Tammy Blakely keeps adding to St. George family bowling tradition
Tammy Blakely's passion for bowling is palpable, inspiring, and will always have a special place in her heart.
And one of the things she likes most about it is how the game fosters family bonding across different generations which in turn helps create lasting memories.
And it all began in 1987 when her dad, Roger Bojarski introduced her to the sport and spent countless hours teaching her how to bowl. And even to this day, there are times when she still feels his presence when competing on the lanes or serving as a bowling coach for her three kids.
And one of those youngsters is her son, Ryan Blakely who still holds the record for the 3rd highest series ever bowled in St. George, a jaw-dropping 855. Her coaching has also been pivotal in helping her two young daughters, Kylee & Kara bowl their first 200 games and 500 series scores this summer.
Meanwhile, it should be noted her bowling journey at times has also been etched in pain, like when she was sidelined for a good number of years by multiple shoulder surgeries along with hip surgery and all of which tested her resolve but never came close to breaking it.
She would meet each setback with a fierce determination to reclaim both her health and bowling game because, to her, bowling isn't just a sport. It's almost like the heartbeat that's connected her to her family across generations. Fortunately, after being completely healed she was able to begin practicing and bowling in the summer of 2022.
So now let's fast forward to last Thursday when she began Dixie Ten Pins League action with a 203, followed with a 202, and finished a top-notch outing with a 198 for a 603 series during which she tattooed the pocket for 17 strikes. And three days later in Sunday Mixed Nuts League play she put together another productive outing with a 549 set and 221 game.
Blakely's resume includes a career-high 632 series and a personal-best 257 game. Her bucket list includes trips to both Italy and Niagara Falls, Shannon O'Keefe and Lisa Wager are her two favorite pro bowlers, and she's been married for 32 years to her husband, David.
In other women's pin action, Susan Hill (675-252) continued her early season scoring onslaught with another standout effort.
And other women bowlers who captured some ink include the likes of Diana Scharf (597-212), and Kathy Robbins (592) who flirted with a 600 and also bagged a 232 game.
And sparked by a 220, Lyn Mariluch mowed down 532 pins, Mary Jo Foerster (534) was getting a little tired of all the ink her husband (Fred) receives, so she stepped up her game last week and toppled 534 pins, and Malorie Smith (520) also delivered a quality performance.
Meanwhile, Barbara Flugrad, who hails from St. Joseph, Missouri and has a career-high 255 game, began bowling while in high school, and all these years later at age 92 is still bowling in two leagues a week. In fact, in her Ladies Trio League she chalked up a 518 set which included a 190 and an impressive clean 185 game.
In single game play, Margie O'Neill (579) popped a 228, Hailey Bundy (550) tallied a 219, Lisa Jones (522) rolled a clean 208, Dianne Shepherd fired a 204, and Chris Sanzone nabbed a 201.
And on the men's side of the ledger, a brilliant effort by Mo Davis included a total of 25 strikes, including the front nine in a 289 game along with a 257 and 236 for a monster 782 series, Robert Dickey (759-278) threw 25 strikes in a top-notch affair, and Bob Lehnen's standout 716 series included a 9-bagger in both a 279 and 267 game.
Mark Cruz (712-258) did a superb job in rolling his first 700 series in three years, Al Oliveira V (698-238) narrowly missed a 700, Larry Rumple (677-268) has been bowling up a storm, and at age 86, Doyle Mouser punched out a 640 series including an 8-bagger in a 257, and I sure hope Max Stayrook is reading what Mouser shot.
Nick Mace (634-255) had a good week, Jack Rasberry (628-218) put up competitive pin totals, and it's great seeing Dan O'Neill (607-214) back in 600 territory.
In single-game play, Marcus Allen (677) ran the front 8 for strikes in a 266, Dave Keller booked a 234, Kyle Kidman fired a 211, and Troy Olaveson posted a 201.
Oh, bay-bee!
