Kegler's Corner: George Buck is No. 1

Bill Pullum, +154 (808)

Aaron Asai, +125 (776)

Quinton Cox, +121 (721)

Woody Eskildsen, +119 (770)

Hats off to the most improved bowler in town, George Buck, who took top honors in league action at Hood River’s Orchard Lanes last week. Over the past few years George has clearly put in way, way more practice time on the lanes than anyone else in Hood River, and his considerable efforts sure have paid off.

Just a short time ago he won the Oregon state no-tap championship tournament to garner a nice check, and last week he ended his session in the Wednesday night Fraternal league with a scratch 235 game and 651 series, which was 159 pins over his average. After all that practice, George has raised his average 40 pins per game. Odds are he will keep on improving his average because he still practices diligently and continues to thoroughly enjoy the game.

You can do this too; don’t expect to fall out of bed and average 200 — you’ve got to put something in to get something back.

While we’re on the subject of talent, no one in bowling around here has more of it than Bill Pullum. He had that big breaking hook of his right on the money all night long in the Fraternal, making the pins dance to the tune of big scratch 269 and 258 games, which propelled him to a huge 751 series. Bill has had a slow start this season, but he is a heck of a bowler and has dozens of award winning scores on his resume. We can expect more like this from him as the season goes on.

For this latest outing, Bill was 154 pins over his average, just missing the irrepressible Mr. Buck for top honors in town.

It was definitely a family affair in the Tuesday Nite Mixed league for the Asai’s: Aaron and his legendary better half, Nancy, who is one of the best pin topplers around. This time Aaron grabbed most of the accolades, just edging out Nancy for scratch series, 626 to 605. Aaron notched mighty fine scratch 236 and 234 games along the way and ended up 125 pins over his average for the night’s work, which was good enough to get the third spot on this Team of the Week.

Our last two stars seem to have become regulars on our big five. Quinton Cox is really getting into the game. After bowling top-notch in the Monday night Industrial league, he tried his hand in a substitute role in the Wednesday afternoon Colts & Fillies league. That also went well for Quinton as he finished 121 pins over his average for the outing — good enough to claim the clean-up spot on the Team of the Week.

Finally, our anchor man is none other than the amazing Woody Eskildsen, who, if our memory is correct, makes the Team of the Week for the third time already in this young bowling season.

Great bowling everybody!