Bowling: Milan Carr blisters Mesquite bowling lanes with a 723 series

Milan Carr is a new bowler in Mesquite this season after changing his zip code in August to one in Mesquite from his former one in Buffalo, New York.

And after what he did at the Virgin River Bowling Center last week he may also wanna change his cell phone number.

And that’s because once this column goes online, the scoop about his top-notch bowling skills and explosive strike ball will spread far beyond the one league he bowls in this season, and he’s gonna have tons of bowlers and team captains calling him to join a team for next season.

It’s all understandable, after reading how his lethal strike ball blistered the 1-3 pocket with 21 strikes, had marks on an impressive 9-of-9 non-split spare shots en route to a standout 723 series on games of 256, 256 and 211.

His bowling resume sports one 300 game, a personal-best 799 series, a career-high 225 average, a 245 triplicate, rolling 25 straight strikes spanning the three games when shooting his 300, and he’s competed 17 times in the national USBC/ABC Tournament.

Away from bowling, he loves to golf, cruise around on a Can-Am Spyder motorcycle with his wife, and when he was still living and bowling in New York, drove a zillion miles on a snowmobile over much of The Empire State and even Canada, and has traveled in all the contiguous states in the United States while behind the wheel driving various modes of transportation.

He raced motocross while in high school, is an avid fan of the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys, and the coldest Bills game he’s ever attended was against a Raiders team with a wind chill of -11.

Carr retired in 2017 after 25 years as a lieutenant with the New York State Department of Corrections.

In other men’s pin action, Scott Mattingly’s pummeling of the VRBC lanes included 10 strikes in each of his 275 and 268 games, and added a 210 for a stratospheric 753 series.

And Bruce Hooley bookended a 195 game with a 9-bagger in a 278 and a 227 third game for a 700 on the nose. It was his best outing since a 300 game and monster 753 series at the Huntsman World Series Games in St. George this past October.

Meanwhile, Al Gans (683-256) delivered a standout effort, Wayne Donnafield (680-242) crafted his best outing this season, and Mike Saldivar had a big week with a 675 set and 268 game, along with a 668 series a day later while going a perfect 13-for-13 on his spare shots along with 10 strikes in a 279.

Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez scored a 7-bagger in a clean 242, totaled eight strikes in a 240, along with a 173 for a 655 series, and Doug Love (665-236) came up with another first-rate performance.

In other action, Bill Funk (632-232) who has a career-high 740 series registered his best scores this season, Dave Harris is a sports junkie and senior softball player who threw a 628 series including a high game of 226 and a total of 19 strikes.

And Harold Hendrick continued a monthlong hot streak with a 625 set and season-high 264 game, and Harry Uncles (615-234) who was the first manager of the Smith’s store when it opened in Mesquite spanked the lanes with his first 600 this season.

Frank Addamo’s (609-223) switch to a two-handed delivery is reaping dividends, Ken Kaylor’s smooth and effortless looking delivery helped lead to a 608 and clean 223 with a 5-bagger, while Louis Dillisio (596-217) just missed the 600 mark.

In single game action, Mike Gentry (646) fired nine strikes in a clean 277 gem, Dennis Craft (620) cobbled together a 7-bagger in a clean 256, and Dan Aslin (646) navigated the lanes for a 255.

Allen Jacobson shot a 248, Bob Robbins chucked a 237, Dennis Hartley’s 5-bagger led to a season-high 235,  and Larry McCubbin’s 6-bagger paved the way for a season-high 232.

Dave Newman had a 5-bagger in a 235, Raul Macias also rolled a 5-bagger in a season-high 222, and Frank Ferriera who is one of only 12 bowlers to bowl a 300 at the VRBC booked a 218.

Meanwhile, Eddie Lopez cruised to a 218, Mike Bock tossed his first deuce this season with seven strikes in a 213, Angel Hernandez logged a 211 & 203, and his game has improved tenfold since taking it up a year ago, and Andrew Christensen’s rev’s and 4-bagger led to a 207.

Wade Heileson’s 203 is confirmation he’s back following a familiar pattern of booking at least one deuce game a week, former rodeo standout Britt Kesl uncorked a 202, Richard Long of Alaska Railroad fame tossed a clean 202 thanks to a clutch double in the 10th frame, and Dave Houghton popped a 200 on the nose.

And on a sobering note, Carl Larsen, who did a super job as President of the Mesquite Merchants Men’s League for 15 years passed away. He was an outstanding pitcher in high school and was signed to a contract in 1955 by the then Brooklyn Dodgers.

In women’s action, Bev Cormani is one of the marquee women bowlers in Mesquite, and sparked by 17 total strikes and a clean 245 ended a scoring funk in convincing fashion with a 600 series.

Sandy Sheppard (582-203) had marks on an impressive 14-of-16 non-split spare shots en route to the next best score, and it’s amazing the good scores Debbie Hansen (572-213) puts up when bringing her A-game.

Cindy Peterson (561-211) will take scores like this all week in Ladies Trio League play, Lee Ann Harms tossed a 528, and Lynae Page delivered another solid outing with a 525 count.

And sparked by a 200, Kerri Roberts continue a recent run of good league outings with a 519 series, Diane Marget delivered a 514, and Suzie Fehske, the outstanding secretary of the Ladies Trio League bagged a 505.

Kathy Legan (149,149,146) narrowly missed a triplicate 149 … Wendy May had a double and 4 total strikes in a 145 game … Marty Wilks picked up the 4-10 split in a 170 game … Toni Gans breezed past a 136 average with a 188 game … Linda Holloway’s 186 easily surpassed a previous 169 high game … Martine Green blew past her 87 average with a season-high 137 helping her popular Gutter Girls team win their first game … Ken Meacham spared the 4-7-10, 5-6 & 3-10 splits and will be going to the Rose Bowl game to see his Utah Utes kick butt over Penn State.

Dean Baum 684-247; Jan Kusy 663-258; Rob Hartman 644-247; Mike Rogers 642-245; Darren Simonds 634-214; John Hollaway 634-214; Ernie Kala 632-223; Mike Yoder 619-215; Jeff Jacobson 628-226; Bob Marget 611-257; Rob Cormani 604-216; Bob Ballard 232; Ron Johnson 227; Dylan Kesl 223; Dean Sheppard 223; Austin Finster 222; Red Powell 215; Mitch Fletcher 214; Steve Serrano 214; Gil Niimi 213; Robin Drury 213; Dave Johnson 211; Gary Moore 211; Oryln Meyer 211; Ken Thompson 204; Jeff Harms 203;Jim Lytle 203; Bryan Pierce 202; James Hartley 202; Sal Diaz 202; Gary Connelly 201; Robert Melendez; Jerry Holloway 200; Georgia Godfrey 517; Gayle Parson 514.