Tuesday, February 28, 2017

DUTCHESS FAIRGROUNDS WELCOMES SPRING

DUTCHESS COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS WELCOMES SPRING WITH A FULL SLATE OF ACTIVITIES

Rhinebeck, NY – As springtime approaches in the beautiful and bucolic village of Rhinebeck, the Dutchess County Fairgrounds is once again a premier destination for Hudson Valley fair and festival goers.  The multitude of activities scheduled for the upcoming season on the Fairgrounds’ 144 acres are as varied as the weather. 
On April 30, the Fairgrounds kicks off the season hosting the Autism Walk & Expo of the Hudson Valley. 
A favorite for antique car enthusiasts is the Rhinebeck Antique Car Show & Swap Meet on May 5 – 7.  Car collectors can search for lost treasures amongst the many swap meet vendors that have engulfed the grounds and spend hours strolling through the endless field of impeccable antique cars. 
May 20 – 21 The Northeast Outdoor Sports Show will make its debut at the Fairgrounds.  This is a show for those with a deep passion for anything and everything pertaining to the great outdoors.  Fishing, Hunting, Boating, Camping, Cycling, Recreational Vehicles and Travel will be featured at this one of a kind show brought to the Hudson Valley.  This event will also play host to various workshops, seminars, celebrities, children’s activities and more! Memorial Day weekend May 27 and 28 Barnstar Antiques at Rhinebeck will transform the facilities into an antiques destination.
June 2 - 4, the Country Living Fair returns promising great shopping, seminars and demonstrations, delicious food and a chance to meet the editors of Country Living Magazine. June 9 – 11 the Goodguys Rod & Custom Car Show roars back into town for the East Coast Nationals.  Cool Cars! Good People and Good Times!  Looking for that one-of-a-kind, made in America gift? Be sure to mark your calendar for the Rhinebeck Crafts Festival on June 24 and 25 where some of the most acclaimed artists and makers will showcase their handmade wares and fine art to the public.
June 30 and July 1, experience the evolution of the motorcycle in all its three dimensional glory at the Rhinebeck Antique Motorcycle Show. Enjoy the spectacular shows, delicious eateries and magnificent Fairgrounds during this amazing weekend. July 29 The Insane Inflatable 5K extreme obstacle race is made up solely of inflatable obstacles that will challenge, surprise and leave you bouncing for more!
The Dutchess County Fair on August 22 through the 27, remains the second largest agricultural fair in the state.  For six days, fairgoers eat, drink and can be amused by the antics of the hundreds of farm animals on Livestock Hill.  The Fair features non-stop family entertainment and a thrilling midway.   Hours are 10am to 10pm daily; for more information visit www.dutchessfair.com.
September events start on the 9th and 10th with the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Festival.   Experience wines, distilled spirits, craft brews and gourmet specialty foods all in one beautiful location.  Before heading home from the Wine and Food Festival, be sure to stop at Potter Brothers Ski, Snowboard & Clothing Sale that takes place on the fairgrounds that same weekend.  You never know what off season bargains you may find.  The Color Run returns for its second year on September 30th. This is a five-kilometer, untimed event in which thousands of participants, or “Color Runners” are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer.  It’s less about the 10-minute-mile and more about having the time of your life!
Barnstar Antiques at Rhinebeck is held October 7 and 8.  The season ends with the popular and unique NYS Sheep and Wool Family Festival, October 21 and 22.  This show presents hundreds of sheep, llamas and alpacas, crafts and fiber artists, cooking demonstrations, sheep dog herding and Frisbee dog shows and fleece to shawl competitions.  Wineries and specialty foods, Two by Two Petting Zoo and the funny antics of Mad-Science are also featured during this fun-filled weekend.
Commenting on the 2017 season, Fair Manager, Andy Imperati said, “We always look forward to spring and to present our exciting line up of events to our community”. 
For more information about any of the events at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds visit www.dutchessfair.com or call 845-876-4000.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

EMOTIONAL GAME WITH SULLIVAN WEST





  GRAHAMSVILLE--Sports competition can be a powerfully evocative, emotional experience and powerful waves of emotions took over the Class C Division V league basketball game between the Tri-Valley lady Bears and Sullivan West last Thursday when two of Tri-Valley's leading players suffered game ending knee injuries five minutes into the first quarter of play.
  Junior guard Morgan Shamro and Junior forward Angelina DiToro both suffered knee injuries but DiToro reentered the game in the third quarter only to be forced to leave when it appeared she suffered additional injury.

  No team or coach enjoys taking a win like this one but there has to be a winner and loser in every game as the Bulldogs won the right to get into sectional play with a 46-35 win.
  "You don't ever want to have to win a game like that," an emotional Sullivan West coach Pat Donovan said in his opening post game remarks.
  Tri-Valley coach John Tenbus noted that "with the injuries in a tough game like this I'm more proud of them tonight than any of the 10 wins we had this year."
  "They battled to the end" and "we were fighting our way back and we could have easily folded and said boo is us with all the injuries and things that happened but they still continued to get after it and they me proud, they made their team mates proud and they made the community proud," Tenbus added.

  "We're still division champs with them (Sullivan West) and we're still in sectionals," Tenbus said.

  Initial medical reports on Shamro, Tri-Valley's leading scorer averaging 16-points per game, who left the gym in a wheel chair, were negative which also could mean no broken bones but she was to see an orthopedic doctor yesterday for further evaluation.
  DiToro, one of the team's top re-bounders averaged between five and eight points per game and might be available for the sectionals.

  Speculation is that Shamro's injury might cause her to miss the remainder of the season including the sectionals.
  And yes, there was a basketball game played that night and Sullivan West's leading scorer Josephine Martinez started her 15-point scoring attack with a quick two-pointer following the opening tip controlled by the Bulldogs.

