BOWLING: Jimmy Webb’s bowling game has huge upside in Mesquite bowling

He’s in his second season of bowling in Mesquite and his highest 600 this season is a 657 on games of 234, 223 and 200 with a total of 21 strikes. His other two 600s included 23 strikes in a 633 set, and 20 strikes in a 616 series and the improvement in his game is illustrated by the fact all three have been in the last five weeks, including his highest game this season, a 256.

And the 63 strikes in his trio of 600s show the hitting power of his strike ball. In fact, in his 657 series, he left a single pin in nine different frames, and if he trips out four or five of those, we’d be talking about his first 700 here. And that’s why it’s just a question of when he gets his first 700, not if, and when he bowls it, you’ll see it featured here.

He served in the United States Air Force, after which he had a career in law enforcement before retiring and changing his zip code to one in Mesquite.

In high school he was an outstanding athlete in baseball, basketball, football and track & field. In fact, in the javelin field event in the Utah State Track & Field Meet, he missed taking first place by less than four feet.

And he excelled in baseball to the point where he was recruited to play baseball at the former Dixie State Junior College in St. George before it evolved into Utah Tech University.

Away from bowling, he’s a huge fan of sports and plays senior softball in Mesquite. And he’s a huge fan in particular of the Boston Red Sox, LA Lakers and Chicago Bears. And he’s been to Red Sox games at iconic Fenway Park, and on his bucket list is to eventually visit the home park of every team in Major League baseball.

And talking about visiting a baseball park or basketball arena, wow! How’s this? Webb, along with his wife, Diana, were actually in attendance at the Delta Center for one of the most iconic and watched televised Finals game in NBA history, game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals when the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz on Michael Jordan’s game winning shot in his last game as a Bull.

In other sizzling pin action, the City High Rollers League had the best scoring action last week led by Mike Saldivar’s high-powered 740 series on super consistent games of 248, 247, 245, and in the same league Bruce Hooley pummeled the lanes with a hard-hitting 736 set with a pair of standout 278 and 268 games along with a 192.

And Gil Niimi added to the league’s big scoring feast with his own 700, a 711 on games of 266, 245 and 200, and in the Monday Scratch League two days ago, Dave Pershing blistered the lanes with a 701 on games of 246, 232 and 223.

Meanwhile, Austin Finster put on a clinic with a clean 691 gem while throwing 23 strikes and going a perfect 10-of-10 on his spare shots during games of 245, 224 and 222, Dean Baum brought his top-notch bowling game to the party and racked up a 672 with a 263 game, while Jeremy Telford’s 690 likely raised his current Monday Scratch League 227 average, and  Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez was dialed in with his killer strike ball en route to a 690 and 276 game.

Al Gans punched out a 678 with a 248 game, Randy Brown’s 667 should raise his scratch league average to 203 and it’s going higher, San Diaz (660-258) continued a string of having at least one really good series and game a week, and Orlyn Meyer (647-246) credits the end to his recent scoring drought in the 9:30 a.m. Early Risers League was the result of first going to Starbucks and purchasing a large grande coffee and discovered its 330 milligrams of caffeine gave his game a much needed jolt.

Frank Addamo delivered a first-rate 640 series which raised his Wednesday Men’s League average to 177 from 174, and in the same league, Jeff Branche also tossed a 640 with a 256 game which raised his league average to 189 from 188, and Jack Baker’s 635 blew past his previous CHR League 574, and while his average after his 635 was not available at my submission deadline on Tuesday, it should easily raise his171 average by two points.

Mike Foote chalked up a 617, Harold Hendrick mowed down 605 pins, Koa Paka Ned (599) fell a stick shy of a 600, and Myles Benally’s 597 puts him on a path for his first 600 and his 597 also included a 220 and 202 game.

In single game play, Jeremy Turlington  (669) tossed a 268, Dave Newman (624) smacked a 257, Chase Evans (670) thumped the lanes with a 256, while Bob Robbins tallied a 226 ad Miguel Soto chalked up a 225.

