian River. . . Prep Christian Thomas, 40 average, bowled a 112 game and 245 series at Pinboy's of Chesapeake. . . Also at Chesapeake, Junior Jimmy Williams had a 143 triplicate; Bantam Megan Westfall, 58 average, had a 95 game and 277 series and junior Courtney Pickford delivered a 483 series with a 168 game. Pickford averages 120.
AROUND THE ALLEYS: Pinboy's of Norfolk featured several 700 series last week. The top bowlers: Jim Wells, 712; Brett Estes, 726; Glen Tribble, 708; Tommy Byrd, 707; Mike Krell, 708; Wayne Beasley, 767; and Melvin Ricks, 700. Women who exceeded the 600 mark: Sharon Jordan, 618 (include a 268 game); Monique Dill, 616 (257); Donna Davis, 619; Gina Forehand, 674; Leslie Livesay, 618; Darlene Pace, 600; Teri Jeske, 663; and Linda Dozier, 615. And Andrea Thorpe outdid them all, posting a 704 series with a 258 game.
The high men's game at Pinboy's of Chesapeake went to Rich Grimes, who tallied a 290. Others who excelled: Jim Houle, 288; Wayne Mathes, 278; and Bob Dolak, 278. Jack Gray's 698 was the high series. Tina Kinnick led the women with a 245 game, two pins better than Dawn Leonard. Leonard's 605 was the high series.
John Masaitis led the way at the Pinboy's of Western Branch with a 757 series which included a 297 game. In other notewothy items at those lanes, Ron House converted the 7-10 split during the Tuesday men's commercial league. Barbara Butler did the same during the Olympian ladies league.
At Indian River Lanes, Richard Thompson, a 141 average bowler, soared to a 246 during the Poplar Hall League. Chris Baron picked up the 4-6-7-10 split during Tuesday Nite Mixed play. . . 700 series were turned in by Alex Hunter (700), Bill Miller (726), Ben Spitzer (710) and Cal Depew (716). Top women's performance went to Bonnie Smith, who had a 610 series during the Ford Mixed.
BOWLING REPORT: This column is far from all-inclusive, but adjustments have to be made in the reporting procedure during Bill Leffler's absence. Bowling information should now be faxed to the Portsmouth office of The Virginian-Pilot (446-2607) no later than noon Wednesday No information will be taken by phone. by CNB