  Sullivan West stretched  the lead in the first quarter to 5-2 with 7:25 on the clock and then Shamro went down and minutes later DiToro suffered her injury.
  The Bulldogs finished the first eight minutes of play scoring 14 points with Josephine Martinez adding seven on two two-pointers and a trey, four points by McKinley Bernitt, a two-pointer by Danielle Brockner and a foul shot by Sabrina Martinez.

  The Bears struggled posting only six points with Samantha Raymond's two two-pointers and two points from Nicole Beach.

  The second quarter found Sullivan West outscoring Tri-Valley 11-7 with Sabrina Martinez finding the net for five points off a two-pointer and three foul shots while Josephine Martinez added two two-pointers. Nicole Beach scored a trey for the Bears who also got two points from Jaclyn Musa and Anna Hendrickson.
  Coach Tenbus rallied his team in the third quarter and the Bears fought their way back to outscore Sullivan West 14-13 off the scoring efforts of Musa with two two-pointers, Taylor Cox with four points, Raymond with four points and Jill Mungeer adding two points. Sabrina Martinez led the Bulldogs with five-points off two two-pointers and a foul shot.

  An aggressive defense by the Bears in the third quarter limited Sullivan West to six points off of one field goal and four foul shots. Tri-Valley got their eight points in the final eight minutes of play off two treys by Musa and Cox and a two-pointer by Musa.
  Turnovers were almost even with Tri-Valley committing 18 and Sullivan West 14.
  Twin sisters Josephine and Sabrina Martinez led the scoring for Sullivan West, Josephine with 15 points off six two-pointers and a trey and Sabrina with 14 points off three two-pointers and eight free throws.

  Jaclyn Musa had 11 points for the Bears off four two-pointers and a trey while Samantha Reymond added eight points off four 2's.
  Sullivan West upped their record a 7-7 and 1-1 in league play while Tri-Valley's record with this game went to 10-7 and 1-1 in OCIAA league play.

  Bulldogs coach Pat Donovan liked  the way his team "executed their plays" and he indicated "that is looks right now that the four teams in Class C sectionals will be Sullivan West, Tri-Valley, Pine Plains and Millbrook."
  Playing without their two-injured players Tri-Valley was again in action at Eldred Friday night and lost to the Yellowjackets 50-35 as Jordan Lepes scored 17 or her 24 points in the second half.


                                                              -





PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME

                                                  




Tri-Valley coach John Tenbus, center, with the two senior girls honored on Senior Night, Kacie Allison, left, and Nicole Beach.                         


                                                       




Sullivan West's Josephine Martinez goes up for a two-pointer seconds after the opening tip as the Bulldogs went on to defeat Tri-Valley 46-35 last Thursday in a must win game that propelled them into the Class C sectionals.                                                        


                                                         





Tri-Valley's leading scorer, Morgan Shamro, left,  with her right knee iced down and Angelina DiToro, one the teams leading re-bounder, holding her bandaged left knee, were forced to the sidelines with their injuries early in the first quarter of the Sullivan West-Tri-Valley game last Thursday at Grahamsville.



                                                          

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Elias Cup Gets Big Sponsor


L.L. Bean to Sponsor 2017 PBA League Elias Cup at Bayside Bowl
Expanded Portland, Maine center also will host MaineQuarterly.com Roth/Holman Doubles Championship

PORTLAND, Maine - Bayside Bowl and the Professional Bowlers Association announced Wednesday that Bayside Bowl will host the 2017 L.L. Bean PBA League Elias Cup, sponsored by one Maine’s best-known brands, and the MaineQuarterly.com Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship in April.

“Bayside Bowl is excited to welcome L.L. Bean as the title sponsor of this year’s PBA League Elias Cup. L.L Bean is Maine’s iconic brand,” said Justin Alfond, co-owner of Bayside Bowl. “We are also thrilled to continue our partnership with the Maine Office of Tourism. We couldn’t have picked better partners to showcase the best of Maine to the country.”

“Bayside Bowl and the Portland community can’t wait for the Professional Bowlers Association to come back to town,” said Charlie Mitchell, Bayside Bowl’s managing partner. “The Elias Cup and the Roth/Holman Doubles Championship showcase the world’s best bowlers, most passionate fans and incredible sponsors that realize what a big deal this event is for our state.”

“We’re super excited to be partnering with two great organizations, the PBA and Bayside Bowl, on this fun, unique event,” said Chuck Gannon, L.L. Bean’s corporate advertising manager. “This is a rare opportunity right in our own backyard, so we’re really happy to be involved. Plus, bowling is a great activity for folks of all ages, especially families.”

An expansion of Bayside Bowl from its original 12 lanes to 20 lanes, plus the installation of a mezzanine and bar overlooking the new construction that is currently nearing completion provide the PBA and Bayside Bowl with an opportunity to also bring the Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship to Maine as part of the 2017 program, which will give more PBA players a chance to bowl in Maine.

“The PBA is fired up to bring the Elias Cup back and to showcase for the first time the Roth/Holman Doubles Championship as part of our program at Bayside Bowl,” said PBA CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark. “Bayside Bowl has the best audience in bowling and our players love Portland.”

The entire event will take place from April 9-16. The MaineQuarterly.com Roth/Holman Doubles Championship will be aired live on ESPN on April 16 at 1 p.m. ET. The L.L. Bean PBA League Elias Cup will air on ESPN on four consecutive Sundays at 1 p.m. following the doubles telecast:  April 23 and 30, and May 7 and May 14. ESPN telecasts also live stream on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.

In addition to the ESPN telecasts, PBA’s live streaming service, Xtra Frame, will cover a new qualifying round for PBA League teams as well as qualifying rounds for the Roth/Holman Doubles Championship. For Xtra Frame subscription information and broadcast times, visit pba.com or xtraframe.tv.  

