Thursday, March 19, 2009

Bowling Highlights Column 3-20-09


Hoffmann Rolls 23ed Career 300

The "Little Lefty" was beginning to wonder when and if he would bowl another 300 game.
Did the 68-year-old (will reach that age on April 23) still have what it takes to bowl another perfect 300 game?
That question was answered on March 10 in the Tuesday Mixed Firemen't league at Kiamesha Lanes when John Hoffmann recorded his 23ed career 300.
His last 300 game came on March 16, 2008 in the doubles event of the Tri-County NY United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Association tournament at Pin Street Lanes in Warwick.
The March 10 perfect game at Kiamesha Lanes was scored on lanes 5 and 6 using a Roto Grip Quest bowling ball. The total for the night was 217, 300, 248, 765 with all 12 strikes in the 1-2 pocket. He bowls in this league with the IAPOTH team and team members Kevin Stackhouse, Roberta Yakin, John Fischer and Robert Yakin Sr.
Hoffmann recorded his first 300 game on July 23, 1991 in the Essex County New Jersey Association in the 420 DBLS. SMT league at Eagle Rock Lanes.
Hoffmann is a well-known technical bowler and when Mike Luongo, now the Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Storm and Roto Grip, drilled out the Roto Grip Quest ball for Hoffmann, Luongo noted to this columnist that "John has a real nice game."
John won the high average bowler honors with a 229 in the Tri-County NY USBC Association for the 2006-2007 season. He bowled professionally from 1990 to 1993 in the Northeast Regional Bowlers Professional Bowlers Association where he got his "Little Lefty" nickname from PBA Tour Bowler Tommy Delutz Jr.
Hoffmann was also the 2007 Tri-County NY USBC Senior's Champion and a New Jersey State Senior champion.
USBC and former ABC records have Hoffmann with eight 11-strikes in a row games, one 298 game, two 299 games and nine 800 plus series.
He presently maintains a 221 average in the Monday Men's league, a 222 in the Tuesday Mixed Fireman's league and a 219 in the Wednesday Men's league, all at Kiamesha Lanes. He also bowls in the Sunday Thunder 102 Mixed Fun league.
Three years ago he became a certified USBC coach and is considered an excellent teacher of the game.
Hoffmann has been bowling for some 52 years, is single and retired and lives in the South Woods Road area of the Town of Thompson.

Bowling Tip
By Mike Luongo

Bowlers: This week the tip is for all bowlers to truly assist you on how to best use the dots and arrows on the approach as target aids.
When preparing to execute a bowling shot, whether it is a strike or spare, you must be prepared to understand the path down the lane you intend your bowling ball to take. With this in mind, when stepping on the approach you should have a focal point, simply the point from which the ball will roll off your hand in the direction you intend it to go, picked out.
If you throw a hook ball, you will be rolling the ball toward the intended break point--the spot on the lane you expect your ball to change direction. If you are rolling the ball straight, the pocket or the pin/pins will be your intended target.
The tip: Look at your intended target and bring your eyes back to the spot on the lane that you are most comfortable looking at , whether it be the dots or an arrow.
To play the modern game, the sooner the ball comes off your hand the better. If you are looking at an arrow and tend to throw or hit up on the ball instead of rolling it off your hand, bring your eyes more toward the dots.
If you are a bowler that tends to play more across the boards with a lot of rotation, your focal point should be as far right ( or left) as in between the lanes to get the ball to the correct break point. If you play a straighter game with a small hook, your correct focal point may be toward the 3-pin.
Remember, there is no substitute for making a good shot. If you combine good shots with good thinking, your scores will increase.
Mike Luongo is technically certified through IBPSIA as a Pro Shop Operator and Master Instructor. He is also a Silver Level Coach with the USBC and is the Northeast Regional Sales Manager with the Storm and Roto Grip bowling Bowling Ball Company. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-341-1694 or via email at mikespro@warwick.net

1st Annual Tom
Skiff Jr, Memorial
Tourney In May

The 1st Annual Tom Skiff Memorial "Bowl For A Cure" doubles tournament will be held at 1 p.m. May 9 at Kiamesha Lanes.
The two-person doubles team (any combination) tournament will celebrate the life ot Tom Skiff Jr. by bowling for a cure for cancer.
As all bowlers who knew Tom we know that he left us early in life and we are now helping fund cancer research in his memory.
The fee per bowler will be $25 each with $10 going to Kiamesha Lanes, $10 to cancer research and $5 to the prize fund.
There will be a 50/50 during each game and the proceeds goes totally to cancer research.
You can register by May 2 at Kiamesha Lanes 794-5561 or contact Gillian Champagne-Kuchar at 845-674-8107 or email gckuchar@gmail.com and put in the subject line "Bowling For A Cure."

