BOWLING: Jeremy Telford wins high-average title in Mesquite bowling

The most coveted award for the majority of competitive bowlers when the grind of a long season ends is winning the high-average title of a league or house.

And Jeremy Telford won the high-average scoring title for the 2023-24 season at the Virgin River Bowling Center with a 226 average compiled in the Monday Scratch League. And throw in the fact he also rolled an 800 series and 300 game, and he accomplished the other two feats competitive bowlers would love to achieve during a season.

Putting even more perspective on his rare trifecta of finishing with the high-average title, 813 series, and a perfecto in the same season, is the fact even the best bowler in the history of Mesquite bowling, the late Darwin Wimer only accomplished two of three in the same season.

Something else ironic about his standout achievements this season is that if Sunset Lanes had not suddenly and unexpectedly closed last August, Telford would still be bowling in St. George, not Mesquite, and we’d be talking in this column about a four-peat for Scott Mattingly winning another high-average title.

A further peek into a few of the stats of Telford’s standout season revealed he was averaging 228 going into the last week of the season when he tossed a 598 dropping his average to 226. Prior to his 598, his lowest series all season was a 604. And over the course of the campaign, he averaged 228 his first game, 225 in each of his second and third games, and his 226 average also eclipsed a previous career-high 218. And he has indicated he is looking forward to returning next season and no doubt will be aiming for a two-peat.

Meanwhile, Mattingly finished with the next best average, a 223.02 over 81 games in the Mesquite Merchants Men’s League. His outstanding season also included a 804 series earlier this month. It should be noted here that Mike Saldivar finished with a 224 average in the City High Rollers League, but a nasty case of sciatica limited his season to 36 games. He also tossed a season-high 752 series and 300 game. John Hollaway finished with a 217 in the Monday Scratch League and booked a season-high 289.

And St. George bowler Jeremy Turlington ended the season with a 214 average and a season-high 777 series and 286 game, and Milan Carr’s terrific season ended with a 213 average and a pair of 300 games.

Other high averages included: Mike Rogers 213; Mike Yoder 2112; Jim Lytle 211; Al Gans 208; Doug Love 208; Austin Finster 208; Todd Koller 209; John Martin 208; Dale Knight 208; Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez 208; Bob Wells 206; Darren Simonds 205; Dean Baum 205; Chase Evans 205; Chase Evans 205.

The final night of bowling in the Wednesday Men’s League and Gamblers Four Aces featured some amazing highlights. For starters, as most of the teams were finishing the first game of the night, all of sudden bowlers heard a bunch of clapping going on lanes 23 & 24. And then after Doug Love announced Randy Carter had just rolled a 300 game a steady stream of bowlers marched down to offer Carter congrats amid lots of high fives that followed.

Amazingly, there was almost a second perfecto as Orlyn Meyers began his second game of the night by throwing 11 straight strikes, but on his final ball only picked off three pins to finish with a still impressive season-high 293 game.

The other big story of the final night for the league was the roll-off for the league championship between the Country Club of the World team of Thomas Stark, Skip Hayzlett, Jake Noll and Phil Goulding, and the Colonial Management squad of Ken Meacham, Ron Johnson, Steve Serrano and Paul LeVan.  Amazingly, figure the odds, but after three games both teams were still tied, so they bowled an extra game. And going into the 10 frame of the extra game the outcome was still a toss up. However, late in the 10th frame amid a momentum shift, the Country Club of the World emerged as league champion for the 2nd time in three years. Ken Meacham led the scoring for Colonial Management with a 550 and 225 game, and for the newly crowned league champion, Jake Noll’s 500 and 201 game was a pivotal factor in his teams victory.

And in the Gamblers 4 Aces League, Doug Heiden saved his best effort for the final night as his game was on fire throwing 10 strikes, including a six bagger to end a 257 first game, followed with games of 193 and 180 for a season-high 630 series with 17 total strikes.

Also in the G4A League, Josue Mendoza fired 24 strikes and was a perfect 4-of-4 on his 10 pin spare shots during games of 258, 214 and 181 for a 653 series, and it was great seeing Sherry Williamson throw a season-high 534 with a 206 game with five strikes and five spares and the one open frame was on a split.

Scott Mattinly 737-265; Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez 709-258; Orlyn Meyer 707-293; John Martin 671-255; Mike Saldivar 666-244; Dan Aslin 666-244; Kelly Williamson 663-233; Doug Love 663-225;Austin Finster 648-229; Chase Evans 639-245; Jim Lytle 636-253; Chance Evans 629-229; Milan Carr 629-225; Ernie Kala 626-221; Harold Hendrick 621-235; Randy Carter 612-200; Dennis Craft 609-239; Mike Yoder 609-222; Myles Benally 598-211; Sal Diaz 693-223; Duane Sullivan 590-225; James Hartley 234; Ken Meacham 225; Jeff Branche 221; Harry Uncles 215; Robin Drury 213; Mike Dunlop 213; Dean Sheppard 211; Dean Sheppard 211; Frank Addamo 209; Alan “AJ” Jacobson 209; Jarron Linge 208; Gary Smith 204; Max Burgess 203; Paul Sullivan 202; Chris Scott 202; Dave Houghton 202; Angel Hernandez 202; Mike Bock 201; Dave Cirbo 201; Al Gans 200; Vickie Martinsen 570-193.

Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez 27.86; 26.5; Josue Mendoza 26.5; Roman Perez 24.59; Frank Addamo 24.8; Tony Urias 23.37; Jacob Pratt 23.1; Bob Field 21.91; Terrull Benally 21,96; Angel Hernandez 20.02; Bob Morgan 19.62; Mike Gentry 17.63.

This column will continue for two more weeks, with one covering final stats from women’s bowling, and the other a compelling story that’s virtually guaranteed to resonate with readers, especially those with a pet dog.