Andy Robinson booked a 222 and in a high school track meet ran of mile under four minutes, Raul Macias rolled a clean 220 with six strikes and five spares both of which illustrate his improving game, and Jarron Linge tossed a 215 and look for more deuce games down the road, while Wally Posey registered a 215 in the early hours of Wednesday morning’s ER League.

Jack Northover logged a 212 and except for some miscues like a couple open frames missing of all things, a five pin it should have been much higher. However, I’m giving him a mulligan on those open frames because his focus was on playing a round of golf at Pebble Beach as a birthday gift from his wife, Katie.

John Thistle’s 212 blew past his 132 average, Brian Collins (590) pocketed a 203, Wade Heileson for the second straight week booked a deuce with a 203, Jerry Bundy posted a 201 and so did Phil Furgala.

In women’s action,  Diane Marget’s 19 strikes and marks on 11-of-13 spare shots paved the way for a 664 set on games of 236, 224 and 204, and Autumn Telford’s 622 on games of 235, 211 and 176 was the next best score. She was a scoring juggernaut in St. George and if her shoulder fully comes back she will hang some big scores.

Reiko Schultz (573-201) is having a really good season and her 573 should raise her K&Q League’s 170 average, Ashlee Yokoyama (572-211) put up some competitive scores, and Marge Mongolo’s 546 reflects how converting to a finger tip bowling ball has led to improved scores.

Martha Green has a 134 average in the Ladies Trio League and fired a impressive season-high 535, Cherlene Heiden merits some ink for a  527 with a 192 game, Laurie Dillree (507) had another good week in Ladies Trio League action.

In single game play, Georgia “GG” Godfrey (546) chucked a 224, Ronnie Tsuhako (522) rolled a nice 211, and Cindy Meacham had five strikes and five spares in a 203, and on one of her business trips to Europe had time to visit the Roman Colosseum.

Bowlers interested in taking part in the popular bowling portion of the Mesquite Senior Games should know it is scheduled for March 9th & 10th, 2024 for singles and doubles competition. The last day to register is March 2, 2024, and you can register on the Mesquite senior games website at mesquiteseniorgames.org, and where you will immediately see the bowling segment on the site and can even see results from past bowling scores and results. If you have any questions, please text or call Toni Gans, the Event Director at 253-350-5689. Gans has earned an A+ for the exceptional job she does running this event.

HIGH SCORES

John Hollaway 733-255; Dan Aslin 665-258; Scott Mattingly 663-246; Mike Yoder 655-222; John Martin 654-233; Larry Willis 650-243; Jim Lytle 640-239; Tony Zaccheus 639-238; Chance Evans 639-246; Bob Margetr 634-236; Steve Serrano 634-230; Milan Carr 628-237; Bob Robbins 627-233; Dave Cirbo 623-245; Randy Kezior 623-230; Jerry Holloway 620-235; Dean Sheppard 615-219; Rob Cormani 612-224; Darren Simonds 511-214; Jacob Martinez 609-215; Dale Knight 609-205; Harold Hendrick 605-229; Harold Uncles 235; Dave Castro 231; Brent Schlesinger 225; Chris Eyre 223; Jimmy Webb 223; Mardon Connelly 223; Ernie Kala 222; Mike Dunlop 222; Chris Scott 221; Dave Harris 221; Larry Moultrie 219;Bill Smith 215; Britt Kesl 214; Mike Gentry 213; Russ Marshall 211; Ed Hoepfner 219; Butch Loger 208; Ron Johnson 207; Dave Johnson 206; Dylan Kesl 205; Ken Thompson 204; Norm Ritchie 203; Angel Hernandez 203; Dennis 203′ James Hartley 203; Juan Morgana 203; Ricky Trujillo 203; Todd Mulholland 203; Marty Roper 203; Phil Erickson 202; Gary Connelly 201; Jon Williamson 201; Ken Meacham 201; Ken Schloman 201; Phil Furgala201; Randy Cater 201; Rick Stoneman 201; Bev Cormani 585-201; Kim Marshall 568-224; Sandy Shepard 563-214; Krista Kilpatrick 546-194; Debbie Hansen 537; Lee Ann Harmes 515-194; Sheila Green 511; Cheryl Rogers 510–192; Judy Heileson 503; Jane Burgoyne 500