Diana Scharf picked up the 3-7-10 split ... Dianna Swart spared the 2-8-10 ... Margie O'Neill converted the 2-8-10.
High scores
Anne Brosier 563-190; Sherri Snarr 561-206; Diana Stauffer 554-191; Ashley Thomas 544-222; Debbie Lehnen 535-190; Karen Balicki 534-191; Kara Kopf-Rasberry 533; PJ Redhouse 533-199; Kathy Foy 529-191; Pat McLaughlin 528; Bev Keeley 509; Gail Carras 509; Sue Brooks 509; Peggy Eggleston 507; Dennis Craft 692-244; Jorge Grajeda 691-244; Dalton Smith 688-238; Wil Mariluch 687-248; Russ Harkins 683-256; Lew Agius 681-245; Kyle Clark 673-257; John Potter 667-235; Ron Goch 666-255; Tor Lowry 665-234; Joel Redfearn 663-257; Brendan Thomas 649-245; Jake Heaton 661-235; Chase Evans 660-240; Patrick Webster 660-234; Gage Petersohn 659-246; Chance Evans 657-233; Kyle Clark 647-257; Tyler Mickelson 636-222; Tyler Thomas 621-222; Chuck Irvine 618-215; Brandon Hadlock 615-245; Rick Lesko 610-217; Bruce Breager 610-217; Cory Choate 610-232; Kaiden Klingonsmith 611-133; Tyler Thomas 609-222; JC Burrows 608-218; Rick Shields 608-232; Vic Reading 608-222; Bill Stauffer 606-214; Shane Wilson 603-225; Shawn Wonder 600-219; Brent Pollock 259; Don Polich 256; Matt Hill 230; Scott Brosier 229; Ben Stang 227; Trent Nay 226; Brent Carlon 225; Rod Post 208; Niko Garcia 221; Wild Bill Logan 217; Fotu solial 216; Larry Moss 216; Michael Garcia 215;Brayden Chapman 213; Jeff Sandoval 213; Max Stayrook 213; Pata Mesi 210; Marc Bundy 209; Dan Sanzone 208; Rick Bishop 208; James Henderson 207; Josh Hancock 207; Gary Lee 205; Fred Foerster 205; Kevin Kidman 205; Layton Asmus 204; Rob Carrier 204; Gregg Sant 203; Ken Schloman 203; Phil San Antonio 213; Al Oliveira IV 202; Doug Clarke202; Jared Bundy 202; Joseph Graham 202; Jerry Bundy 201; Josh Dippre 201; Norm Ritchie 201; Travis Lake 201; Troy Olaveson 201; Jim Brooks 200. SPLITS: Diana Scharf 3-7-10; Dianna Swart 2-8-10
Senior scores
Margie OI'Neill 613-218; Diana Scharf 560-201; Vickie Pearson 518; Pat McLaughlin 517; Pat Verchota 511; Shari Swigart 511-220; Tim Swigart 631-268; Ken Schloman 629-234; Dave Myers 623-238; Dave Anderson 16-209; Rob Carrier 610-217; Jim Brooks 607-215; Matthew Cook 230; Adam Sedgwick 227; Doyle Mouser 223; Paul Yssel 220; Paul Yssel 220; Fred Foerster 212; Will Hutchinson 212; CJ Fowler 210; Dan O'Neill 210; Bill Hutchinson 205: Stan Rasmussen 204; Jerry Bundy 202; Scott Blue. SPLITS: Keith Jones 6-7-10; Deanne Brisk 4-7-10; Karen Chute 5-6; Laurie Dillree 4-7-10; Donna Jo Judson 3-7-10; Pat McLaughlin 6-7-0.
Youth scores
Ella Phelps 583-224; Kooper Keenan 579-215; Kai Nordquist 546-211; Kylee Blakely 534-185; Stacie Phelps 510.
This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Tammy Blakely adds to St. George family bowling tradition
