Surdich on Bowling: Nominations for Merced County Hall of Fame are open

Nominations are open for the Merced County Bowling Hall of Fame.

Recognition is in Meritorious Service or Bowling Ability for men or women, living or posthumous. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor and perpetuate the names of those who have contributed to the growth and welfare of bowling in the county. To be eligible, a nominee must have been a member of an association in Merced County for at least 20 years.

Nominations also are open for the Pioneer Award, which honors members of our associations for longtime support of bowling through service, sponsorship or participation. To be eligible, the nominees must have participated for more than 30 years. Recent Pioneer Award recipients include Otto Aschbacher in 2011 and Jim Souza in 2012.

Hall of Fame and Pioneer Award application forms are available at Bellevue Bowl. The deadline is Jan. 31.

Black Oak to host Cal-Singles – The 2016 California State Singles Championships will be held at Black Oak Lanes on Oct. 15-16, according to tournament director Larry Worrall.

There are two divisions – 176 (average) and up, and 175 and under – and an optional scratch division is available. More on this tournament as it becomes available.

Last year’s tourney attracted 202 bowlers to Winnetka Bowl in Winnetka.

Senior New Year’s party – About the New Year in Paris party at McHenry Bowl, if you are a bowler, plan to attend and have a friend who is not a bowler, they can attend as a guest for $15. They will receive a buffet lunch, party favors, cider or champagne and receive an engraved champagne glass to keep, but no bowling or prizes.

Sign up and enjoy the fun with your bowling friends, and meet some new ones. Give me a call at 209-777-1111 if you’re interested in having fun and ringing in 2016 in style.

League highlights – Gene Broussard had a great night in the Friday Night Handicap league at Bellevue, as he rolled a 279 game and 755 set. Lorenzo Alvara had great scores with a 265, Brian Liebelt with a 258, Larry Junior with a 659, Stephanie Kapsimallis with a 590, Phillip Hayes a 244 and William King a 254. The Classic on Wednesday night had Dennis Gray with a spare, then going off the monitor for a 280.

Aqua Bowling Center – I received word from Frank Liao, general manager of the new Aqua Bowling Center being built in Los Banos, that the old concrete was removed and new concrete has been poured and leveled. A new heating and air conditioning system has been installed, and the duct work has been completed.

AMF will come in the middle of January for installation of lanes, pin-setter machines, settees and monitors. The laser tag company also will install its equipment in January.

The 10th frame – Longtime bowler Barbara McLane passed away on Thanksgiving Day.

She rolled at Century Bowl in Merced and was involved in the Women’s Association and Women’s 500 Club for years. Barbara was the treasurer of the Merced/Atwater Women’s Association in 1982 and an active secretary and director of the Merced/Atwater Women’s 500 Club in 1983.

I bowled with and against her husband, Chuck. I used to see Barbara during tournaments her organizations would sponsor. A memorial service was held last Thursday.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 5:36 PM with the headline "Surdich on Bowling: Nominations for Merced County Hall of Fame are open."