Tuesday, December 23
Some days are headlined by individual performance. Today, however, the day was all about the team competition, as eight of us divided up into pretty evenly matched teams of four. Team Frank (FD, E Sm, BB, MR) gave eight pins to Team Tom (TL, MM, TH, DS) with all three games decided in the final frame.
In game one, strong performances by Marty and Ted helped overcome a clunker by Tom and pace their team to a 15-pin victory. In game two, Ben and Ed Sm helped their team eke out a one-pin win, even as Tom rolled a 206. So, it all came down to game three. Team Frank seemed in control for much of the game, and after Frank’s final frame, Tom needed a double in the tenth to get the win. His first ball was high in the pocket and looked like it would leave a split but somehow all 10 pins fell. His second ball was a light pocket hit, but again all 10 pins fell. His third ball legitimately finished the triple and secured the win. Frank good naturedly rolled his eyes and put his quarter down on the table.
In addition to Tom’ having the only 200 game of the morning, Marty had five strikes in game two on his way to a 191, and Ed Sm overcame three splits in the first three frames of that game to record a 185. Four bowlers had 500 series: Frank at 507; Ed at 508; Marty at 520 (whose +67 earns him BoD); and Tom at 538.
We’re off next week, and we resume on Jan uary 6. I hope that the new year will bring sightings of some of our absent and recuperating bowlers (Gehr, Frank G, John Kam, George H and Linc). Here’s hoping you all are on the mend. We miss you!
And finally, I wish everyone a joyous Christmas with family and friends and a new year of good cheer, good health and good bowling.