Kegler's Corner: Mike Roberts scores

Mike Roberts: +172, 823

Karen Sneider: +142, 742

Mike Parke: +140, 794

Zach Mohun: +133, 784

Ken Ingram: +132, 732

3,875 total pins

The holidays have concluded, so league bowling is back in full swing at Hood River’s Orchard Lanes, that is, unless Old Man Winter really gets angry with us in the ensuing weeks. Scores are definitely on the upswing now.

Leading everybody in tenpin action last week was long-driving Mike Roberts, who smashed the sticks to the tune of a mighty fine scratch 679 series in the Monday night Industrial League. That tall tally was a whopping 172 pins over Mike’s average — the best performance of all bowlers in league play last week. That makes the multi-talented sportsman the top bowler in town and No. 1 on our famed Team of the Week. This is the third time Mike has made the fab five this season; he’s having a pretty good year on the lanes.

Talk about setting a high standard, how about Karen Sneider, who racked up a big pile of wood in the Wednesday afternoon senior Colts & Fillies League. Karen finished her three-game session 142 pins over her average, which was good enough to grab the second spot on our big five this week. Karen has been a longtime dependable force in league action and this may be her best effort yet. This is the first time she has made the Team of the Week. Welcome to the big-time, Karen!

Our big hitter in the No. 3 slot on the Team of the Week is no stranger to prime time. Mike Parke is one of the best bowlers you will ever see; his left handed slants are machine-like, and in the past, we have even called him the “Doomsday Striking Machine,” because knocking those tenpins down for strikes is his specialty. Mike demonstrated his prowess last week, firing two scratch 700s in league, a 710 in the Tuesday Nite Mixed and a 704 in the Wednesday night Fraternal. He was 140 pins over his average in the Fraternal, mainly because he, like just about everybody else, had a bit of a slow start this season, but he’s definitely in the zone now. This is Mike’s second time on the flashy five this season.

Few things are more rewarding than to see a bowler improve on their own by plugging away at this game; it’s not easy, but it sure is fun. Bowling is real, it’s big-time, not for a couch potato aiming an electronic gadget at a TV. Zach Mohun has proved his mettle in this regard by winning the recently completed singles title in the Hood River City Tournament and in his latest outing in the Industrial, where he notched a scratch 619 series that was highlighted by scratch 225 and 215 games, just like the big boys. That set was 133 pins over his average, good enough to grab the clean-up slot on this classy crew. Zach, who got his first taste of how exciting competitive bowling can be while he was with the award-winning Hood River Valley High School team a few years ago, now gets to bask in some more limelight. That’s what improvement gets you: great satisfaction and a few bucks to boot. This is Zach’s first time on the Team of the Week this season.

Anchoring our squad of renown is none other than Ken Ingram who had things his way in the Colts & Fillies where he topped his average by 132 pins. Every time Ken rolls a ball, he proves that difficult challenges can be overcome. Ken is a heck of a bowler who can hold his own in any setting and to prove it, this is his second time on the Team of the Week this season — a pretty heady accomplishment that is not easy as Hood River has a bunch of talented bowlers that you have to beat to do so.

Three more leagues have now completed a round. In the Tuesday morning ladies Workshirkers League, the famous Nobi’s quartet won the first half by a landslide as they have so often done in the past. Bowling for this dynasty are local legends, twin sisters, Shirley Thornhill and Charlotte Severns, Nina Kruckenberg and Nancy Asai. It looks like this formidable foursome is well on its way to another league title. Can they be stopped?

The Wednesday afternoon senior Colts & Fillies League ended its first half in a draw between the Mighty Ducks and More Are Better teams. The seniors mostly bowl for fun and to socialize, but it’s rumored they may do a roll-off to determine an outright first half winner. Stay tuned — we’ll update this if it happens. Bowling for the Mighty Ducks are Tom Culp, Dolores Slavin, Adolphe Bonfiglio and Hood River’s gregarious man-about-town, the irrepressible Len Hickman. Bowling for More Are Better are Garna Arnell, Sue Spellman, Doug Arnell and John Lyon.

The Thursday afternoon senior Lads & Lassies League also finished its first half and The Kim Chees trio emerged victorious. What do you suppose they are trying to say with a team name like Kim Chees? Anyway, bowling for Kim Chees are Len Allen, Jackie Fishtrom and Kim McCartney. Nothing like the sweet smell of success! Great bowling, everybody!

League Reports:

Monday night Industrial: Mike Roberts, 256 game & 679 series; Mark Chabotte, 277 game & 678 series; Kevin Harris, 246 game & 663 series; Carl Casey, 252 game; Jeff Miller, 236 game; Bob Reid, 235 game.

Tuesday Nite Mixed: Mike Parke, 253 game & 710 series; Patrick Olson, 273 game & 681 series; Bryan Mason, 254 game & 653 series; Mary Finley, 232, 202 games & 614 series; Jeff Hasegawa, 237 game; Shaiyan Brittle, 221 game; Sandy Holmes, 205, 203 games.

Wednesday afternoon senior Colts & Fillies: Lynn Spellman, 255 game & 677 series; Karen Sneider, 487 series; Doug Arnell, 224 game; Erma Hickman, 189 game.

Wednesday night Fraternal: Mike Parke, 246 game & 704 series; Josh Worth, 264 game & 683 series; Jeff Miller, 236 game & 683 series; Roger Montavon, 243 game & 679 series; Aaron Troxel, 235 game & 678 series; Patrick Olson, 659 series; Bernie Keys, 213 game & 563 series; Casey Barker, 246 game; Len Hickman, 244 game; Jeremy Bloom, 236 game.

Thursday afternoon senior Lads & Lassies: Neil Johnson, 191 game & 556 series; Bernie Keys, 188 game & 519 series.

County: Rod Pratt, 247 game & 574 series; Deanna Lainhart, 464 series; Joyce Wilson, 174 game.