Larry French column: Sowersby perfect amid flurry of 700s at Crystal Lanes in Corning
For the second year in a row, Jason Sowersby has registered a 300 game. It was hardly the only highlight this week at Crystal Lanes, though. For the week, we had two ladies over 700, including a tying season high score, two seniors topping seven and a junior bowler with a pair of 700s.
Last year, Jason Sowersby capped an 806 series with the first perfect game of his bowling career. This time around, the 300 game was his ticket to saving a 700 series in the Addison Men’s League. After starting the night with games of 191 and 212, Jason needed the first 11 and decent count for seven. He did it one better by sealing the night with all 12 strikes to push him to a 703 series.
Anita Gennosa put on a show in the Joey’s Contracting Mixed League and when she was done, her 731 series tied Meghan Sturdevant for the ladies high mark of the season. After blasting a 274 opening game, Anita gave the pins a bit of a break with a 203 before slamming the door with a 254 effort. That same league also saw Gwen Bain take home a 602 series. More on her in a minute.
A name change for the league didn’t stop Jean Blauvelt from getting her first 700 of the season while competing in the newly named Giardina Building & Remodeling Ladies League. Jean built her seven with a 192 foundation and then remodeled her game entirely with games of 279 and 236 to finish with a 707 series. Job well done.
That same league also saw teammates Deon Frost and Anita Gennosa toss scores of 609 and 607, respectively.
Back to Gwen Bain. She’s been on a hot streak lately and nearly turned that streak into her first seven in the Atlas Pizzeria Mixed League. After kicking the pins to the tune of 234 and 247, her shot at seven ended with a couple of taps in game three which was a 203 effort. That did give her a 684. Seven can’t be far away. That league also had Cheryl Rice tapping 600 on the nose.
There were also five other ladies reaching the 600 mark in four different leagues. Meghan Sturdevant led this quintet with a 650 series that featured a 235 game in the Fall Adult/Junior Mixed League. Heather Farr cooked up a 636 set to pace the Gabe’s Grille Ladies League and Hailey Blencowe capped a 631 set with a 225 game in the Savona Storage Ladies League. Kim Ruvolo and Kendra Clark both hit six in the Gary Cortright Memorial Mixed League. Kim capped a 605 series with a 232 game while Kendra Clark fashioned a 600 on the nose in the most efficient manner. A couple of 199s followed by a 202 game. That’s 600 the neat way.
Seven bowlers in the Chilson-Wilcox Senior Men’s League topped 600 this week but Bruce Stanton and John Stermer chose to take it another step and top the 700 mark. Bruce climbed the consistent game ladder with scores of 245, 247 and 248 to lead the league with a 740, his first senior seven of the season. John wasn’t far behind with a 735 set on games of 244, 256 and 235.
Al Farr played the role of super sub again with a three-deuce 669 while Mike Hughson notched a 658 with his teammate Mike Donovan recording a 651 series. George Nichols capped a 638 set with a 255 game while Rodger Keenan sliced up a 630 series. Warren Baker and Ken Mattison rounded out the six-shooters in this league with scores of 607 and 606, respectively.
There were also two other senior sixes on the board this week. Larry Horton paced the Striking Seniors Mixed League with a 654 set that featured a 241 game while Mike Hughson grabbed scoring honors in the Go-Getters Mixed League with a 608 series.
These junior bowlers in this association seem to be taking turns at slamming pins all over the place on a weekly basis. This week the culprit was Zachery Sturdevant. He got his week off to a robust start in the Fall Adult/Junior Mixed League when he rolled a 724 series that was capped by a pair of 254 games. Then it was on to the CIBA Jr./Sr. Mixed League where he continued his onslaught. He opened play in this league with a 259 game and tacked on scores of 248 and 247 for a career best 754 series. Have a week Zach.
He wasn’t the only junior bowler having a decent week. He had plenty of company. Camryn Stefanini dropped a 696 with games of 258, 202 and 236 in the Fall A/J League and then tacked on a 603 in the CIBA League. PH Nelson also hit the junior daily double with a 628 in the A/J League followed by a 600 in the CIBA loop. Cameron Kennedy and Mike Rennels joined in on the fun in the CIBA League. Cameron tossed a 675 series while Mike came away with a 617 set.
In other junior action, Corban Breckenridge joined Keaton Beckman (107) as the only bumper bowlers to crack the century mark with a 101 in the CIBA Bumper League.