For supporting materials, please visit: http://bit.ly/2koMDYz

MAINE QUARTERLY.COM MARK ROTH/MARSHALL HOLMAN PBA DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP AND L.L. BEAN PBA LEAGUE ELIAS CUP SCHEDULE
Bayside Bowl, Portland, Maine, April 9-16

Sunday, April 9
Noon and 3 p.m. – Roth/Holman Doubles practice sessions
6 p.m. – Bayside Bowl pro-am
                                                                                                             
Monday, April 10
10 a.m. Roth/Holman Doubles A Squad, 6 individual (12 team) qualifying games                
4 p.m. Roth/Holman Doubles B Squad, 6 individual (12 team) qualifying games                
                                                                                                             
Tuesday, April 11
10 a.m. Roth/Holman Doubles A Squad, 6 individual (12 team) qualifying games                
4 p.m. Roth/Holman Doubles B Squad, 6 individual (12 team) qualifying games                
Top 8 teams based on combined 24-game team totals advance
                                                                                                             
Wednesday, April 12
10 a.m. – Top 8 teams, 8 Baker format (alternate frame) games
3 p.m. – Top 8 teams, 8 Baker format (alternate frame) games
            Top 4 teams after 24 team and 16 Baker format games advance to live ESPN stepladder finals on Sunday, April 16, at 1 p.m.
                                                                                                             
L.L. BEAN PBA LEAGUE QUALIFYING
Thursday, April 13
Noon8 games Baker format qualifying (to determine seeding positions for television)
6 p.m. - Pro-Am program
                                                                                                           
Friday, April 14
Day off

Saturday,  April 15 (ESPN PBA League Quarterfinals)
Noon – L.L. Bean PBA League Quarterfinals 1 & 2 (to air on ESPN on Sunday, April 23 at 1 p.m. ET)
Team #1 vs. Team #8; Team #5 vs. Team #4                           
3:30 p.m. – L.L. Bean PBA League Quarterfinals 3 & 4 (to air on ESPN on Sunday, April 30 at 1 p.m. ET)
Team #2 vs. Team #7; Team #6 versus Team #3                           
                                                                                                           
Sunday, April 16
1 p.m. –MaineQuarterly.com Roth/Holman Doubles stepladder finals, live on ESPN
4:30 p.m. – L.L. Bean PBA League Semifinals #1 and #2 (to air on ESPN on Sunday, May 7 at 1 p.m. ET)
7:30 p.m. – L.L. Bean PBA League Elias Cup finals (to air on ESPN on Sunday, May 14 at 1 p.m. ET)

About Bayside Bowl:
Bayside Bowl opened its doors in 2010 as Maine’s premier bowling entertainment center. Bayside Bowl is home to 12 lanes, a full bar with 12 beers on tap, an award-winning kitchen, live music, and Maine’s best bowling league, Bowl Portland. In March 2017, Bayside Bowl will unveil its expanded venue, complete with eight new bowling lanes, a mezzanine and bar overlooking the new space, and a rooftop deck. For more information, visit www.baysidebowl.com

Monday, February 13, 2017

PBA HALL OF FAME ENTRIES

Mark Gerberich, Three Former PBA Stars Enter PBA Hall of Fame
2016 PBA award winners also recognized during banquet to kick off PBA Tournament of Champions week

SHAWNEE, Okla. (Feb. 13, 2017) – The Professional Bowlers Association’s FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions week got off to a memorable start Monday when a ballroom filled with players and special guests welcomed former PBA Commissioner Mark Gerberich and standout players Bryan Goebel, Steve Hoskins and Mike Scroggins into the PBA Hall of Fame.

Also recognized during the dinner were 2016 GEICO Chris Schenkel PBA Player of the Year EJ Tackett of Huntington, Ind.; Harry Golden PBA Rookie of the Year Francois Lavoie of Quebec City, Quebec; Steve Nagy Sportsmanship Award winner Tom Smallwood of Saginaw, Mich., and Tony Reyes Community Service Award winner Rhino Page of Orlando, Fla.

PBA Hall of Famer and long-time ABC-TV color analyst Nelson Burton Jr., who emceed the event, noted millions of people have bowled, trying to be good enough just to qualify for PBA competition, and among the thousands who have joined the PBA, only a handful have ever bowled well enough to earn admission to the hall of fame.

“This group dwells in rarified air,” Burton said.

Gerberich, who served as commissioner from 1995-2000 when the organization was sold to ex-Microsoft executives Chris Peters, Mike Slade and Rob Glaser, rose from an entry-level job as PBA membership services director in 1983 to Commissioner 13 years later, was introduced by his long-time friend and former Deputy Commissioner Kevin Shippy.

“This is a long, long overdue induction,” Shippy said. “It was Mark’s commitment to working with the new owners that kept the organization alive.”

Shippy noted that Gerberich was at the helm when ABC-TV dramatically reduced its rights fees payments to the PBA, and eventually dropped the PBA from its network lineup, but he kept the organization operating despite the hardships.

“Throughout his tenure, no one accomplished more with less than Mark did,” Shippy said.

Gerberich, in his response, deflected a lot of credit to the groundwork Shippy did and he noted PBA founder Eddie Elias “was one of the greatest innovators ever.”

Speaking of himself, he said, “It’s really, really cool to even be considered.”

“I’m proud of what we accomplished,” he added. “In 1991, we got $200,000 a show which went into the prize funds. A year later, we got $50,000. In 1997, we were paying $150,000 to stay on TV, so I understand exactly the difficulties the PBA faces.”

The intervention of Peters and his partners, Gerberich said, “was a godsend. Without them there wouldn’t be a PBA today.”

