Bowling: Mike Saldivar throws an electrifying 300 game in Mesquite

All eyes were riveted on Mike Saldivar as he stepped on the approach for his 10th frame in Kings & Queens League action at the Virgin River Bowling Center.

And that’s because after running the front nine, league bowlers were hoping to witness a rare 300 game bowled in Mesquite.

So, after beginning an electrifying 10th frame with two monster strikes, a thunderous applause told the rest of story as his devastating strike ball crushed the 1-3 pocket for a strike, and his first-ever 300 game. And with it, he also joined some select company as he’s only the 14th bowler to ever throw a perfecto at the VRBC since it opened as a bowing center in 1998.

And as one of the two leaders of the big-hit brigade at the VRBC, Saldivar has been close to a 300 four times in the last two years with games of 298, 296, 296 and 290.

I know, you get it, he’s a strike-throwing machine. In fact, it seems his strike ball is loaded with so much kinetic energy when it hits the 1-3 pocket it’s almost akin to watching a 4th of July fireworks festival.

His ability to throw strikes was also key in the record he holds for the highest series ever bowled at the VRBC, a 795. And this season he’s already booked series scores of 752, 728, 720, 717, 716, 715 and 703.

He bowled his 300 on lanes 7 & 8, which is the same pair where he also tossed a 761 series with 28 strikes two years ago.

Away from throwing strikes at bowling, he enjoys time sunning by the pool, playing zombies on his Playstation 3, and watching Big Bang Theory with his wife, Carol.

In high school he was an outstanding two-sport athlete in wrestling and soccer. In fact, in 1984 was the MVP of his Taylorsville High School soccer team, and in one of the premier high school wrestling tournaments in all of Utah, the Ben Lomond Wrestling Tournament, he won 1st place in his weight division by pinning all his opponents in under one minute.

And in later years while working as security during the filming of Touched by an Angel in Salt Lake City, he would escort the actress Marion Ross from her dressing room to the filming area.

Saldivar’s bucket list includes seeing all his grandkids graduate from high school and to bowl an 800 series.

In other pin action, Scott Mattingly put together back-to-back 268 games with 10 strikes in each before finishing with a 225 for a 761 series, and propelled by a clean 258 with nine strikes, Orlyn Meyer continues creating mayhem on the lanes with a 680 set.

And without much fanfare, Doug Love (653-249) continued an impressive scoring run, Jack Baker (651-235) took his game to new heights in T.G.I.F League play, and Michael “Smurffzza’ Ramirez tossed 21 strikes in a 639 set on games of 235, 205 and 205.

Jerry Holloway (621-233) & 615-216) couldn’t buy a 600 earlier this season, and now he’s throwing two a week, and Britt Kesl (619-248) has clearly elevated his game in the last month.

And when Jan “Kooz” Kusy (618-216) brings his spare ball to the party he converts a high percentage of his 7 pins and throws a 600-plus series, and Air Force veteran Kelly Williamson (611-214,203.194) delivered another good week of bowling.

One of the most impressive feats of the season involved Frank Addamo going all in on developing a two-handed delivery in order to continue bowling. And it’s beginning to reap dividends as reflected in a 606 series with games of 231, 186, and a 6-bagger in a clean 189.

In single game play, Darren Simonds (640) pounded out a 254, and multi-talented Logan Hendrick (598) tossed nine strikes in a clean 248, and Wyoming and Beaver Dam’s Wayne Donnafield (610) booked a 245.

And Andrew Christensen’s lethal strike ball led to a 233, Bruce Hooley (624) tallied a 232, and Dave Cirbo’s 231 get’s him more ink this week.

And it was great seeing the talented Austin Finster’s return from a wrist injury and throw games of 218 and 214, and L.A. Dodgers fan Ricky Trujillo’s two-handed delivery helped power his way to a 227.

Meanwhile, Sal Diaz tossed seven strikes in a clean 226, Dan Erhart pounded out a 225, and Jimmy Webb tossed a 6-bagger in a 215 effort in his first outing after returning from a national senior softball tournament in Florida.

Gil Niimi only had one open in a 211, and Shaun Edwards logged a season-high 206, served in the U.S. Army for 32 years, and is the Sports Director for the Mesquite Senior Games.

And Maury Hardman’s 204 would often be his lowest game in league and tournament play during his prime years bowling in both Idaho and Utah, Fred Emmons fired a 203, and after retiring from the military went to work for ESPN.

Finally, Ron Johnson’s 202 gives him nice back-to-back deuce games, and Juan Morgana rolls a deuce at least once a week, and this time it was a 200.

Women’s action may have been pretty much of a yawner, but still featured some solid scoring led by Sandy Sheppard’s 591 and 4-bagger in a 213.

Diane Marget (567-211) put up the next best scores and she brings a top-notch skill-set from her years competing in Minnesota, and Mary Posey did a great job rolling a season-high 553, and Suzie Fehseke (506) only had two opens in a 181 and was a cabin attendant for 34 years with United Airlines.

In single game play, Bev Cormani (545) smacked a 214, Cheryl Rogers (551) pocketed a 203, and Virginia Glossa (532) registered a 203. Tama Dixon tallied a 193 and Ronnie Tsuhako cruised to a 192.

Richard Long put together a clutch 6-bagger in a 181 giving his team a narrow win … Nancy Kleinhans blew past her 127 average with a season-high 187 game … Mark Brackelsberg of RE/MAX REALTY converted the tough 4-7 split … Sherry Williamson tossed a 188 game which is only 2nd to her season-high 199 … Cathy Hamilton easily surpassed a 128 average with a nice 172 game.

John Hollaway 644-247; Jim Lytle 636-231; Al Gans 632-225; Dan Aslin 631-223; Mike Yoder 630-224; Mike Gentry 628-247; Ernie Kala 624-216; Dennis Craft 620-247; James Harley 619-233; Milan Carr 608-230; Dave Pershing (586)-245; Mike Rogers 216; Harry Uncles 215; Dave Newman 214; Harvey Scow 212; Gary Moore 212; Gil Niimi 211; Bob Morgan (595) 210; Dean Baum 208; Alan “AJ” Jacobson 208; Bob Robbins 204; Harold Hendrick 204; Mitch Fletcher 203; Robin Drury 202; Dave Harris 202; Steve Kenyon 201; Bobbie Robbins 533; Debbie Hansen 514; Reiko Schultz 512-195; LeeAnn Harmes.