Bowling: Morgana’s monster 267 game paves the way for first-ever 600 series

Juan Morgana put together a bowling league outing to remember.

Competing in the City High Rollers League at the Virgin River Bowling Center, he threw his first-ever 600 series, a 613, that he punctuated with a stellar career-high 267 game.

But, after opening league play with a 195, and followed by a less-than-cheery 151, a 600 series wasn’t even on his radar screen.

However, after a spare in the first frame of his third game, followed by an eye-popping 7-bagger, he realized a 600 was doable with a big 10th frame. And he made it happen with a pair of clutch strikes and eight pins on his fill ball for a 267 that paved the way for his 613.

Morgana has improved his average every single season since he began bowling at the VRBC in the 2014-15 season when he finished a composite 124 average over 111 games. And last season he wrapped things up with a composite 170 average over 213 games. And no doubt his average will be improving again this season.

He was also quick to credit Red Powell who drilled a brand new bowling ball for him at Red’s Arizona Pro Shop for literally hours before bowling that evening,

Away from bowling he’s a handyman with a wide variety of skills who takes great pride in whatever job he’s working on. He also loves watching sports, especially baseball, soccer or basketball. His favorite athlete is the late, Kobe Bryant, and the Los Angeles Dodgers & Lakers are his two favorite teams.

In other pin action, Mike Yoder became just the third bowler who’s navigated the lanes for a 700 series this season as he fired 23 strikes during games of 257, 236 and 224 for a 717 series including an “Andy Varipapa 300” spanning his 257 and 236 games.

Dave Pershing (667-236) is a newcomer to the Mesquite bowling scene who’s winning accolades for his bowling skills, and a standout effort by Harold Hendrick merits ink for a season-high 634 in Gamblers 4 Aces League action which included 18 strikes, a clean 234, and raised his average to 185.

Meanwhile Jack Northover (629-237) was all smiles after his best performance this season, Ken Meacham (622-231) delivered a workmanlike 600 series, and Jeff Branche put together a blueprint for bowling success with a very efficient outing which included getting marks an impressive 89% (17-of-19) of his spare shots along with a clean 222 in a 613 set.

And sparked by a 234, Michael Ramirez (610) punched out a 600, while Bob Ballard (600) a sprinter on his high school track team included a 246 in his 600.

Ernie Kala’s 600 included a 9 pin no-tap 300 in a 219, and Angel Hernandez (564) who narrowly missed his first 600 still came up with a good effort that included seven strikes in a 226 game.

In the single game category, Scott Mattingly (753) swept high-game honors with a 276, Rob Cormani (626) uncorked a 264 with an 8-bagger after shooting a 246 two days earlier.

Mike Saldivar (672) popped a 258, and Robin Drury popped nine strikes in a 255.

And in T.G.I.F. League play, Ken Riswick who seemingly always has at least one deuce game bagged a 254 gem, Ron Johnson put together a 6-bagger in a 243, and Dan Aslin spared the 4-10 split in a 231.

Dave Cirbo tallied a 223, Robert Murguia tossed a season-high 219, Mark Brackelsberg’s clean 215 included highlight-reel conversions of both the 6-7-10 and 6-7 splits, and Bob Davis smacked another deuce with a 210.

John Collins is an avid Las Vegas Raiders fan who logged a 206, Logan Hendrick fired eight strikes in a 203, and Tom Gelsomin who also golfs and hails from Syracuse, New York also posted a 203.

Finally, Rual Macias registered a season-high 202, and Dale Milligan uncorked seven strikes in his 202.

In women’s bowling one of the good developments is scoring gained a tad more altitude as two bowlers booked a 600 in the same week.

For starters, Sandy Sheppard (607-215) nudged out LoriJo Turner (606-227) for high-series honors, and Bev Cormani (569-199) might be off to a sluggish start to her season, but when her scoring slump ends and given her explosive strike ball, the pins better be placed on high alert.

MaryAnn Davis (545-208) continues putting up quality scores, and it looks like Cheryl Rogers (542-227) may have ended a scoring funk after a breakout 2021-22 season.

Evelyn Hooley (535-199) came up with another good effort, and in Ladies Trio League Karen Woolsey fired a season-high 510, Bobbie Robbins KO’D 507 pins, and Lynae Page booked a 502 in Ladies Trio League play.

In single game action, Francine Gastelum fired six strikes in a season-high 207, and she also narrowly missed her first-ever 500 before finishing with a 497.

Richard Long converted the 5-6-10 split in Mesquite, but on a bigger stage, he finished a really impressive 12th in the recent Southern Nevada Senior Singles Tournament … Maryellen Variola threw rare stepladder games of 123, 124 and 125 … Barb Field tossed a season-high 180 … Jayne Burgoyne tossed a 178 in LTL League which was 42 over her 134 average in that league.

James Hartley 647-236; Doug Love 636-231; Mike Rogers 636-238; John Hollaway 601-205; Rob Hartman 600-242; Mike Gentry 600-223; Dean Baum 237; Al Gans 236; Bob Marget 235; Darren Simonds 234; Dennis Craft 230; Orlyn Meyer 224; Jan Kusy 224; Austin Finster 222; Randy Kezior 219; Dylan Kesl 215; Jeff Jacobson 214; Jerry Holloway 214; Wayne Donnafield 213; Dean Sheppard 213; Chris Eyre 213; Red Powell 211; Steve Serrano 211; Larry Moultrie 211; Jim Lytle 210; Bruce Hooley 210 Bob Robbins 210; Bill Rife 210; Jeff Harmes 207; Garth Turner 207; Randy Henderson 205; Sal Diaz 204; Jimmy Webb 204; Frank Addamo 204; Steve Roberts 203; Mark Maguire 203; Bill Funk 203; Alan Jacobson 200; Milan Carr 200; Harvey Scow 200.