Local bowlers racking up some big numbers

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Vic Oliver's hot streak on the lanes this past week highlighted a string of recent bowling honor scores across Hernando County.

At Spring Hill Lanes on Jan. 25, Oliver, who hasn't rolled a perfect game since September 2009, started the night with a 300 and 19 consecutive strikes. The perfect game was the 31st of his career. He finished the series with games of 246 and 217 for a 765 total in the Mike's Auto Body League.

Less than a week later, in the Coca-Cola Classic League at Mariner Lanes, Oliver bowled another perfect game, this time in the final game of a series. He had games of 236, 266 and 300 for an 802 series. The series was the ninth 800 of his career. He tossed 22 consecutive strikes that evening.

After quite a dry spell of honor scores at Mariner, the center has had several high games over the past couple of weeks.

Rob Colucci bowled a perfect game in the Silverthorn League on Jan. 24. That same night, Frank Billy rolled a 300 and Rich Eggert a 299 during the Coca-Cola Classic League. It was Billy's first perfect game since September 2007.

Earlier in January, Spring Hill featured three other perfect games — by Scott Marques, Mike Morrison and Rich Garner.

Jackie Redford, one of the top female bowlers in the area, scored a 288 in the Joni Classic League on Jan. 13. She has a 290 game on her achievement list from back in January 2004. In the same league, Marques tossed his third career 300 with a 771 series. It was his second perfect game this season.

Morrison bowled his game in the Tuesday Mixed League on Jan. 11 with a 734 series. The honor score was his fourth career perfect game and first since May 2010. Garner's came in the T.G.I.F. League on Jan. 14. For Garner, whose series total came to 736, it was his first since January 2010.

VALENTINE'S BOWLING: Spring Hill Lanes will have its 14th annual Valentine's Scotch Doubles Tournament at 1 p.m. Feb. 13.

The entry fee is $18 per couple. The Scotch doubles format is outlined by two bowlers alternating shots for four games.

It is a handicap tournament based on sanctioned averages. While it is not required for entrants to be U.S. Bowling Congress members, nonmembers will be required to bowl with 220 averages.

For information, call (352) 683-7272.

HIGH POINT LADIES GOLF: The High Point Ladies Golf League has been in full swing the past couple of weeks.

Earlier this week, the nine-hole players played three flights with Shirley McSweeney and Sharon Volmer tying for first place in Flight A. Lilian Crosthwaite took first in Flight B, with Jean Trant close behind. In Flight C, Colleen Thompson led the way, with Cecile Abbott in second.

The 18-holers played two flights with Peg Wright carding the lowest round with an 89. The lowest handicap score came from Brenda Bowley with a 63. In Flight B, Marilyn Pelliteri shot a 101 gross.

Bowley also knocked in a birdie on the par 5 17th hole, while Delores Hartwick carded a birdie on the par 4 10th hole.

On Jan. 24, the nine-hole crew played a round where they dropped their worst two holes from the scorecard. Flight A was led by Beverly Vauter (36) and Lonnie Ward (37). Flight B's top scores were by Joyce Sampson (39) and Crosthwaite (42). Flight C was again led by Thompson (39) and Abbott (42).

The 18-hole competitors played poker golf. Flight A was a four-way tie between Wright, Hartwick, Donna O'Keefe, and Elizabeth Bates. Flight B's winner was Pelliteri.

500 CLUB BOWLING: The Hernando County Women's 500 Club is having a 3-6-9 Tournament at Mariner Lanes in Spring Hill at 1 p.m. Feb. 20.

The event is open to all members of the Hernando County U.S. Bowling Congress, Women's Bowling Congress and the Women's 500 Club. The entry fee is $16 per bowler. There will be two divisions in the handicap event. The A Division will include bowlers with averages of 151 and above, and the B Division will include bowlers with averages of 150 and below.

The registration deadline is Feb. 14. Entry forms can be picked up at either Spring Hill Lanes or Mariner Lanes.

For information, call Sheila Wehrenberg at (352) 688-1575.

ADULT BASEBALL: The West Central Florida Adult Baseball League, which plays games in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties, will begin its spring season Feb. 13 and is registering new players.

There will be a workout at 10 a.m. Sunday at Denton Avenue Park in Hudson. The league schedule will include 12 to 15 games with four teams. The entry fee is $80 per player. The season will run through May.

For information, call Brian Moore at (352) 686-9936 or Charlie Strazzullo at (727) 808-7974.

JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS: The spring league of U.S. Tennis Association Junior Team Tennis is set to start from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday at Nature Coast Technical High School, on California Street south of Brooksville.

Organized by Ace Performance Tennis, Junior Team Tennis age divisions range from 12-and-younger to 18-and-younger. Player levels vary from beginner to elite. The registration fee is $60, and players must be USTA members to participate.

There will be a brief informational meeting and a continental breakfast, followed by open play. Scholarships for assistance with registration costs are available through the Nature Coast Tennis Foundation.

Visit louisedowney.usptapro.com or call Louise Downey at (352) 666-0658.

HBA SPORTING CLAYS: The Hernando Builders Association is sponsoring its fifth annual "Bang Bang" Sporting Clays Tournament on Feb. 19 at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays in Land O'Lakes.

Team entries and sponsorships are available at the HBA office at 7391 Sunshine Grove Road, west of Brooksville. The entry fee is $99 per shooter, including coffee and doughnuts before the competition and a catered lunch and awards afterward.

A portion of the proceeds will go the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch. There will also be raffles, including one for a new shotgun.

Call HBA at (352) 596-1114 or visit hernandobuilders.com.

To notify us of community sports achievements or coming events, contact Derek J. LaRiviere at derekjlariviere@gmail.com or (352) 584-6337.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/community/local-bowlers-racking-up-some-big-numbers/1148951

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