Goebel, a 10-time PBA Tour winner with the 1998 Brunswick World Tournament of Champions included in his résumé, had his best season in 1994 when he won three titles.

“In 1988, I had been a pro bowler for eight years and I didn’t have a title,” Goebel said. “I quit my job and decided it if I was ever going to be a pro, I had to do it now. I missed a cut and came home whining. My wife Kelly said, ‘well, you quit your job; you’d better go out and bowl better.’”

And he did. He jokingly thanked fellow inductee Hoskins for “letting” him win his Tournament of Champions title, and he thanked fellow hall of famer Danny Wiseman for letting him win his 10th title, which made him hall of fame-eligible.

“I’m up here by myself, but it took a lot of people to help me get here,” Goebel added. “I have the greatest circle of family and friends a person could possibly have.

“I thank the PBA for providing the stage, the playground for me to go out and live out my dream,” Goebel said. “I honestly don’t know if I’m deserving when I think about the great players who are in the hall, but I thank you for putting me in with them.”

Hoskins was a colorful, high-backswing power player who rolled onto the scene in 1989, winning PBA Rookie of the Year honors which led into a 12-year, 10-title career that included a pair of major championships in the 1997 and 1999 Bayer/Brunswick Touring Players Championships. He also was the 11th player in PBA history to bowl a nationally-televised 300 game (in the 1997 Ebonite Challenge).

“This is a day I’ve looked forward to for quite some time,” Hoskins said. “It’s the greatest honor I ever could have expected.

“Most people who are asked if they expect to get into the hall of fame give the politically correct answer. Not me,” Hoskins said. “I had dreams and, damn it, I was going to fulfill them. I tell my kids, it you have dreams, follow them because you might get there.

“No one gets here without a great support system and I certainly had one,” he added. “I owe the people who helped me a debt I can never repay.”
             
Scroggins, who has bowled extensively at every level of PBA competition and won at all of them as well, earned his hall of fame nod after winning eight PBA Tour titles including a pair of majors in the 2005 USBC Masters and 2009 U.S. Open.

“It’s a dream come true. When I got the phone call from (PBA CEO and Commissioner) Tom Clark, a wave of emotions came over me,” Scroggins said. “I just sat there and cried for about an hour, thinking about my whole career. I went to the website and looked at the list of hall of famers, and it was just amazing to realize the group I’m joining.

“I wondered if those guys had a defining moment in my career,” he continued. “I had one in 1992. I had just filled out an application for a job at the post office. I needed a real job to get on with my life, but the post office wasn’t’ hiring for another month. So my father told me to go bowl another month. I didn’t cash the first week, and the second week in Las Vegas I wasn’t bowling well. I called my dad and told him I was going to quit and come home. He told me to not quit for the wrong reason, to go ahead and bowl the last two weeks.

“I was in Vegas so I decided to play black jack. I was dealt a black jack…and I beat the dealer, who had 20. I thought ‘this is fate,’ so I went to the next PBA event and won, and the rest is history. So I can thank one hand of black jack for my career.”

Scroggins also thanked his travelling roommates for their roles in his career.

“You know the saying, ‘If it doesn’t kill you, it’ll make you stronger?’ That applied to my first group of roommates,” Scroggins said.

“I’m so proud to be a PBA Hall of Famer,” he concluded. “I never thought I’d be standing up here.”

The FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions will get underway Wednesday. The live ESPN-televised finals will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

Xtra Frame, which provided live streaming coverage of the PBA Hall of Fame ceremonies Monday, will continue its Tournament of Champions preliminary-round coverage Wednesday and continue through Saturday’s final qualifying round. For subscription information and the current schedule of broadcast times, visit pba.com and xtraframe.tv.

Sunday, February 12, 2017

BOWLING HIGHLIGHTS COLUMN

 
“NEW” BAYSIDE BOWL IN APRIL

While the PBA is moving into the “Big February” portion of its 2017 season, construction is progressing on the “new” Bayside Bowl in Portland, Maine, in anticipation of the arrival of the PBA League and the Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship in April.
Construction of “West Bayside Bowl,” the new eight-lane addition to the facility, will complement “East Bayside Bowl,” the existing 12-lane side. The new addition is expected to be completed by the end of February. Proprietor Charlie Mitchell said a special “grand opening” will take place in mid-March. East Bayside will remain as-is with its original bar-restaurant retaining the historic feel of the facility.
The Roth/Holman Doubles will use all 20 lanes in East Bayside and West Bayside for preliminary rounds, with the live ESPN finals (on Sunday, April 16 at 1 p.m. ET) and all four televised rounds of PBA League competition (airing on consecutive Sundays April 23-May 14, all at 1 p.m. ET) originating from the new West Bayside lanes.
 
Ed Outlook

PBA’s “Big February” schedule of major championships means a big month of exclusive live streaming coverage on Xtra Frame, beginning with the qualifying rounds of the Barbasol PBA Players Championship Feb. 7-10 from Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl in Columbus, Ohio.
Following the live ESPN finals of the Players Championship on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 1 p.m. ET, the PBA and Xtra Frame head to Shawnee, Okla., for live coverage of the PBA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and 2016 PBA Awards presentations on Monday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m. ET from the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort.
Xtra Frame coverage then moves to FireLake Bowling Center in Shawnee for the preliminary rounds of the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions, Feb. 14-17. That week is concluded by the live ESPN finals of the TOC from FireLake Arena on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m. ET.
Big February continues with qualifying and double-elimination match play coverage of the USBC Masters from The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Feb. 21-25. The USBC Masters finals, followed by the World Bowling Tour Men’s and Women’s Finals presented by the PBA will air live, back-to-back, on ESPN on Sunday, Feb. 26, beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
For a preview of the Big February majors, check out this video clip on PBA’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtDwgqKvgHc 
The finals for all PBA ESPN telecasts are simulcast on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN mobile app for those who would like to watch online or on mobile devices.
PBA’s all-star month is a perfect time for PBA fans to sign up for Xtra Frame’s full month subscription for only $7.99. Three-day ($3.99) and full year Xtra Frame Season Ticket (less than $1.25 a week) options also are available. Visit xtraframe.tv to enroll.



