By Willie Theis
Some people enjoy reading history, while others, like Scott Mattingly prefer making history.

Scott Mattingly

And making history is exactly what Mattingly did with a pulse-pounding clutch performance in the City High Rollers League roll-off to determine the 2023-24 league championship on Thursday of last week. He launched his unprecedented feat by hammering the 1-3 pocket with 10 strikes in a 277, followed by throwing 10 more in a 269, and finished the historic night with nine strikes in a 258 game for an eye- popping clean 804 series, resulting in him being the only bowler on the planet to ever throw two 800s at the Virgin River Bowling Center.
And that’s the perfect segue into mentioning he first etched his name in Mesquite bowling history by being the first to ever throw an 800 series at the VRBC with an 809 set on games of 300, 266 and 243. on June 29, 2023.
In addition to its historical significance, his 804 was also the decisive factor in helping teammates Bev Cormani, Ron Cormani and Doug Love win the City High Rollers League championship in a highly competitive match by defeating a determined and focused team comprised of Gina Stabenow, Kelly Talmadge, Darren Talmadge and Dave Pershing. Ahh-mazingly, both teams actually ended up in a tie after the first three games requiring a 10th frame to determine the ultimate league champion. And in that 10th frame which decided the championship, a clutch turkey by Bev Cormani to lead off the 10th set the tone for her team to win the championship.
Meanwhile, the five leagues that still bowled last week also delivered some scintillating scoring action, and creating the biggest pin action of all was Mike Saldivar with a 715 series on games of 261, 250 and 204 which raised his Kings & Queens League final average to 217. His outstanding 2023-24 season included rolling a pair of 300 games. On a related note to the aforementioned 800s, along with other bowlers, I clearly recall a night in the Wednesday Men’s League in 2019 when Saldivar left a stone 8 pin on a crushing shot to the 1-3 pocket that put the kibosh on an 800 series, and instead finished with a 795 set which stood as the highest ever at the VRBC until Mattingly’s 809.
In other action, Darren Simonds averaged an impressive 231 between a 708 on Wednesday and a 679 a day earlier in Kings & Queens League, Orlyn Meyer had arguably his best day in Early Risers League play with a 666 and 244 game, and Jim Rappe definitely merits ink for his best outing this year, a season-high 664. HIs standout effort also included a season-high 270 game in which he ran the table beginning with a strike in the 4th frame, along with eight strikes in a clean 236. And Rappe capped a great week with a competitive  628 and 241 scores in K.&Q. League action.
And Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez who’s  been on a superb scoring run since his return to the lanes several months ago booked a 645 with a 242 game in Gamblers 4 Aces League play, and Dan Aslin (636-213) began his season with a 600-plus series and ended with a 600, a 636 and he’s a avid hiker who served 20 yeas in the U.S. Navy ad is a huge L.A. Dodgers fan.
And without much fanfare, Frank Addamo (624-219) has enjoyed success since reverting back to his original delivery, while Steve Serrano (623-245 & 602-221) who once met the legendary Wilt Chamberlain continued a weekly streak of at least one 600, and Milan Carr (623-221) finished a heckuva good season with the 2nd highest average in the Mesquite Merchants Men’s League, a 212.
Ernie Kala (612-227) had a really good overall season which included a season-high 704 series and 255 game along with a 192 average in the Monday Scratch League, Dean Sheppard ended his season on a high note with a 607 set and 236 game and years ago he took his motorcycle for a spin across big chunks of the country, including Sturgis, South Dakota, and Angel Hernandez (595-210) narrowly missed a 600 and he’s had a tremendous season including his first-eve 700 series and 28 600 series scores competing in multiple leagues.
On the single game front, Dennis Craft (664) uncorked a 268 gem, Harold Hendrick (675) racked up a 260 in Gamblers 4 Aces League play, Jim Lytle (656) chalked up a 251 and finished his M.M.M. League with an impressive 211 average, and Mike Gentry  (675) booked a pair of 247 games.
Duane Sullivan (652) thumped the lanes with a 242, Tony Urias (575) fired seven strikes with four spares in a clean 238 and four opens on missed single spare shots derailed what could have been back-to-back 600s, while Bobby Dixon registered a 228, and Jarron Linge put together a seven-bagger in a 224 and he played both football and baseball at Virgin Valley High School.
Bruce Hamilton reeled in a season-high 222 with six strikes including a 4-bagger in E.R. League play and in the summer he has a terrific cabin with an awesome view overlooking the Snake River in Idaho where he loves fly fishing, Kelly Williamson also popped a 222 and it is super seeing him back on the lanes, and Jimmy Ruvalcaba (585) along with a 209 also booked a 222 which is amazing as he’s doing this bowling from a wheel chair.
Wally Posey logged a 208, Dave Cirbo registered a 204, Jon Fjeld spanked the lanes with a 202, and Wade Heileson fired eight strikes in a 202.
In women’s action, Bev Cormani outdistanced the field with a 624 on games of 214, 212 and 198, Vickie Martinsen (567-218) and Cindy Peterson (566-238) delivered her best outing this season in the Ladies Trio League and her 237 included a four-bagger with seven total strikes, and as a big Iowa Hawkeyes fan she’s mighty proud of Caitlin Clark who took women’s basketball to a whole new level this season.
Cheryl Jackson (552-191) threw a total of  12 strikes in a good outing, Mary Posey’s 551 included a clean 198 and 194 game with only one open, and Sandy Sheppard’s (548-185, 182 & 191 outing featured great consistency.
Anita Sorensen had another good week with a 535 set which included a clean 197 game and making it especially impressive is every single frame was either a strike or spare of a single pin giving her a 9 pin no-tap 300 which is indicative of consistency in hitting the 1-3 pocket.
In single game action, Gayle Parison (565) must be religious in taking her fruits and veggies supplements because she’s been bowling terrific of late, and that includes a 210 and 209 games last week, Debbie Oldham’s season-high 210 in her Ladies Trio League included seven strikes and only one open frame, Toni Gans tossed an impressive clean 208 with five strikes and five spares, and Molly Gomes rolled a 205 with five strikes and a single open frame.
HIGH SCORES
John Hollaway 651-235; Austin Finster 630-225; Dean Baum 629-235; Bob Wells 618-224;  Bruce Hooley 617-225; James Hartley 603-239; Bryan Pierce 233; Gil Niimi 233; Sal Diaz 226; Dave Houghton 225; John Martin 225; Ken Meacham 225; Doug Love 224; Jedd Fisher 224; Randy Kezior 223; Norm Ritchie 222; Bill Funk 222; Dennis Hartley 216; Josue Mendoza 215; Stan Benally 215; Jacob Martinez 214; Gary Smith 213; Harry Uncles 213; Dave Newman 211; Mike Dunlop 211; Ron Johnson 209; Rob Cormani 207; Bob Robbins 204; Mardon Connelly 202; Chris Scott 202; Dave Harris 202; Jerry Bundy 202; Mike Yoder 201; George Huston 200; Tony Zaccheus 200;  Lee Ann Harms 539-183; Sheila Green 536-189; Lynae Page 501-191; Charlene Heiden 501-191.