LoriJo Turner wins high-average title in Mesquite bowling

The clock ran out on the 2022-23 season in Mesquite bowling with the crowning of the Gamblers 4 Aces League champion last week.

However, thanks to the Mesquite Local News online newspaper, this column will continue highlighting individual and team achievements for the next two or three weeks.

And it begins with saluting LoriJo Turner for finishing the season with the highest average by a woman bowler at the Virgin River bowling Center. Competing in the Monday Virgin River Scratch League, she captured the coveted high-average title with a 186 average.

And throwing the most 600s and deuce games in a league is a blueprint for winning a scoring title. And that’s what she did with four 600 series scores, the highest of which was a 666, and of her 61 games (not a typo), 29 were 200-plus, with the highest a 254.

Turner moved to Mesquite from Sheridan, Wyoming prior to the 2021-22 season, and in addition to her bowling in Mesquite, she also enjoys the competition from bowling on bigger stages for a senior bowler. And one of them is the Huntsman World Senior Games in Utah where she’s won gold in back-to-back years. And in the 2022 National Senior Games in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, she finished 2nd in her age bracket for Singles, and took 1st Place in Doubles and tossed a gargantuan 297 game. Yes, she will be looking for a two-peat in the 2023-24 season.

Meanwhile, Sandy Sheppard has been a scoring juggernaut for over 20 years in Colorado, Mesquite and various tournaments in the Silver State and finished with the next best average, a 182.86 compiled over 66 games and booked a season-high 645 series and 246 game.

Sheppard won the high-average title for seven straight years, and her 195 average over 81 games in the 2016-17 season is still the highest ever by a woman bowler at the VRBC. So, given her skill-set, polished delivery, and past success on the lanes, including a career-high 749 series, she has to be one of the favorites in the race for high average again next season.

Bev Cormani only took up the sport beginning with the 2015-16 season and finished this season with a 177 average. She will be the first to admit she had somewhat of a subpar season. After all, she’s the first woman to ever bowl a 700 series at the VRBC with a 716 breaking her own previous high for the house of 695. Additionally, her 268 is still the second highest game ever by a woman in Mesquite bowling, and with the most explosive strike ball and athletic delivery in local bowling, look for a big bounce-back 2023-24 season from Cormani with an average more akin to her 187.55 from the 2021-22 season.

And as one of the two most impactful newcomers on the women’s circuit in Mesquite, Diane Marget rolled a season-high 640 series, 235 game, and finished with a 184 average over 48 games. The high-average title requires a minimum of 60 games, and if she reaches that number next season given her jaw-dropping resume, it’s a layup she’ll definitely be in the title chase also. Virginia Glossa is the other most impactful new bowler at the VRBC this season. And if you saw all the cheers and high-fives from other bowlers to her electrifying 622 series and string of strikes in her 248 game, you’d know exactly what I mean.

In a change of direction here, in an effort at recognizing achievements of bowlers of all skill levels and experience, this column has compiled a list of bowlers from all the leagues who finished with the highest handicap series, game and most improved scores.

But first, I wanna pivot away from women’s bowling for a tad to give Doug Love some ink. There are 14 teams from Mesquite who will be traveling to Reno next week to compete in the National Open Championship Tournament, and he’s the single driving force who’s put in tons of effort and spent countless hours making it all happen for the 14 teams. And what’s so great about it is seeing his passion for bowling and desire to see others achieve success on the lanes.

Marla Daniel 789; Mel Ray 788; Dodie Melendez 788; Maria Tristan-Flynn 786; Patsy Burtchett 783; Stacey Wright 766; Charlene Heiden 751.

Molly Gomes 321; LeeAnn Harmes 320; Tama Hixson 306; Linda Holloway 300; Connie Jenkins 299; Janie Rappe 294; Judy Connelly 293; Bailey Kesl 289; Lauren Deen 289; Susan Cabrera 289; Reiko Schultz 287; Gina Stabenow 286; Dodie Melendez 285; Francine Gastelum 283; Robin Cabrera 280; Kelly Arriaza 280; Katie Northover 279; Lynae Page 279; Sherry Serrano 276; Cathy Hamilton 279.

Becky Amantea 17.02; Gayla Ruesch 14.65; Reiko Schultz 13.1; Brandy Templeton 12.31; Laureen Deen 12.09; Jane Barrett 12; Cathy Hamilton 10.89; Glynnis Smalley 9.74; Charlene Heiden 9.47; Kelly Arriaza 9.46.