Bowling: Mesquite bowler Larry Moultrie’s shooting skills help trigger a 681 series

Larry Moultrie has an uncanny ability to hit any target he’s aiming at.

And all these years later, his prowess at hitting a target is still reaping dividends as it did last week in Early Risers League action at the Virgin River Bowling Center where he consistently hit the1-2 pocket for 21 strikes en route to a standout 681 series on games of 245, 232, 204, and was also an impressive 10-of-11 on his spare shots.

His topflight bowling resume includes a pair of 300 games, a 299, a personal-best 750 series, and a career-high 210 average.

Moultrie played basketball on his high school’s varsity basketball team where his forte was rebounding and playing tough defense, and after graduation he joined the United States Navy.

Away from bowling he plays golf and loves working with wood in his shop where you name it, and he can build it.

In other action, Scott Mattingly’s physical game is one of the most dominating at the VRBC and his power again proved to be too much as he pummeled the lanes with 28 strikes paving the way for his first 700 series this season, a stratospheric 752 on games of 279, 248 and 225.

Meanwhile, Mike Saldivar is another power bowler who can throw strikes with the best as he bookended a 258 with games of 235 and 227 in his third 700 of the season, a 720. And fittingly, his clean 258 included all single pin spares and nine strikes for his umpteenth 9 pin no-tap 300 game.

By the way, should you ever go to watch Mattingly and Saldivar bowl, you’ll wanna bring a calculator as both are strike-throwing machines.

Dylan Kesl is one of the best of a growing legion of rapidly improving young bowlers and showcased his ability to throw strikes in a 667 series with a 9-bagger and 10 total strikes in a clean 278 gem.

And Kelly Williamson punctuated his latest scoring splurge with 11 strikes in a 279 effort during a 650 set, and now you know why he’s winning accolades for his bowling talent since changing his zip code this summer to one in Mesquite after a move from Arizona.

And another bowler winning accolades is Michael Ramirez (616-224) who only took up the sport last January and has already booked multiple 600s. He brings an undeniable energy to the lanes, and I’m unapologetically confident he’ll smoke the VRBC with his first 700 series before bidding adieu to the 2022-23 season.

In single game action, Wayne Donnafield (639) pounded out a 247, Randy Kezior put together a 7-bagger in a season-high 246, and Robert Melendez who tossed six consecutive strikes in a 241 is also one seriously passionate NASCAR fan who’s been to the Daytona 500 multiple times.

Ron Johnson blitzed the pocket with an 8-bagger in a 232, while Jon Fjeld who served in the U.S. Air Force 21 years thumped the lanes for a 225.

And fueled by a 5-bagger, Frank Burdett smacked a 218, and word has it he was one tough dude on the tracks during his heyday as a race car driver, while Dave Keil worked the lanes for a 217 on the first night of T.G.I. F. League play, and Andrew Christensen and his zillion revs booked a 212.

Dennis Hartley who’s been whupping up on pins ever since Jimmy Carter lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue KO’d 203 pins, while Rod Averett rolled seven strikes along with four spares in his 203, Rick Jones navigated the lanes for six strikes in a 202, and Ken Thompson scratched out a 200 on the nose.

In women’s action, the good news is bowlers who seldom get any ink garnered most of it in this week’s column.

For starters, Cindy Petersen who’s an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan peppered the lanes in Friday morning’s Ladies Trio League play with a season-high 541 and also spared the 1-4-5 washout in a 193 game.

And major kudos to Georgia Godfrey who chalked up another good effort with a 540 set on consistent games of 181, 181, 178, and it sure looks like she’s on the cusp of a breakout season.

Reiko Schultz put up solid scores including a 199 in a 522 series, Lynae Page bagged a 511 series and 204 game, Darlene Carpenter who hasn’t bowled for two years strolls into the VRBC Friday night and posted a 503 score, and bolstered by a 203, Debbie Hansen racked up a 502, with Donna Evans also posting an identical 502.

In the single game scoring food chain, Charlene Heiden who does a great job as secretary of the Gamblers 5 Aces League rolled her a 202, and Gayle Parison who’s an excellent poker player and a huge Chicago Bears fan merits major kudos for a clean 198 game.

Finally, the most inspiring story in women’s bowling last week was the return of Bessie Roberts to the Friday morning Ladies Trio League where she began league play with a 178.

Roberts is a nonagenarian who will be 95-years-old shortly after October gives way to November and she’s still as determined as ever to mow down pins. However, one thing about Roberts that’s changed is you won’t see her driving around Mesquite in her former Cadillac or getting gas for it at Maverick. Instead, she’s now cruising the streets in a Mercedes-Benz.

Barb Garcia began her first game in T.G.I.F. League play with a turkey, and also ended the night with one in the 10th frame of her third game … Connie Jenkins spared the 5-7 split in a 172 game … Mel Ray did a great job in a 180 game where she had a strike or spare in every single frame except for a 7 pin count on her first ball in the 4th frame which derailed what would have been a terrific 9 pin no-tap 300 … Janie Rappe tossed five strikes in a season-high 179 game … Bob Gallegos rocked the lanes with his first turkey of the season. Ask him about some fascinating stories about his time working in Saudi Arabia for a branch of a major U.S. bank located in that country … Sonya Robinson who’s husband ran two sub-four-minute mile races in high school rolled a season-high 192 … Toni Gans who does a super job in the bowling program of the Mesquite Senior Games picked up both the 5-7 and 5-10 splits in a 177 game … Margaret Baron gets her first ink after rolling four strikes in a season-high 175 … Cathy Hamilton who hails from Idaho and joined the Ladies Trio League chucked a season-high 186 game.

Mike Yoder 657-243; Darren Simonds 628-246; John Hollaway 612-216; Doug Love 610-221; Alan Jacobson 610-219; Bob Ballard 609-229; Jim Lytle 605-215; Jeff Jacobson 602-224; Jerry Holloway 595-215; Bruce Hooley 232; Mike Gentry 232; Bill Funk 232; Orlyn Meyer 225; James Hartley 222; Max Burgess 221; Dan Erhart 218; Al Gans 216; Rob Hartman 214; Frank Ferreira 214; Ricky Trujillo 212; Koa Paka Ned 212; Bryan Pierce 211; Bob Robbins 210; Mike Rogers 209; Frank Adamo 203; John Gerger 203; Dean Sheppard 203; Darrell Moffatt Jr. 202; Fred Emmons 202; Jedd Fisher 201; Randy Henderson 201; Austin Finster 200; Ken Kaylor 200; Sandy Sheppard 581-213.