Local Scores

Beechwood Lanes

Mon. Villa Roma Ladies

  Diane Staves 152, 158, Beth Schumacher 154, Lindsey Bauer 155, Jodi Sculley 170, Danielle Meyer 152, 172, 168, Autumn Ackerman 157.

Callicoon Kristal Bowl

  Marty Bogdanowitz 150, Tolaki Deylii 150, Sue Naughton 160, 160, 157, Kelly Gombita 152, Lillian Zieres 167, 187, Chris Burr 155, Debbie Loughrey 159, 189, 160, 508, Robin Luckey 150, Sill Boldiis 169, 163, Pat Peters 180, 150, Rebecca Rhodes 164, DeeDee Schrader 156, Judy Mohn 190, 186, 520, Kristin Emmett 165, 159.

Wednesday Fun

  Brian Brustman 182, John Kline 223, Rich Thony 200, Tim Sykes 199, Mardette Wilcox 179, 163, 194, 536, Tom Gain 211, Bobby Glassel 202, 257, 631, John Diehl 194, 190, 200, Hopper Hubert 200, Jack Diehl 233, Alby Thony 196, 222, Roger Widmann 233, John Fischer 183, Troy Parucki 215, Mike Sorge 192, 188, Jim Kautz 191, Kory Keesler 188, 194.

Kiamesha Lanes

Monday Men's 

  Michael Travis 257, 677, Jason Jones Jr, 232, 607, Kyle Matthews 225, 648, Chris Parken 226, 619, Josh Strang 233, 647, Jim Piontek 267, 267, 738, Pedro Agapito III a 645, Jaryl Scott 244, 643, Paul Durland 238, 641, Vinny Collura 289, 684, Donny Durland 236, 631, Dan Ricco 610, Mike Weiner 608, Tim Totten 268, 708, Laresko Niifa 226, 624, Kevin Stackhouse 242, 227, 662, Ronald Totten 258, 232, 704, Gary North 243, 632, Charles Tuttle 267, 264, 710, David Graham 279, 257, 228, 764, Chris Marler 236, 663, Keith Smith 237, 255, 697, Eddie Lake 611, Rick Lake 250, 245, 675, Gene Smith 225, 646, Walt Edwards 233, 640, Michael Scuderi 248, 267, 661, Frank Scuderi 242, 239, 641, Arthur Stevens 257, 637, Jon "Urathane" Wilhelm 279, 237, 727, Vincent DeGraw 615, Larry Whipple 241, 655, James VanAken 246, 674, Jody Farquhar 234, 265, 710, John Hoffmann 243, 226, 683, Robert Stewart 609. 

 Thursday Ladies

  Lisa Cartwright 205, 501, Trasey Barres 224, 540, Barb Merton 204, Connie McKenley 208, 529, Kristy Lopez 203, Joan Lake 507, Pat Stuart 197, 186, 539, Dottie Cox 183, 513, Cynthia Short 182.

  Friday Mixed

  Paul Berens 225, 671, Don Durland 225, 228, 648, Eddie Lake 246, 664, Ryan Lepke 616, Dan Ricco 225, 662, Bill Schubert 256, 620, Keith  Smith 236, 269, 729, Kevin Stackhouse 247, 674, Charles Tuttle 226, 615, James VanAken 234, 245, 644, Larry Whipple 225, Ester Barber 208, 547, Trasey Barres 202, 512, Lauren Blume 210, 503, Cathy Carpenter 185, 254, 611, MaryAnn Drobysh-Berens 202, 266, 647, Brittany Morris 259, 239, 202, 700, Linda Schaefer 192, 525, Loretta VanAken 181, 194, 513, Mary Lee Williams 180.

Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the sport of bowling and brings over 60-years of sports journalism experience in writing and compiling the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, bowl a 300 game or 800 series, let Ed know at 845-439-8177, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax at 845-205-4474. View this column and Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on facebook and twitter.

HERE & THERE COLUMN


     Getting Bagged Is Challenging

  Now don't get the wrong idea .... when I'm writing about getting bagged my main focus here is about shopping at retail stores today and how we get bagged at the check-out counter.
  Remember when everything you bought got put into a paper bag.
  Now it looks like a new trend for trekking our groceries and other retail items home is how we get bagged?
  Some states have approved legislation where plastic bags will be phased out of many stores.
  Basically stating this legislation is meant to encourage consumers to bring their own bags while reducing litter and grocers will also be able to charge customers for a paper bag.
  The argument here is that banning plastic bags is environmentally safer while others say this is a fallacy because litter from plastic bags is less than one percent of what goes into landfills.
  Then there is also the topic of paper bags which some say is more harmful to the environment because they use more energy and require cutting down trees.
  Additional studies warn that reusable grocery bags could also spread germs if they are used to handle meat and are not cleaned properly between uses.
  Many cities throughout our country  have passed ordinances restricting the use of plastic bags.
  Retail Associations have all spoken out against the plastic bag ordinance's and restrictions but supporters of the ordinances say plastic bags harm the environment and there is a need to ban he very thing that hangs on fence lines and trees and that's killing our wildlife and fish and is clogging up sewer systems.
  There are some grocery stores that don't bag what you have purchased and so do not charge for bags and  have customers being in their own bags if they want to bag their own groceries.
  Whatever happens I think my wife is far ahead of the trend as she has between five to 10 cloth bags with various logo's on them that she carts into the store (some stores give a discount for your own bags) .
  Of course we could go way back in years where consumers might consider getting their hands on some burlap bags which certainly should create interesting remarks from store clerks.