PBA

This week the Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is at the Norwich Bowling and Entertainment Center in Norwich, Conn., for the GoRVing Match Play Championship.
The fifth and final stop on the tour's "Extreme Swing" will televise the finals this Sunday March 22 at 1 p.m. on ESPN.

Local Scores

Callicoon Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Hortonville Ladies league include a 185 by Jane Benson, Joyce Brooks 191, Lillian Lahm 191, Joan Gabriel 187, 509 and Desiree Rossomoto 184, 515.
In the Tuesday Delaware Valley Men's league Kory Keesler scored a 203, Gary Elwein 202, Karl Adams 224, Mark Hawley 213, Bob Cady 205, Jeremy Gulley 246, 602, Dennis Brockner 200, Damien Vanluven 242, 625 and Scott Herbert 212.
In the Wednesday Mixed Businessmen league Tom Russell scored a 204, Dave Maus 205, Shirley Townsend 203, 200, 580, Kory Keesler 210, Frank Emmens 203, Laresko Niifa 204, 206, Joseph Gager 213 and a real nice night of bowling by Mark Hawley with a 279, 266, 713.

Gravity Alley

Recent highlight scores in the Wednesday Mixed Fun league include a 205 by Todd Sherman, Lyle Hocker 215, Dave Predmore 216, 215, 618, Jerry Kammeler 237 and Jennifer Seltz 180.

Fox Bowling Center

Recent highlight scores in the Tuesday Ladies Early Birds league include a 213, 549 by Kathleen Maltese, Nikki Andriano 180, 532, Angie Ferris 201, 518, Anne Couse 203, 512, Sally Ballard 189, 508 and Linda Ferris 181.
In the Wednesday Men's Independent league Donald Marino scored a 278, 268, 727, Ryan Kille 220, 251, 201, 672, Tony Wright 216, 212, 235, 663, Shawn Tracy 248, 231, 657, Arthur Gately 254, 201, 637, Daniel Wormuth 257, 637, Allen Bullis Sr. 235, 625, Andrew Bullis 228, 614, Rochard Price 227, 223, 611, Hank Whitmore 243, 605, Mitch Persbacker 207, 211, 601, Frank Couse 222, Frank Couse Sr. 222, Craig Gehrig 225 and Brian Tiffany 232.
In the Thursday Men's Deposit National league Bill Gleim scored a 255, 236, 238, 729, Al Bullis Jr. 236, 213, 232, 681, Andrew Bullis 236, 203, 234, 673, Jeff Curtis 212, 258, 664, Carl Davis 214, 237, 637, Jim Valentine 235, 201, 635, Neil Mosher 224, 237, 612, Ray Cornwell 224, 215, 608, Paul Ignatovich 231, 602, Harry Triebe Sr. 225 and Matt Johnson 225.
In the Friday Mixed Couples league Paul Fritz scored 238, 223, 656, Howard Couse 236, 225, 655, Bill Gleim 222, 605, Mark McGraw 221, Daniel Wormuth 215, Sandy Winans 181, 215, 574, James Dibble 214, Robert Ellis 200, Carl Davis 212, Anne Couse 514, Nick Hazen 203 and Michelle Wormuth 183.
In the Sunday Afternoon Mixed Fun league Dave Mills scored a 233, 234, 223, 690, Fred Shakelton 224, Ray Cornwell 230, 200 and Jean Mills 191.

