Kegler's Corner: Bowling leagues have started

League bowling takes this great game to the next level by introducing the added factor of a little friendly competition. Who doesn’t like to win, right? Beating an opponent by knocking down more of those ten, formidable 3-pound, 6-ounce  pins set 60-feet away from you on a narrow 42-inch lane bordered on each side by ball-swallowing gutters is quite a challenge. It’s a real game, not a table-top toy for couch potato athletes. Here’s the good news: League bowling just began at Orchard Lanes and openings are still available Monday through Thursday. Call 386-1326 or check out orchardlanes.net to sign-up. Here are some current league highlights:

In the Monday night Industrial league, Luke Renfro rolled a mighty fine scratch 629 series which was 98 pins over his average. That staunch effort powered his OL’7-10 team to 22-3 point win over team No. 4. We don’t think there were many 7-10 splits in that tromping.

In the Wednesday afternoon Senior Colts and Fillies league, it looks like we have the makings of a new 200 average bowler in town. After two weeks of action, young Mick Sherrell has rolled scratch 600s in both outings to the tune of a 206 average. He has topped his 2022-23 average by a total of 139 pins. How did he do it? Well, most folks who bowl league take the summers off to enjoy the nice weather. Mick enjoyed the summer all right, and he bowled just about every week in the Senior Monte Carlo program at Orchard Lanes. That’s how to stay sharp, folks, and he also made a few bucks along the way! That’s right, you can win some money by bowling Senior Monte Carlo, which is currently held every Monday and Friday at the lanes. Come on up and get with the program!

We may only be in the first weeks of league, but scores were quite impressive in the high-powered, fast paced, hot-shot Wednesday night Fraternal league. Hood River is definitely loaded with outstanding ten-pin topplers. Check this action from the Fraternal league:

Owen Clement led the parade of big shooters as the talented two hander destroyed the sticks, rolling a huge scratch 761 three game series for his Mt. Hood BBQ trio, sparking a 24-1 point shellacking over team No. 7. Owen racked up big games of 246, 257 and 258 for the night, finishing 116 pins over his average. For those of you who are from the dark ages, the current rage in bowling is to toss the ball using both hands, unlike the long-time traditional one hand, one arm method. The two handed game developed in just the past few years because the devotees of that style discovered they could put more revs on the ball. More revs creates a more powerful hook which translates into more strikes and higher scores, that is, if you can do it. Owen sure can!

Newcomer AJ Perdue really impressed all of us as he fired a cool scratch 743 series that keyed his team No. 6 to a 19-6 point win over the MD squad. AJ, who just transferred in as the main man at our local Les Schwab, is a right handed power player who uses lots of hand and generates ample speed. His big power ball crunched a pile of sudden service strikes notching nifty 268 and 258 games in this fine outing. We’re sure happy to welcome AJ to Orchard Lanes and based on numbers like these, we expect even bigger things to come from him.

The hapless MD boys took it on the chin again in the second week of league as Orchard Lanes staffer Josh Worth found the range, shooting a solid scratch 714 series at them which boosted his Hood River Athletic Club crew to a 22-3 point win over MD. We told you that if you bowl the Fraternal league, you will be bowling against many of the best bowlers in the Gorge, so you better bring your “A” game.

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Here are the results from the last challenge night of the summer conducted at Orchard Lanes Aug. 30. The infamous PBA Viper oil pattern was used for this event. The Viper pattern is 36-feet long with a medium-high volume of oil put down on the lane. By design, the target to best play the Viper pattern is the 5 board. So, in other words, the best way to get to the pocket to maximize striking is for the ball to come out of the oil 36 feet down lane at the 5 board. For those of you who don’t know what that means, the 5 board is just 5 inches away from the gutter. The Viper is a difficult pattern because the length of the oil is short. Remember, the lane is 60 feet from the foul line to the head pin. The Viper requires accuracy and the best angle to play it is outside near the gutter. Players with a big hook will have trouble, straighter is greater on the Viper.

Twenty-eight bowlers tested their skills against the Viper. Brad Drenvik, who lives in Rufus and bowls in Madras, ventured in to Hood River and won the Viper scratch division with a 718 total pinfall for the four-game event. That amounts to a 179 average. Brad’s official average is 209. Shows you just how tough the Viper oil pattern is and why it’s used for PBA tournaments. Bill Morrissey won the handicap division with 883 pins, a 220 average. Bill’s official average is 174, his scratch total was 707 which is a 176 average. So, Bill wasn’t intimidated by the Viper, he bowled his average. Just about everyone else did not.

Let’s go bowling, everyone!

League high score report

Industrial (Monday, 7 p.m.):

Patrick Olson: 253, 672; Mac Proffitt: 243; Nancy Asai: 202

Senior Colts and Fillies (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m.):

Mick Sherrell: 239, 221, 214, 211, 623, 614; Dick Sherrell: 232, 200; Lynn Spellman: 225, 201; Ed Busick: 224; Paul Dethman: 217; Dave Baumsteiger: 214

Fraternal (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.):

Owen Clemett: 258, 257, 246, 761; AJ Perdue: 268, 258, 743, 655; Josh Worth: 267, 245, 714; Patrick Olson: 260, 257, 696; Chad Mason: 245, 237, 696; James Klugel: 246, 246, 235, 694; Brandon Kawachi: 237, 683; Jeremy Bloom: 671; John Helm: 279, 235; Albert Frelix: 266; John Riggleman: 253; Bryan Mason: 252; Stan Pratnicki: 245, 235; Ciena Brittle: 211, 209