BELMONTE WINS FOR 7TH MAJOR

Belmonte Wins Barbasol PBA Players Championship
for Seventh Major Title
Australian defeats Anthony Simonsen 221-204 in championship match to end two-year winless streak

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Feb. 12, 2017) – Three-time Professional Bowlers Association Player of the Year Jason Belmonte of Australia captured his seventh major title and ended a two-year streak without a Tour win by winning the Barbasol PBA Players Championship Sunday at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl.

In a championship match between two players who use the unique two-handed delivery, the top seeded Belmonte defeated Anthony Simonsen of Austin, Texas, 221-204, to notch his second Players Championship win and 13th PBA Tour title overall.

Belmonte’s win broke a dry spell that started after he won his record third straight USBC Masters and his second consecutive PBA Tournament of Champions back-to-back in February of 2015. Going into the Players Championship he had a string of 16 tournaments in which he made the top five but failed to win. He finished second in five of those events.

“It’s a brand new start,” Belmonte said of the new season.  “I was successful staying focused the whole tournament from start to finish. I’ve learned that if you look ahead or behind you’re not staying in the moment.”

In the title match, Belmonte held a commanding 37-pin lead in the fifth frame that was too much for Simonsen to overcome.

“It feels fantastic,” said the 33-year-old Belmonte, who won his first major in the 2011 Players Championship. “Two years is a long time to wait (for a win), especially considering all the times I had made TV.

“I’ve always believed in myself but I’ll admit there’s a lot of weight off of my shoulders now after all that time because believe me, people will remind you,” he added.

The 20-year-old Simonsen, who qualified second for the finals, was trying to become the youngest player to win two PBA Tour majors. He won the 2016 USBC Masters at 19 to become the youngest to win a PBA major.

“I didn’t make my best shots in that match,” said Simonsen. “There were probably a couple of shots where I should have reset myself. I’ll just use it as a learning experience.”

In the semifinal match, Simonsen beat Connor Pickford of Plano, Texas, 204-191, to advance to the title match. Pickford, who was trying for his first Tour singles title, teamed with Simonsen to win the 2016 Roth/Holman PBA Doubles for his first title.

In the opening stepladder match, Pickford defeated Team USA member and former Wichita State bowling star AJ Chapman, 243-154. Chapman was trying to become only the third player to win a Tour title in his first tournament as a PBA member.

In the second match, Pickford defeated Martin Larsen of Sweden 266-182 to advance to the semifinal. With four career runner-up finishes, Larsen was trying for his first Tour win.

The PBA Tour travels to Shawnee, Okla., for the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions Feb. 13-19, the second major of the season.

PBA’s Big February on ESPN continues with live finals telecasts of the Tournament of Champions on Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. ET and back-to-back telecasts of the USBC Masters finals and World Bowling Tour Men’s and Women’s Finals presented by the PBA Feb. 26 beginning at 1 p.m. 

In addition to the lineup of live telecasts, the State Farm CP3 PBA Celebrity Invitational, which was taped on Jan. 17 at Lucky Strike L.A. Live in Los Angeles, will air on Friday, Feb. 17, at 9 p.m. ET as part of the NBA All-Star weekend.

BARBASOL PBA PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl, Columbus, Ohio, Sunday

Final Standings
1, Jason Belmonte, Australia, $40,000.
2, Anthony Simonsen, Austin, Texas, $20,000.
3, Connor Pickford, Plano, Texas, $12,000.
4, Martin Larsen, Sweden, $11,000.
5, AJ Chapman, Wichita, Kan., $10,000.

Stepladder Results
Match One – Pickford def. Chapman, 243-154.
Match Two – Pickford def. Larsen, 266-182.
Semifinal Match – Simonsen def. Pickford, 204-191.
Championship Match – Belmonte def. Simonsen, 221-204.


About the PBA
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is an organization of more than 3,200 of the best bowlers from 27 countries who compete in PBA Tour, PBA International Tour, QubicaAMF PBA Regional Tour, PBA Women’s Regional and PBA50 Tour events. The PBA is in its 58th consecutive year of nationally-televised competition, reaching bowling fans around the world who follow PBA activities through the PBA Network which includes Xtra Frame, the PBA’s exclusive online bowling channel, ESPN and CBS Sports Network, and the PBA on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. PBA sponsors include Barbasol, Brunswick, Ebonite International, GEICO, Grand Casino Hotel and Resort, HotelPlanner.com, MOTIV, 900 Global, PBA Bowling Challenge Mobile Game, QubicaAMF, South Point Hotel Casino and Spa, Storm Products and the United States Bowling Congress, among others. For more information, log on to www.pba.com.

PROS GET ADDED INCENTIVES

2017 XF PBA Tour Storm Cup to Provide Added Incentives for PBA Players
Season-long points competition gets underway March 17-19 in Tamarac, Florida

CHICAGO (Feb. 10, 2017) – The Professional Bowlers Association’s third full season of Xtra Frame PBA Tour competition, featuring a series of high-profile tournaments covered exclusively on PBA’s live streaming online bowling channel, Xtra Frame, will include enhanced cash incentives, including a season-long $50,000 XF PBA Tour Storm Cup competition points bonus program.

The eight-tournament series, which will include stops in Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia, Delaware and Ohio, will offer PBA Tour titles and enhanced prize funds. It gets underway March 17-19 with the PBA Xtra Frame Reality Check Classic at Sawgrass Lanes in Tamarac, Fla., a tournament that was postponed from 2016 due to Hurricane Matthew.

