Surdich on Bowling: Impressive scores at Bellevue last week
The top three scratch bowlers were hitting their marks last week at Bellevue Bowl.
In the Monday Night Merchants, Neill Barcellos rolled another perfect game. Amazingly, it’s his sixth one this fall season.
He plans to roll in the Jackson PBA Open, his first PBA West regional tournament, Feb. 20-22 at Sutter Creek.
In the Guys & Dolls on Tuesday night, Sean McCulloch first rolled a 212 game, followed by a 300 and then a 260 to finish with a 772. He bowled a 705 on Wednesday.
In the Commercial Classic league on Wednesday night, Larry Valenti Jr. rolled games of 258, 289 and 256 for a super 803 series, which is the league high and his fifth 800 series overall.
His father, Larry Valenti Sr., rolled his sixth 299 in the Friday Night Handicap. He is getting close to the magic 300. In the first game, he had the last seven and then the next 11 in the second game for a 678 series that featured several strikes.
Irvin signs with Storm
Modesto’s Freddy Irvin signed a contact with Storm bowling last Thursday, then went out with their new equipment and rolled his 127th career 300 game. He used their new ball, the Rocket (which hits the market Feb. 24), in the Thunder series. The Rocket is polished and for medium oil.
Irvin will be bowling in the Northwest and West Regional’s with all equipment that Storm furnished him. Irvin is known for a distinctive style in which he rolls the ball with one hand using only his fingers.
HOF meeting
The Merced County USBC Association has invited all of its Hall of Fame members to a meeting on Sunday to vote for the nominees for the Class of 2015. The Hall of Fame and Scholarship dinner will be held on April 11 at the Atwater community Center. Hall members are asked to attend the meeting. If you have any questions, contact the association at mercedcountyusbc@comcast.net or at (209) 722-7175.
Upcoming tournaments
The Mother Lode 500 Club’s Scotch Doubles tournament, which is open to all USBC members, will be held Feb. 21 at Black Oak Lanes. Teams can be comprised of men, women or mixed. Entry fee is $35 per team . The Merced/Atwater Women’s 500 Club annual Championship Singles Tournament will be held on Feb 22. There is $200 added to the prize fund and entry fee is $22. Entry forms for both tournaments are available at Bellevue Bowl.
On a sad note
Jo Lefler of Planada passed away recently from a stroke at the age of 76. Lefler was one of the top women’s bowlers in the Merced/Atwater Women’s Association during the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1972 she had the Association high game of (279) and series of (698). She was a member of the Women’s International Bowling Congress. Lefler primarily rolled at Centry Bowl in Merced, but she bowled in the Women’s Wednesday Night Scratch league at Bellevue Bowl in Atwater for years. In 1983 she carried the highest league average in the association with a 186. In 1987 she held a 177 and in 1989 a 175. Lefler participated in numerous women’s association championships and California Women’s State Championships. Services were private.
Don Surdich is a Sun-Star correspondent. He can be reached at (209) 777-111 or via e-mail at desurdich@aol.com.
SCORING LEADERS: Joe Troncoso 232, Mark Mittlesteadt 219, Roy Browning 199, Nollie Smith 167, Val Pemman 157, Phil Oldenhage 178, Fred Ruell 222, Alysun Larimer 149, Judy Layton 163, Ron Brewer 200, Ronnie Gonzales 268, Mike Danel 241, Richard Snell 269, Pete DeVries 253, Keith Hunter 222, Bob Weimer 181, Suzanne Ruiz 204, Ronnie Heil 233, Nevora Nush 183, Jamie Shank 211, Nanette Waggoner 149, Dave Souza 191, Kim Heller 186.
SERIES LEADERS: Ray Mayfield 587, Gary Wescott 558, Caren Thompson 566, Dave Porter 591, Tony Shukle 618, Cam Clemens 625, Dawn Fernandez 631, Marty Daniel 634, Ronnie Gonzales 648, Tommy Cardoza 655, Gene Wallace 670, Alex Nunes 692, Dave Garcez 709, Doug Laidlaw 713.
This story was originally published February 11, 2015 at 10:16 PM with the headline "Surdich on Bowling: Impressive scores at Bellevue last week."