Kegler's Corner: Brandon Kawachi rolls a 300 game

Mike Roberts: 180, 828

Victor Flores: 178, 770

Len Hickman: 130, 730

George Buck: 127, 778

Aaron Troxel: 119, 773

3,879 total pins

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It might have been a cold, wintery whiteout in Hood River last week, but bowling was white-hot inside cozy Orchard Lanes. There was a plethora of excellent scores, starting with the indomitable Brandon Kawachi, who had that huge, roundhouse-curving buzz-bomb ball that he rolls, splattering the sticks to smithereens in the Wednesday night Fraternal League. In his first game of the session, young Brandon strung 12 straight strikes to notch his 14th career perfect 300 game. And strike after strike, he went on to amass a mighty fine scratch 723 three-game series.

More highlights abounded last week; just check out our team of the week above. Four big shooters found the range in the Monday night Industrial League: Mike Roberts, Victor Flores, George Buck and Aaron Troxel really put a hurt on the pins.

Celebrated local golfer Mike Roberts found his bowling stroke, hitting the sweet spot with just about every swing in posting scratch 232 and 221 games and a nifty 648 series — his best of the season. Clearly, Mike had the best drive of the week, topping everybody in league action as he beat his average by a whopping 180 pins.

Smooth Victor Flores was a close second, as he rolled a nice scratch 221 game and bested his average by 178 sticks. Victor is an outstanding bowler who has been away from the game for a few years, but he’s knocked all that rust off already. Welcome back, Victor: your resurgence is commendable!

Renowned past state no-tap champ George (the buck stops here) Buck, rocked ‘em and socked ‘em with a big scratch 242 game and 628 series that was 127 pins over his average.

And power ball artist Aaron (no-thumb) Troxel blasted the helpless pins with that speedy revving sphere of his to the tune of a scratch 659 set that was 119 sticks over his average.

The lone interloper in our fab five team of the week is none other than Hood River’s legendary Len Hickman, prolific letter writer to the news editor, man about town and long-time 10-pin star who lit up the lanes just like old times in the Wednesday afternoon senior Colts and Fillies League, where he recorded a spiffy scratch 268 game and 670 series that was 119 pins over his average.

We had so many hot-shot shooters last week, we could have had two teams of the week. In the Fraternal, aspiring newcomer Jacque Long was 109 pins over his average after rolling a solid scratch 211 game, 10-pin dynamo Court Barker hit a lofty scratch 247 game and 680 set which was 104 pins over his average and mega-hook artist extraordinaire Jeff Brittle was also 104 pins over his average after firing super scratch 248 and 242 games, plus a 671 series.

Scary Wes Craven’s nice brother Jeff and Rod Pratt joined these elite tall totalers in the Thursday County League. Jeff logged a sweet scratch 209 game and finished up 104 pins over his average. And ramblin’ Rod blitzed the silly sticks as he so often does with a beautiful scratch 661 series that was capped by a big 245 game. Rod topped his average by an even 100 pins. Great bowling, everybody!

League Reports:

Monday evening Industrial League: Mark Chabotte: 254, 237 games and 703 series; Jeff Miller: 248 game and 667 series; Patrick Olson: 258 game and 664 series; Aaron Troxel: 659 series; Lynn Spellman: 245 game; George Buck: 242 game.

Tuesday nite mixed League: Nancy Asai: 206, 204, 201 games and 611 series; Josh Worth: 600 series; Bob Mason: 245 game; Ciena Brittle: 201 game.

Wednesday afternoon Colts and Fillies League: Len Hickman: 268, 213 games and 670 series; Erma Hickman: 185 game and 511 series; Dave Baumsteiger: 215 game; Mick Sherrell: 214 game; Lynn Spellman: 202 game; Kim McCartney: 200 game.

Wednesday evening Fraternal League: Jeff Miller: 278, 252 games and 730 series; Brandon Kawachi: 300 game and 723 series; Roger Montavon: 247 game and 687 series; Court Barker: 247 game and 680 series; Jeff Brittle: 248, 241 games and 671 series; Matt Hodges: 239 game and 665 series; Josh Worth: 257 game; Lynn Spellman: 235 game.

Thursday afternoon Lads and Lassies League: Kim McCartney: 211, 201 games and 569 series; Joyce Ebersole: 502 series; Len Allen: 203 game; Jim Block: 202 game; Joyce Hert: 197 game.

Thursday County League: Rod Pratt: 245, 215, 201 games and 661 series; Deanna Lainhart: 503 series; Paul Dethman: 210 game; Jeff Craven: 209 game; Joyce Wilson: 197 game.