Scoring honors for the week goes to Paul Brion and his efforts in the Hatfield Real Estate League. After an opening act of 278, Paul added games of 241 and 268 for a 787 series. An 800 is just a matter of time. That same league had Jamie Kennedy with a 727, Chad Farr at the convenient 711 mark and Doug McGinnis with a 708 set.
JR Fleming grabbed runner-up honors for the week when he paced the Tire World Men’s League with a 769 series on games of 268, 256 and 245. In the same league, Rick Stewart posted a 720 while Mike Brewster had a 717 and Jared Kucko stayed red hot with a 715 series. Jake Blanford took home a 712 and Max Dunning ripped a 710 set.
In other men’s action, Rick Stewart led the Addison Men with a 731 series that was capped by a 298 game while Brandon Harrington rolled a 710. That same night, Jamie Kennedy’s 719 and a 710 by Mark Hughson led the men in the Joey’s Mixed League. Pete Barney topped the Atlas Pizzeria Mixed League with a 729 series while Johnny Miller capped a 704 series with a 279 game in the Gary Cortright Memorial Mixed League.
Tournaments upcoming
Next month a couple of popular tournaments will be taking place right around the two holidays in November.
On Veterans Day (for those of you who have no idea — that would be Saturday, Nov. 11) the Annual Michelle Shafer Depression & Suicide Awareness Benefit will take place at the Valley Bowling Center in Waverly. This is a four-person, per team event with handicap based on 90% of 220. Entry fee is $240 per team (that’s $60 per player for you math challenged folks) and there will be 11 a.m. and 3:30 squad times.
Based on 40 teams, first place will pay $1,200, second is $800 with fourth and fifth paying $500 and $400. There will be brackets and jackpots available for those interested. They will also have auctions, 50/50 raffles, ball raffles and door prizes.
For more information, or to enter a team into the event, contact Waverly Bowling Center during regular business hours or contact Jim Pitts most nights at Crystal Lanes.
On the Sunday following Thanksgiving, which would be Nov. 26, the Corning-Painted Post Sports Hall of Fame will be hosting their annual fund raising bowling event at Crystal Lanes. Action will begin at noon. It’s a four-person, per team entry with a no-tap format. That means 9 or 10 pins down on the first shot is a strike.
This event is open to anyone who wishes to support the local Hall of Fame. It’s their only fundraiser of the year. Entry fee is only $100 per team ($25 per bowler) and that includes bowling, with shoes if needed, a pizza lunch and door prizes. They will also have a ball raffle, 50/50 raffle and a number of door prizes.
Contact Anita Gennosa at Crystal Lanes or any director listed on the Hall of Fame website to enter a team. Entry blanks will also be available at Crystal Lanes during regular business hours.
BOWLING AT CRYSTAL LANES
GIARDINA BUILDING & REMODELING
Kim Lovell 584, Heather Sands 582, Cheryl Rice 234-575.
JOEY’S CONTRACTING MIXED
Arnaldo Negron 697, Nate Johnson 678, Bruce Stanton 677.
ADDISON MEN
Todd VonHagn 688.
CHILSON-WILCOX SENIOR MEN
Steve Crozier Sr. 599, Mike Dunn 580.
TIRE WORLD OF CORNING MEN
Bob Cevette 698, Gary Goodier 692.
SUN LEGENDS BAR & GRILLE MIXED
Scott Doan 277-695.
GARY CORTRIGHT MEMORIAL
Anita Gennosa 586.
JUBILEE FOODS MIXED
Bob McGinnis 679, Kim Chimileski 580.
HATFIELD REAL ESTATE MEN
Scott Mattison 694, Doug Madison 267-685, Beb Cevette 265-685, Ron Bush 685, Jim Sjoblom 683.
SEASON HONORS
300 GAMES
Nick Dobson, Tim DeGraw, Meghan Sturdevant, Jamie Kennedy, Jason Sowersby.
MEN’S 800
Jeff Crawford 808.
LADIES 700s
Meghan Sturdevant 731, Anita Gennosa 731, Jean Blauvelt 707, Hailey Blencowe 703.
SENIOR 700s
John Stermer 786-735; Al Farr 759, Bruce Stanton 740, Don Pierce 727, John Olson 721, Tim DeGraw 701.
JUNIOR 700s
Cameron Kennedy 760-725-715-701; Zachery Sturdevant 754-724-717-700; Camryn Stefanini 749-719.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: French column: Sowersby rolls a 300 amid flurry of 700s in Corning
