Bowling: Mattingly scores 759 with 27 strikes in three games

Scott Mattingly turned  the Virgin River Bowling Center into his own personal octagon as he pummeled the lanes with the highest series bowled in Mesquite this season.

The highlight in his running roughshod over the lanes was an eye-popping 18 straight strikes beginning with a 6-bagger to end his 253 first game, followed by 11 straight strikes in a 297 game.

Next, he finished his third game with a 209 and paving the way to the highest series booked in Mesquite bowling this season, a 759 with a jaw-dropping 27 strikes.

He captured the high-average title at the VRBC last season with a 223, and he’s aiming for a 2-peat for the 2022-23 season.

Mattingly’s resume sports 24 300 games and a trio of 800 scores including a career-high 836., and he’s one of only 14 bowlers with bragging to a 300 game bowled in Mesquite.

And at the top of his bucket list is a trip to a town in Norway where some in his family grew up and still reside in.

In other sizzling pin action, you can always pencil in former New Yorker Milan Carr for some big scores when he brings his strike ball to the party so he finished with a standout 693 series on games of 231, 225 and a clean 237.

And without much fanfare, Dean Baum is putting together a really good season with multiple scores like his 687 and 266 game.

Meanwhile, Mike Saldivar (686-247) still holds the record for the highest series ever bowled at the VRBC with a 795, and last week put up more good scores, and a top-notch effort by Mike Yoder (683-237) included gong 11-for-11 on his non-split spare shots.

Bob Marget averaged 206 between a 621 in his City High Rollers League and a 613) in the Wednesday Men’s League, and hard throwing right-hander Rick Jones (596) bookended a 172 with games of 214 and 211.

In single game action, Orlyn Meyer (645) popped a 265 in Early Risers League play, and Bill Funk (586) who has a career-high 296 game ran the front 8 in a 254 effort.

Steve Serrano’s 238 is one of his best games since a 288 in November, Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez punched out 8 strikes in a 235, and another 8 in a 218, Dave Pershing (613) tallied a 233, and like Serrano, also rolled a 288 earlier this season.

And a clean 234 by Angel Hernandez included 8 strikes, Harry Uncles uncorked a clean 224, and it was great seeing Rod Averett toss a 6-bagger in a 223 game and have only two opens in a 214.

Britt Kesl (579) pocketed a 216 and his game has improved tenfold over the last couple of years, former Alaskan resident Bob Robbins notched a 215, and Mike Gentry scratched out a 214, and you’ll have to ask him about his workout regimen preparing for running in some marathons years ago.

Dale Milligan hails from the Big Sky Country state and last week chalked up a 212, Frank Ferreira (580) also tossed a 212 and still has enough pop in his strike ball to bowl what would be his 4th 300 game.

Robin Drury logged a 206 and 203, and Al Gans provided great insight into just how outstanding a bowler Drury was in his younger days including his time on the PBA Tour.

Jimmy Webb throws a wicked strike ball and he put together a 5-bagger and 8 total strikes in a 204 game. And he’s also a humongous Boston Red Sox fan who’s traveled to games at the iconic Fenway Park to see games and favorite players like David Ortiz. And for the 2nd time in as many weeks, Mark Brackelsberg (234) finished a game with a 5-bagger in a 204 this time.

Wade Heileson is a good pickleball player who hails from The Gem State and pocketed a 204, Robert Murguia tossed a 203, Josue Mendoza’s scores continue gaining altitude like his latest deuce, a 203, and Paul Levan the outstanding secretary of the Wednesday Mesquite Merchants League bagged a 202.

In women’s action, Sandy Sheppard enjoyed her best week of bowling since a 640 earlier in the season as she compiled a total of 28 strikes in a pair of really good 619 and 580 league outings.

And arguably, the most impressive feat in her two outings came in picking up the 10 pin, which she did on an impressive 13-of-14 attempts.

Meanwhile, after what Diane Marget did last week, she may have the best shot of a woman bowler not named Sheppard, Cormani or Turner to roll the next really huge 600 series.

And what Marget did was shoot a 580 and 216 game with marks on an impressive 15-of-16 non-split spare shot attempts, and three days later tossed a 595 set and 220 game.

Bev Corman’s (543-220) quality scores do not reflect how well and often she hit the 1-3 pocket, and Frances Harper booked a career-high 531 along with a clean 202 in a terrific Early Risers League outing. And both of Harpers parents attended Hollywood High School and her dad was actually a classmate with the actor, Mickey Rooney.

And Maria Tristan-Flynn’s legion of fans at the Eureka will like the fact she bowled a nice 519 series and 200 game, and Marla Daniels captured her first ink in this column for a 517 series and 200 game with 5 strikes and only one open frame.

In single game action, Shari Reynolds delivered an impressive effort in throwing a clean 204 game which featured 5 strikes and 6 spares, Molly Games tossed a 4-bagger in a 194, and Virginia Glossa delivered a clutch 4-bagger in a 191 game to eke out a win for her team in Friday’s T.G.I.F. League outing.

OH, BAY – BEE!

Mary Sheets capped a great T.G.I.F. League outing with a season-high 425 series and 154 game. And while it hasn’t been confirmed, it’s being reported in some cirlcle that she felt extra gratification in her scores after learning that just 10 lanes away her scores were way better than a 382 series and 133 game of her husband, Ron. Opps! … Ed Rino heard lotsa cheers after he picked up the 5-10 split, but wasn’t all that happy with his less-than-cheery 138 game … Pat Clarke blew away her 116 average in the Ladies Trio League with a season-high 197 game … Nancy Egge has a 139 average in the Ladies Trio League and her 480 series was her best since an earlier 504, and she also booked a nice 170 game … Anita Hughes received a 175 Game Award in the Earle Risers League for a season-high 181 … Jane Barratt received a 175 Game Award for a season-high 188 … Lori Donnafield chucked a season-high 164 game and at one time she owned a flower shop in Wyoming.

HIGH SCORES

Mike Rogers 640-239; Doug Love 635-256; Jim Lytle 532-233; Larry Willis 626-216; Darren Simonds 623-234; John Hollaway 615-218; Gary Moore 610-218; Rob Cormani 235; Sal Diaz 235; Randy Kezior 223; Jan Kusy 216; Dennis Craft 216; Dean Sheppard 214; Ernie Kala 214; Ed Hoepfner 213; Bruce Hooley 212; Wayne Donnafield 212; Dan Erhart 210; Gil Niimi 210; Bob Morgan 207; Red Powell 206; Butch Loger 204; Steve Kenyon204; Tom Gelsomin 202; Bryan Pierce 202; Larry Moultrie 202; Alan “AJ” Jacobsen 201; Georgia Godfrey 511.