“The Xtra Frame Tour was created for the PBA’s fans,” said PBA CEO and Commissioner Tom Clark. “The Xtra Frame Tour gets the PBA into more markets all around the country, offering more fans a chance to watch the PBA in person and bowl in pro-ams. The XF Tour also means more live coverage, start-to-finish including stepladder finals, of all the events on XtraFrame.TV, for all our subscribers.

“Also, the Xtra Frame Tour is for the best players in the PBA and for regional players to test themselves against the best with PBA national titles on the line. More great bowling centers and hosts, different conditions.

"We thank Storm for recognizing the value of the Xtra Frame Tour and for initiating and funding the Storm Cup, which will make for an exciting points race throughout the series. It will mean a competition within a competition throughout the series, and ensure the best possible fields as top players chase for the rewards of the Cup.”

The new XF PBA Tour Storm Cup series will offer a $20,000 first prize to the competition points leader for the 2017 tournament series, plus additional cash prizes of $10,000 for second place, $8,000 for third, $7,000 for fourth and $5,000 for fifth place.

Points will be awarded to the top 20 players in each Xtra Frame event, with the winner earning 25 points, second place 19, third place 18, etc., with points declining by one through 20th place. The points system will insure intense competition throughout the season. In 2016, the points race wasn’t decided until the final event when Tommy Jones won by five points over EJ Tackett and six points over Ryan Ciminelli.

In addition to the new Storm Cup, Storm’s support will enhance the prize funds of every XF Tour event and the live coverage quality on Xtra Frame.

“Storm is proud to present the best players in the world the opportunity to compete for more prize money and the prestigious Storm Cup perpetual trophy in 2017,” said Storm Vice President of Business Development Gary Hulsenberg. “We are excited to see how the new Storm Cup points race will shape up in its inaugural year and encourage all bowling fans to subscribe to PBA Xtra Frame so they can take in all the action from any device. Enjoy the show!”

All XF PBA Tour Storm Cup events will offer a minimum $10,000 first prize, with first prizes ranging to $20,000. In 2016, players bowled for more than $392,000 in prize money paid out for seven Xtra Frame PBA Tour points events. Including the DHC PBA Japan Invitational and the PBA-PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mixed Doubles – tournaments that return to the live Xtra Frame schedule in 2017, but are not part of the points competition – PBA events covered exclusively by Xtra Frame allowed players in 2016 to compete for nearly $650,000 in prize money in addition to PBA’s nationally-televised events.

2017 XF PBA TOUR STORM CUP SCHEDULE

March 17-19 – PBA XF Reality Check Classic, Sawgrass Lanes, Tamarac, Fla.
May 26-29 – PBA XF Wilmington Open, Ten Pin Alley, Wilmington, N.C.
June 2-4 – PBA XF Jonesboro Open, Jonesboro Bowling Center, Jonesboro, Ark.
June 9-11 – PBA XF Lubbock Sports Open, South Plains Lanes, Lubbock, Texas.
June 23-25 – PBA XF Billy Hardwick Memorial Open, Billy Hardwick’s All Star Lanes, Memphis, Tenn.
Aug. 11-13 - PBA XF Chesapeake Open, AMF Western Branch, Chesapeake, Va.
Aug. 18-10 – PBA XF Gene Carter’s Pro Shop Classic, Mid-County Bowling & Entertainment, Middletown, Del.
Aug. 25-27 – PBA XF Lefeld Implement Central Classic, Pla-Mor Lanes, Coldwater, Ohio.

About Storm
Storm is a leading bowling ball and equipment manufacturer, inspired to create innovative products for bowlers worldwide. Learn, train, and shop at stormbowling.com.

About the PBA
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is an organization of more than 3,200 of the best bowlers from 27 countries who compete in PBA Tour, PBA International Tour, QubicaAMF PBA Regional Tour, PBA Women’s Regional and PBA50 Tour events. The PBA is in its 58th consecutive year of nationally-televised competition, reaching bowling fans around the world who follow PBA activities through the PBA Network which includes Xtra Frame, the PBA’s exclusive online bowling channel, ESPN and CBS Sports Network, and the PBA on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. PBA sponsors include Barbasol, Brunswick, Ebonite International, GEICO, Grand Casino Hotel and Resort, HotelPlanner.com, MOTIV, 900 Global, PBA Bowling Challenge Mobile Game, QubicaAMF, South Point Hotel Casino and Spa, Storm Products and the United States Bowling Congress, among others. For more information, log on to www.pba.com.

PBA SPARE SHOTS

PBA Spare Shots

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF JACK BIONDOLILLO’S HISTORIC 300 GAME APPROACHES
On April 1, 1967, the PBA’s post-tournament news release reported, “Jack Biondolillo socked the biggest 300 in the history of the game. His came before the American Broadcasting Company's national colored television cameras for which he collected a cool ten thou ($10,000)…”

The first nationally-televised 300 game in PBA history – witnessed by a television audience of 25 million viewers according to PBA’s release – occurred during the Firestone PBA Tournament of Champions at Riviera Lanes in Akron, Ohio, during a first-game 300-216 win over Les Schissler. Biondolillo then defeated Mike Durbin, 188-181, before losing in the semifinal match to Don Johnson, 228-172. Jim Stefanich then won the TOC, defeating Johnson, 43-36, in a two-frame roll-off after they tied at 227.

As the 50th anniversary of his historic feat closes in, Biondolillo, a Houston native, attended the Main Event Terrell Owens PBA Super Clash on Super Bowl Sunday in Katy, Texas, where he posed with four other PBA members who also bowled nationally-televised 300 games. Pete McCordic bowled televised 300 no. 4 in Torrance, Calif., on Jan. 31, 1987. Parker Bohn III bowled no. 13 in the USBC Masters in Reno, Nev., on May 9, 1998. Norm Duke bowled no. 16 in Tacoma, Wash., on Jan. 5, 2003. Jason Belmonte recorded no. 21 in Las Vegas on Nov. 19, 2011.

