Those of you who follow my regular blog will know this, but those who only see what I post on BowlSpace should know that I've been using a site called BowlSK since the start of my first winter league back to show what I'm doing on the lanes (other than practice). The site (in advanced entry mode) will track just about anything in a bowling game, including such things as the board I'm standing on and my target at the arrows, as well as any pins I leave standing (on both the first and second balls), the quality of pocket hits, etc. The site is free to use (though donations are gladly accepted), and I recommend it to anyone who, like me, wants to show how they're doing on the lanes online.
The notes to the series and game should speak for themselves, though I also commented that I've been practicing some relaxation techniques, which really helped in the third game, especially in the 10th frame, when I was approaching my personal best run of strikes. The fact that I succeeded in closing out for my second-best game ever should help me down the line if I'm ever in a position to post an honor score.
Result: 192-203-267=662 Average (51 games): 188 Average for last 9 games: 205 Next week's AVG+1: 592
My night was supported mostly by my teammate John Ruhl (my team, "The Flintstones," is in the Wednesday night Brunswick Mixed League), who posted a 470. As a result, we took 3 points (last two games and series total) from "The Dynasty" to move up into a tie for fifth place with them, with a position round rematch with the same team looming next week. We have a chance at fourth place for the first half. At the top of the standings, "The Generations" will need to sweep "Butz-N-Gutz" if they want to win the half. Individually, my 267 and 662 was high game and series of the week, respectively, and, since the 267 is now tied for second best game of the season, I stand a good chance of winning the high game award at least for my average division (as the bowler with the best game also has high series, and the bowler I'm tied with is likely to win the average award).
I had my first clue as to the kind of night I was going to have right away, as I started with 6 in a row before pulling a shot slightly, leaving only the 6-10, which I made. I followed up with a turkey before leaving the 2-4-5, which I made for a 265, only 3 pins off my best ever game. My teammates backed me up, for the most part, and I think we won that game by over 100 pins.
The second game, as it has been for me most of the season, was disappointing, as I started open-strike-open-open (the last 2 opens being a pocket 7-10, my first one all summer, and a missed single 7 pin). I recovered somewhat, however, going double-spare-strike-spare-turkey for a 184. My teammates picked me up, however, and we won that game as well.
I was back on track in the third game, being clean in that one, going double-spare-double-spare before getting a hambone and leaving a 4 in the 11th frame, missing that for a 245 and a 694 series, my best ever, beating even the 689 in practice that I had earlier in the summer. That meant my spare problems in the second game hurt, as making at least one of the two makable spares in that game would've meant I had my first 700 series. My team completed the 8 point sweep, and I'll give special mention to Joy here, as she had back-to-back games in the 190s tonight, which I think helped key her best-ever series. Good bowling Joy! :)
Result: 265-184-245=694 Average (33 games): 198 Last 9 average: 221 Next week's AVG+1: 622
An additional note here...Dan Monahan just missed having the first 300 game in the league tonight, getting 11 in a row before leaving a 6-10 (as a lefty) in the 12th frame for a 298. Superb game, Dan! :)
I'll use the remainder of the week to rest up for the "People's Tournament" Sunday. I definitely can't wait to tell Ray, who also returns from vacation Sunday, about this tear I've been on. :)
For those of you who read what I post on "The Tenth Board" regularly, I may be stating some things that you may already be familiar with, but as this post is a BowlSpace exclusive, I need to bring those only reading me here up to speed.
Tonight was just one of those nights...I seemed to find my groove early, opening the first game with a double, but I had a shot in the 5th frame where I couldn't cave in the bucket and left the 2-5-8, getting all but the 8 on the spare attempt. I took it off the sheet from that point, however, getting the last 7 in a row for a 245, my best game so far in the 2008 Wednesday Summer Mixed League at Westgate Lanes. Ralph Marple, the anchor bowler on my team, I believe was in the 220s himself, and Brian Shea and Joy Falese, my other teammates, had over average games and we overcame a huge handicap difference in the first game against the "Lounge Lizards," three of the members of which are Dave, Debbie, and Melissa Randall, some of my cousins.
In the second game, I seemed solid to start, but left a 4-7-10 split in the 3rd frame and whiffed on it. After a single pin spare, I pieced together a turkey after moving left a board, picked up the 3-6 in the 8th, and had a double in the 9th and 10th, missing a 10 pin on the fill for a 210. My cousins' team wound up taking the second game, but I felt my first 700 series was in reach if I could have another game like my first.
And I was looking good to get the 700 early on, as I started with a strike, picked up a couple of single pins, then had a turkey before leaving the 4-5-7 split, getting only the 5 on that. I threw another double after that before leaving the 6-7 split in the 10th, getting the 6 for a 198 and a 653 series, my new official personal best series. My cousins' team also ended up taking the third game and total, so you might think my accomplishment rang hollow, but I was glad my cousins got something to feel good about on the night, as well, so it was a fun night overall. As I usually do with my regular blog's league recaps, I'll summarize the night below.
Result: 245-210-198=653 Average (27 games): 192 Last 9 average: 197 Next week's AVG+1: 586
