LITTLE ROCK — Matt Blackstone ran off games of 241, 213 and his seventh 300 game for a 754 series in the Monday Mixed League at Central Lanes in Hot Springs.
“I decided to change balls the second game because the lanes had changed on me,” said Blackstone, a manufacturing engineer. “Lane 24 was decent and I had some room, but lane 23 I couldn’t miss much or I had a bad ball. I was locked in pretty good the 300.
“I used a Storm Shift ball and I have one each 299 and 298 games, and five 11-strikesin-a-row awards including a 297, and a 793 high.”
Blackstone, 34, of Bismarck, started bowling at 7 at West Covina Lanes in West Covina, Calif.
He was the third man in the nation to convert the 7-10 split back-to-back, doing so Dec. 8. 2008. He converted the splits the first and second frames of a 147 second game.
NO. 2 FOR HICKEY
Also at Central, David Hickey kicked off the Midweek Men’s League with hissecond 300 game. He closed with games of 243 and 248 for a 791 series.
“I had a pretty good night as I hit 30 of a possible 36 strikes,” Hickey said, “I also converted the Big-4 split [4-6-7-10].”
Hickey, 51, of Hot Springs, an electronics technician at St. Joseph’s Regional Health Center, started bowling at 12 at Pike Lanes in North Little Rock. He has an 832 high, and two each 299 games and 11 strikes-in-a-row awards.
UPPING RECORDS
Gordon Childers rolled games of 300, 256 and 279 for a 835 series in the Millennium First League at Millennium Bowl in Maumelle.
“They were all pretty good hits the 300, and I leftthe 10-pin the second frame and the 4-pin my fill ball of the 279,” said Childers, owner of Enterprise Lanes. “I used a Storm Hy/Road ball and I’m averaging 234, 236 and 240.
“It’s hard to believe that the 300 game was my 105th and the 800 series my 10th, both state records.”
Childers, 47, of Benton, is a member of both the Central Arkansas Bowling Association and Arkansas bowling halls of fame, a 12-time CABA Bowler of the Year. He started bowling at 13 at Pike Lanes, but quit for six years.
He has an 870 high, holds the state record for 299 games with 35 and has five 298 games, 30 11 strikes-in-a-row awards including three 297s, a 296, a 295, and a 258 triplicate series.
IMPERFECT 10
Marian James missed out on perfection in Benton’s Finest Ladies League when she left a 10-pin on her last ball of her second game for 299.
“The first game I was struggling, not getting any carry. I moved a little right to start the second game andwas actually rolling the ball very well all the shots were in the pocket and I didn’t throw a bad ball,” James said. “I wasn’t really nervous until the 12th ball and while I was waiting for my ball to come back, all I was thinking was, ‘Just throw it good, and whatever happens, happens, just don’t do anything stupid,’ but my legs were shaking.
“I threw the ball and when I let go of it, I felt good about it. I thought I threw it like the others, but I guess because I was nervous it must have been a little harder or slower than the rest and I left a 10-pin and had 23 strikes in the series.
“I have to thank Martin Pledger and my husband David for all of the help they have been giving me over the past few years. And thanks to Steve Szabina for some advice he recently gave me.”
James had games of 202, 299 and 234 for a career-high 735 series and her fourth 700 series. She averages 199, 202 and 210.
James, 47, of Benton, a program manager, started bowling at 22 in Shreveport.
YORK GETS FIRST 299
Roger York, 54, of Jacksonville, retired Air Force, started the CES League at the Little Rock Air Force Base Bowling Center with his first 299 game.
He added games of 224 and 244 for a 767 series.
“I tripped the 10-pin the first ball the 10th frame and rest were solid strikes,” York said. “I used a Hammer Jigsaw ball and average 203, 220 and 221.”
York started bowling at 5 at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. He has two 825 series, has one each 300,298, and 297 games.
DIS ’N’ DATA
Dottie Abbott rolled 257 and received the Arkansas State Women’s Bowling Association 250 award in the Avengers at Conway.
Nikki Baker shot 255, 218, 254-728 and Marcus Wilson 243, 215, 258-716 at Enterprise Lanes. They are youth bowlers.
Kay Bank rolled a careerhigh 244 game in the Lakeview Ladies at Millennium Bowl, where Felicia Burlison shot 221, 225-665 and received the 650 award.
Weekly highs CONWAY Jonathan Ross 279-729 in the Commercial; and Dave Parks 267, 243-747 and Pat Allen 256, 243, 248-747 in the Wednesday Mixed.
MILLENNIUM Debbie Lee shot 609 in the Lakeview Ladies; John Pritchett 276, 247-749, Troy Bridges 257-727 and Brian Thomas 275 in the All State/American Solutions; Debbie Hounsel 611, Seth Lacewell 257-725, Chris Neumann 278-714, Harold Smith 257-707 and Mike Isaacs 280 in the Friday Mixed; Corey Imhoff 276, 268, 245-789, Michael Shirley 278, 257-757, Bryan Shoemaker lll 278, 254-710, PaulHubbs 260-608, Ralph Pridmore 248, 242-705, Jeremy Powell 266-704 and Reginald Murrill 258, 242-700 in the Millennium First; John Presley 278-737 in the Mixed/409; Steve Cook 257, 257-729, Gilbert Alaquinel 244-708, Anthony Webb 278-706 and Cleaster Coates 279 in the A-1 Kool, and Tracy Abbott 628, John Mazzie 701, J.W. Wright 708 and Isiah Edmondson 713 in the Roosevelt Mixed.
ENTERPRISE YOUTH Kevin Nordengren rolled 247-646, Brandon Johnson 239-634, Chris Seligman 254-615 and Jacob Cook 252-663.
Sports, Pages 41 on 11/01/2009