Bowling: Cher Erhart bowls a rare All Spare game in Mesquite bowling

Cher Erhart did something so rarely seen in bowling these days it may just be the catalyst needed for the United States Bowling Congress to once again consider an award for it.

Now being pragmatic, that’s not likely to happen. But what will happen is the readership of this column in the Mesquite Local News online newspaper in Mesquite, Nevada, the 15,000 members of the Facebook group, What’s Happening, Mesquite, as well as Newsbreak will have an opportunity to read about her rare bowling achievement.

And the rare feat we’re talking about, is, in fact, the first one I’ve seen bowled in the six years of doing this column. And odds are it will be another six years before seeing another one like it.

Okay, I get it. You wanna know what she did that was so rare. Well, she bowled a 177 game that featured all spares thanks to some great spare shooting for marks on five of her single pin shots, and the other five mowing down multiple pins.

And how’s this for even more perspective on her rare All Spare game? In the same six year period, nine bowlers at the Virgin River Bowling center bowled a total of twelve 300 games. Yes, an All Spare game has been on bowling’s “endangered game” list since the advent of high performance bowling balls.

Erhart’s bowling resume sports a career-high 602 series, a personal-best 256 game, a career-high 173 average, and a gold medal in the Mesquite Senior Games.

She graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science leading to a career with a major technology and communications company where did she everything from product certification tests, software development and also served as a technical writer.

And that background helps explain how she recently created a website and email setup for the National Women’s 500 Club of which she’s also the Publicity Chairperson. By the way, the website is http://www.nationalwomen500club.org.

Away from her league bowling, the depth of her volunteer work over the years in Mesquite is breathtaking. And two of the most high profile involved being an exceptional youth bowling coach for five years, along with  helping to coordinate support in numerous ways for the Virgin Valley High School girls golf team whether running fundraising events, or helping out when matches and meets are held in Mesquite.

Her volunteer work even goes back to her days in Illinois with lots of time spent working in the kennels and adoption center of the West Suburban Humane Society.

And it was also in the Land of Lincoln where Erhart took up both golf and riding snowmobiles which would frequently see her braving the snow and blazing trails as far away as Wisconsin and Michigan. And it should be noted, she was introduced to both by her husband, Dan.

In other women’s pin action, whether it was throwing strikes, picking up spares, or converting splits, Sandy Sheppard put on a dazzling display of her bowling talents in Monday’s Scratch League action.

For starters, her 645 on games of 231, 209 and 205 was the first clean series by a woman bowler at the VRBC this season.

Next, her masterpiece included 15 strikes, marks on all 17 of her spare shots including picking up the 5-7 split. And also impressive is the fact that eight of her 17 spares involved shooting at the dreaded 10 pin, and she converted all 8.

Meanwhile, Lori Jo Turner (622-221) rolled her umpteenth 600, Diane Marget  averaged 202 between a pair of 600s (610 & 607), and Reiko Schultz navigated the lanes leading to her best scoring production this season with a 556 set, including a 6-bagger in a 214.

Cheryl Rogers  (553-233) is winding down her season on a high note, Cindy Petersen (5230-199)  enjoyed another good week and she first took up bowling when she was nine-years-old.

In single game play, Linda Holloway was stoked after rolling six strikes including a 5-bagger in a season-high 219. Gayle Parson popped a 201, Jane Burgoyne (509) tallied a 200, and Ronnie Tsuhako’s 200 included a 4-bagger and only one open frame.

On the men’s side of ledger, Wayne Donnafield tossed 23 strikes in the only 700 of the week, a 719, including a 256, and Dave Newman’s standout 690 on games of 246, 245 and 209 raised his Early Risers League average to 182, and Michael “Smurrffzzz” Ramirez put up 22 strikes in a 676 series with a clean 257, and you have to like the positive energy and enthusiasm he brings to the lanes each week.

And Ernie Kala’s terrific 661 on games of 242, 241 and 178 raised his average to 182, and Randy Kezior thumped the lanes with his best effort this season, a superb 658 series on games of 237, 219 and 202 with 18 strikes and marks on an impressive 13-of-14 spare shots and in the process raised his average to 181.

Dean Baum averaged 211 between is two best outings (645-257 & 626-248), Kelly Williamson (638-237) had another good week, and Steve Serrano bookended a 206 with games of 214 and 212 with 19 total strikes.

Britt Kesl (601-223) is having a great last two months of the season, and Bruce Hooley averaged 214 between his top two league scores (656=627).

In single game play, Austin Finster (696) led all scoring with a 278 with10 strikes, Scott Mattingly (659) punched out a 259, Jerry Holloway (614) chalked up a clean 248, Dale Davidson (606) chucked a 245 and he was an elite marathon runner during his running days in California.

Mitch fletcher’s 246 included a 6-bagger, Frank Addamo (603) tossed a 232, Ricky Trujillo’s 233 included a 5-bagger as he continued a string of deuce games, and Rick Jones (585) fired six strikes in a 226.

Dave Houghton (580)had 7 strikes in a 223, Bob Ballard (595) smacked a 215; Jim Rappe posted a214, Ken Thompson bagged a 213, and Ken Kaylor rolled a 210. By the way, in the 1990s, Kaylor worked as a scenic painter in Burbank, California where he worked in theater and music videos.

Robert Sedgley chucked a 206, Dennis Woolsey fired a 203, John Windberg and Johnny Harper rolled identical 202 games, and Mark Brackelsberg also logged a 202 during which he picked up the 3-7-10 split.

Ninety-five-year old Bessie Roberts converted the 4-5-7 split … Dodie Melendez spared the 1-2-10 washout and if you have a chance ask her to show you the pic she has of her with PBA Pro Kyle Troup taken while at a PBA event on TV … Allen Mathias spared the 6-7-10 split and he has a grandson who plays on the baseball team at Utah Valley University in Ogden, Utah … Annettte Blank blew away her 137 average with a 182 game … Ron Johnson picked up the 6-7-10 in a 191 game … Marty Wilks who was in charge of the horse breeding program for Wayne Newton tossed an nice 175 game … Jedd Fisher spared the 6-10 split … Jeff Branches converted the 6-7 … Gail Heller’s nice 178 game in Ladies Trio League play was almost 50 over her average.

Bobbie Robbins 521-190; Ashley Yokoyama-Kesl 5220-194; Debbie Hansen 516; l Gans 657-229; Mike Saldivar 645-238; Dan Aslin 633-245; Doug Love 626-248; Koe Paka Ned 623-247; Mike Rogers 614-236; Dean Sheppard 613-233; Mike Gentry 611-214; Bob Marget 610-206; Bob Robbins 606-244; John Hollaway 603-208; Gil Niimi 226; Ron Hendrickson 222; Jeff Harmes 221; Logan Hendrick 216; Bryan Pierce 215; Milan Carr 215; Dennis Craft 213; Sal Diaz 213; Mike Dorn 212; James Hartley 211; Dave Pershing 207; Jimmy Webb 206.