LITTLE ROCK — Michael Harris, 54, of Little Rock, followed games of 168 and 185 with his first 300 game for a 653 series in the Big 10/Paul Miller League at Professor Bowl South.
"Every ball was in the pocket," said Harris a small engine and district tire repairman. "Before the 12th ball came back, it got hung up in the ball return. In trying to release the ball, it caught my finger and took the skin off. I was a little off step the last ball because I hung up in the ball, and pulled it. However, my finger being messed up probably helped me the last ball. I'm upgrading to the gold ring."
Harris, who started bowling at 19 at Park Plaza Lanes in Little Rock, averaged 187 for the 2006-2007 season. He used a Roto Grip Epic ball, has a 298 game, two 11 strikes-in-a-row awards, and a 706 high.
JUST ANOTHER 700
Also in the Big 10/Paul Miller League, Rachel Perez of Maumelle,who holds the women's state record for most 300 games with eight, ran off games of 266, 226 and 247 for 739 and her 71st 700 series since moving to the state in late 2003.
"The first game I had the front nine [strikes] then pulled the ball again and left the 7-10 split," Perez said. "I've got to stop doing that."
Perez, 38, an administrative personal assistant at Timber Ridge Ranch NeuroRehabilitation Center, and a certified coach, started bowling at 13 at San Marcos, Texas. She has an 846 high, 15 300 games, plus an 806, two 299s, a 297 and two 290 games instate.
300 STANDS OUT
The same night in the league, Brad Martin, a salesman for Watson's, shot games of 178, 300 and 191 for a 669 series.
"I really bowled poorly the first game. Then the shots in the 300 were actually pretty good," Martin said. "Until I got to the last three balls. I pulled the 10th and 11th balls, then sent the 12th ball a little wide. I took the ring."
Martin, 35, of Little Rock, started bowling at 5 at Bartlett Lanes in Bartlett, Tenn. He used a Storm Thunder Flash ball and averages 208.
EKING OUT 700
Also in the league, Dee Dee Jeffery of Newport, ran off games of 252, 217 and 234 for a 703 series.
Jeffery, 39, a physical therapist, started bowling at 5 at Bentonville Bowl in Bentonville. She has an 815 high, a 300 and a 298 game, and seven 11-strikes-in-a-row awards. She won the 2004 women's statescratch all events with 2,029, and holds the area TCBA 6-game women's record with 1,480, which also ranks sixth nationally. She won the 2006 Tampa, Fla., TNBA singles and $795.
ALMOST AN 800
Conway's Danielle Phillips, came within a strike of rolling her second 800 series in the Avengers League at Conway Bowl. A day care worker, Phillips posted games of 212, 290 and 279 for 781 and her 17th 700 series.
Phillips, 31, started bowling at 15 in Richmond, Va. She has an 823 high which is the women's high series at Conway. The 823 ranks fifth all-time state high including professionals and third high for amateurs. She won the 1998 Oil Capital Open Singles at AMF Sheridan Lanes in Tulsa, her only tournament title. She has one 300 game, and the 290 was her 11th 11-strikes-in-a-row including a 297.
LEAGUE SCORING DOWN
The United States Bowling Congress is reporting that bowlers in regular leagues and tournaments rolled fewer 300 games and 800 series for the first time in more than 20 years. The USBC report, which appears on www.bowl. com, notes that bowlers earned 51,557 300 game awards in regular league and tournament play for the period from Aug. 1, 2006 through July 31, 2007 compared to 56,212 the previous year. There were 16,635 regular 800 series compared to 17,612 in the previous reporting period.
DIS 'N DATA
Another chip off the old block? Nathan Childers, 12, of Benton, son of Gordon Childers, shot games of 200, 222 and 220 for 642 and his first 600 series in the Jr. All Stars League at Enterprise Lanes. Childers started bowling at 7 at Enterprise and used a Brunswick Wizard ball. ... Christy Johnsonwith 226, 230-671 in the Monday Mixed at Central Lanes received the Arkansas State Women's Bowling Association 650 award. ... Dean Brimingham shot two 11-strikesin-a-row games in the Roosevelt Mixed League at Millennium Bowl. The first game he missed a 7-pin, then struck out for 279. Following a 159 game, he spared and struck out for 290 and a 728 series. He used a Hammer Black Widow ball. ... LeRoy Quinn shot 290-740 in the Monday Mixed at Timber Lodge Lanes in Monticello and received the 11-strikes-in-a-row emblem. ... A pair of triplicate series at Conway Bowl, Sarah Harris with 236 in the Avengers, and Jason Fitzgerald with 243 in the Commercial. ... Beverly Ross received the ASWBA 250 award with 255-617 and Rachel Perez the 650 award with 234-666 in the Millennium Mixed; and Manda Moore both awards with 287, 226-675 in the Friday Mixed at Millennium Bowl.
Sports, Pages 43 on 10/07/2007