Including Biondolillo’s historic 300, there have been a total of 26 nationally-televised perfect games in PBA competition.

WORLD BOWLING ANNOUNCES 2017 PBA INTERNATIONAL-WBT SCHEDULE
World Bowling, the international governing body for tenpin bowling, and the PBA have announced a schedule of PBA International-World Bowling Tour tournaments that will award PBA Tour titles to winners (if they are PBA members) and points to players toward the 2018 WBT Finals presented by the PBA. Points also will be awarded to women bowlers. Women are eligible for PBA Tour titles if they bowl against the men and don’t accept handicap pins.

Tournaments included on the 2017 PBA International-WBT schedule include:
● Brunswick Euro Challenge, Munich, German, March 18-26;
● Oklahoma Open, Shawnee, Okla., June 26-July 2;
● Sweden WBT, Malmo, Sweden, Aug. 14–28;
● WBT Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 30-Oct. 6;
● PBA World Championship, tba;
● Kingdom of Saudi Open, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 16-22;
● Kingdom of Bahrain Open, Manama, Bahrain, Nov 23-28;
● Kuwait Open, Kuwait City, Kuwait, Nov. 29-Dec. 3.

The World Bowling World Championships, set for Dec. 4-18 in Kuwait City, also is a WBT points event, but will not award a PBA title. For more information about World Bowling, visit Worldbowling.org.

The 2017 WBT Men’s and Women’s Finals presented by the PBA will be televised live on ESPN on Sunday, Feb. 26 following the finals of the USBC Masters. The men’s finalists, based on 2016 WBT points, will include top qualifier Martin Larsen of Sweden, Anthony Simonsen of Austin, Texas, and Marshall Kent of Yakima, Wash. The women’s finalists will be Danielle McEwan of Stony Point, N.Y.; Colombia’s Anggie Ramirez, and Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y.

TOC, HOF NEXT AS XTRA FRAME CONTINUES “BIG FEBRUARY” COVERAGE
Following the live ESPN finals of the Players Championship on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 1 p.m. ET, the PBA and Xtra Frame head to Shawnee, Okla., for live coverage of the PBA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies and 2016 PBA Awards presentations on Monday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m. ET from the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort.

Xtra Frame coverage then moves to FireLake Bowling Center in Shawnee for the preliminary rounds of the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions, Feb. 14-17. That week is concluded by the live ESPN finals of the TOC from FireLake Arena on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m. ET.

Xtra Frame’s Big February coverage continues with qualifying and double-elimination match play coverage of the USBC Masters from The Orleans Bowling Center in Las Vegas, Feb. 21-25. The USBC Masters finals, followed by the World Bowling Tour Men’s and Women’s Finals presented by the PBA will air live, back-to-back, on ESPN on Sunday, Feb. 26, beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

PBA fans also are reminded that Xtra Frame coverage features two channels which means viewers can watch more players in action. The primary XF channel includes commentary; the secondary channel includes video coverage only. And PBA’s ESPN coverage also will include the Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational, benefitting the Chris Paul Family Foundation, on Friday, Sept. 17, at 9 p.m.

PBA’s all-star month is a perfect time for PBA fans to sign up for Xtra Frame’s full month subscription for only $7.99. Three-day ($3.99) and full year Xtra Frame Season Ticket (less than $1.25 a week) options also are available. Visit xtraframe.tv to enroll.
     
QUBICA AMF PBA REGIONAL UPDATE: CLIFFORD, BYERS WIN SOUTH CHALLENGE EVENTS
Amateur Charles Clifford Jr. of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., defeated Carlos Tobon of Hollywood, Fla., 230-225, to win the PBA BreakPoint Alley Challenge presented by DV8 Sunday and, in the PBA50 portion of the QubicaAMF PBA South Region doubleheader weekend, Mike Byers of Charleston, S.C.defeated Ralph Brunt of Jensen Beach, Fla., 236-190 for his first PBA title.

Clifford Jr. earned $2,300 for his win, but he doesn’t earn credit for a PBA title because he isn’t a PBA member. Byers pocketed $1,600 and became eligible to compete for a berth in the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions Feb. 10-11 if he decides to do so.

Both Challenge events were open to players who have not won PBA titles.

● Leading into the FireLake PBA Tournament of Champions, FireLake Bowling Center in Shawnee, Okla., will host the PBA Grand Casino Hotel & Resort Southwest Winter Open Feb. 10-12. The tournament, in addition to serving as a standard PBA Regional event, is also a qualifying event for the TOC, with at least 24 eligible PBA title-holders advancing to the TOC.

● The PBA South Region will host the PBA50 Dave Edwards Toyota Spartanburg Open, presented by 900 Global, over the Feb. 17-19 weekend at Paradise Lanes in Spartanburg, S.C.

● For complete QubicaAMF PBA Regional schedules, rules and entry information heading into the new year, visit pba.com, open the “schedules” tab and click on QubicaAMF Regional Tours to find the event(s) in your area. For more information about QubicaAMF, visit www.qubicaamf.com or, for social media posts, visit http://bit.ly/QAMFSponsorship1.

QUICK NOTES
● Just in time for the Mark Roth/Marshall Holman PBA Doubles Championship in Portland, Maine, the PBA Store (pba.com/store) is offering a new line of Mark Roth signature t-shirts and polos. The Roth/Holman doubles event will include a pro-am and qualifying rounds April 9-12, concluding with live ESPN stepladder finals on Sunday, April 16, at 1 p.m. ET.