Kiamesha Lanes

Recent highlight scores in the Monday Men's league include a 236, 211, 623 for David Graham, Willy Bartley 203, Nate Sanders 236, Chuck McAllister 229, Keith Smith 219, John Fischer 206, 222, 258, 686, Art Stevens 204, Steve Rivera 204, 214, 203, 621, Jason Jones Jr. 206, Mike Weiner 216, 227, Jim VanAken 226, 245, 615, Jason Jones 205, 226, 615, Tom Belgiovene 202, John Hoffmann 225, 608, Rudy Belanchia 213, 202, 266, 681, Peter Mitro 224, 201, 212, 637, Jo Jo VanKeuren 208, Jim Frost 200, 244, 612, Frank Amore 209, 206, 612, Tim Bilyeu 211, 255, 256, 722, Joey Smith 211, Donald Durland 203, 226, 279, 708, Paul Durland 224, 203, 623, Jaryl Scott 212, Mark Wegener 245, 220, 278, 743, Tim McIntyre 247, 638, Tom Caycho 204, Bobby Cooper 214, Al Caycho 206, 231, 235, 672, Jack Moylan 279, 223, 213, 715, Rob Sze 259, James Ratner 203, 202, Kort Wheeler 203, Frank Scuderi 200, Eddie Lake 240, 206, 268, 714, Rick Lake 235, 266, 680, Billy Curry Jr. 220, 214, 600 and Paul Curry 222.
In the Tuesday Mixed Firemen's league Debra Blackford scored a 192, Carol MacAdam 198, 196, 221, 615, Vinnie Collura 237, 244, 671, Rob Keesler 209, Ed Guthrie 256, 227, 225, 708, John Cascone 201, Laresko Niifa 223, Mary Lee Williams 211, 534, Joan Lake 206, 180, 193, 579, Dan Allen 204, Ryan Lepke 245, Peter Scannell 220, Jack Rustic 201, 223, 280, 704, Mike Friedman 203, Stan Gilmore 226, Lisa Cartwright 203, Andrea Grossman 194, 502, Larry Berens 219, 610, Tom Cooney 209, 214, 616, Debbie Durland 190, 194, 201, 585, Kevin Stackhouse 200, John Fischer 227, 601, John Hoffmann 236, 213, 218, 667, Kris Gwiozdcwski 214, Donna DuBois 187, 532 and April Aldrich 184.
In the Wednesday Men's league Donald Durland scored a 235, 212, 215, 662, Matthew Fallon 203, 202, Richard Bradford 247, 227, 647, Jon Wilhelm 212, 243, 649, Gregory Fallon 233, 606, Jason Jones Jr. 214, Jason Jones 203, 203, Angel Rodriguez 204, 200, Kevin Stackhouse 229, Rick Lara 217, , 212, 602, Tim McIntyre 267, 650, Abhishek Patel 200, Charles McAllister 202, 230, 218, 650, George Battle Jr. 226, Frank Muller Jr. 201, Allan Jones 231, 202, 619, Larry Berens 247, Dean Shattuck 277, 216, 666, Paul Durland 204, Art Eggleton 201, John Hoffmann 258, 246, 689, Tom Belgiovene 210, Vinnie Collura 248, 224, 279, 751, Al Caycho 223, 213, 626, Mike Weiner 216, Anthony Atkins 205, Chris Magie 221, William Danchak 202, 213 and Frank DiCostanzo 203, 233, 605.
In the Saturday Morning Youth leagues, in Pee Wees division Katelyn Babcock scored 94 and George VanAken 84. In the Bantams division Shivam Patel 129, 122 Nathaniel Edwards 101, 100. In the Preps division Rup Patel scored 119, 138, 115, Nathaniel Goldsmith 107, 114, Mikayla DeGraw 117, 102, 110, Michael Hope 99, Nicole Scudari 86, 89, 70 and Sarah Rustic 123, 102. In the Jr./Mjr league Meghan McCormack scored 111, Michael Brown 100, 110, Isiah Rosado 116, Megan Gerow 150, 150, Michael Scuderi 171, 204, 176, Corey Cilberto 112, Amber Bock 122, Shavani Patel 161, 146, Jared Friedman 141, Tyler Foxwell 134, Kristy Gessman 121, Michael Edwards 148, Jason Moss 159, 160, Shawn Sinistorie 198 and Eddie Walsh 188, 228.

This column is written by Ed Townsend, a consultant to the amateur and professional sport of bowling. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Tri-County NY USBC where he serves as chairman of the Publicity committee. If you have a topic that you believe would make good reading or have league scores or tournament information, Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177 or by sending an email to bowlgolfect1@yahoo.com For a much more expanded version of our bowling column visit our Web site at http://bght.blogspot.com/









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