BOWLING: JOHN HOLLAWAY’S 700 SERIES SHOWS HIS PASSION FOR BOWLING

John Hollaway is an outstanding bowling talent who’s enjoyed great success on the lanes in both the state of Washington and in Mesquite.

However, as strange as it may seem at first blush, a compelling case can be made that his 705 series last week which featured 22 strikes and marks on 10-of-11 spare attempts during games of 257, 234 and 214 is the single most jaw-dropping achievement of a career which features a career-high 822 series and fourteen, yes, 14 300 games.

I know, you’re thinking, what? How can that be? Well, how’s this? He’s the first bowler I know of who’s thrown a 700 series in both St. George and Mesquite who did so while bowling with a torn rotator cuff which was confirmed after an imaging analysis by Dr. Todd Parry.

I hear you! That’s mind-boggling, and absolutely amazing. Well, he’s an amazing dude who also played city league basketball in the Evergreen State well into his 40’s.

Switching gears in a way here, B.A. Burgess is another popular bowler who Dr. Parry also confirmed tore her rotator cuff recently. So will that injury prevent her from continuing to bowl in her Gambler’s 4 Aces League with her husband, Max? Nosiree! She loves the game and after using a two-handed type of delivery last week, has decided she will now bowl as a left-hander. Gotta love it!

 In other men’s action, Al Gans led all scoring in the Monday Scratch League two days ago with a superb 739 series on games of 267,  257 and 215, and Randy  Brown is another heckuva good bowler who put up the next best scores on with a 698 on games of 240, 235 and 223.

Scott Mattingly served notice he’s headed for another banner season after averaging 227 between his top two outings (677-257 & 677-257) in the first week of the 2024-2025 season, and so did Mike Saldivar who averaged 223 in his two top-notch efforts (675-247 & 663-264) in launching his winter season.

In similar fashion, Dale Knight a big Chicago Cubs fan punched out a 677 with a 268 game and he has a legit shot at taking out his top two scores of last season, a 777 series and 298 game.

Meanwhile, Frank Addamo is passionate about bowling and so it was great seeing him navigate the lanes for an impressive 667 set of games of 234, 220 and 213 as he edged out Marget’s 666 for the next best score of the week. Incidentally, before changing his zip code to one in Mesquite, Marget was a heckuva good bowler competing in the Peoples Republic of Minnesota and the land of 10,000 fleeing residents. And fueled by a the week’s high game, a 279, Mike Yoder also tossed a 666, while Austin Finster tossed the week’s third 666 which included a 235 game.

And Jared Bundy’s 646 and 236 merits his first ink in this column since bringing his game to the Virgin River Bowling Center this season after enjoying much success in St. George which included a 300 game, while Robin Drury’s (645-242) first-rate outing is the type of scoring production he’d routinely deliver while living in the Evergreen State, and with his strong beginning to the season, former Alaskan Bob Robbins (638-233) may just be headed for his best season at the VRBC.

And take it to the bank in the weeks ahead you will be seeing Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez (635-211) heat up the scoring monitors like he did in league play this summer when he tossed an eye-popping three 299 games, while Angel Hernandez who had some great outings last season including his first-ever 700, also began this season with a 642 effort, and Ernie Kala (636-214, 212, 210) was a pillar of consistency and his game packs enough pop so eclipsing his 2023-24 season-high 704 series on 11-10-2023 is certainly doable.

And as a realtor with the Re/Max group in Mesquite, Mark Brackelsberg knows the area housing market like few others, and in similar fashion, he cruised his way around the lanes in the Mesquite Merchant’s Men’s League for a 629 on games of 224, 223 and 182 which is his best series since a 653 set on March 13, 2024.

In other action, Rob Cormani’s 621 and 236 were the best of a pair of good opening week affairs, and John Martin (618-232) is a heckuva good bowler from The Buckeye State and it’s a virtual lock he’ll be shooting scores in the months ahead more along the lines of his season-high 674 and 265 from last season.

Finally, Ken Schloman is a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan who opened his Early Risers League season with a 610 and 225 game, Steve Serrano’s (607-214) quality opening night effort is a down payment on the road to his first 700 this season, and a winning bet is that Roman Perez (590-201) rolls his first league 600 this season.

In single game play, Rob Hartman (612) uncorked a 268, Alan Jacobson (613) cranked out a 258 and the next time you see” AJ” asking him about about why he has new bowling equipment is a must, and on Monday night Jeremy Turlington (637) a big Dallas Cowboys fan delivered a 254, and a 300 during the season would not be a surprise as he’s thrown multiple perfecto’s in St. George bowling.

Ricky Trujillo (645) chucked a 257 and here’s betting this will be his best season yet, Dean Baum (647) tallied a 247, and Early Risers League bowler Dale Davidson pounded out a 235, and so did Gary Smith (615) 235.

Doug Heiden smacked a 232 and he’s hoping to surpass his season-high 257 from last season on April 8th.

And huge Utah Utes fan Steve Kenyon pocketed a 217, former race car driver Tim McNees chalked up a 212, Johnny Harper uncorked a 210 as did Rick Stoneman, and humongous L.A. Dodgers fan Ken Meacham registered a 202.

In women’s action, in her first outing of the season two nights ago in the Monday Scratch League Autumn Telford set the scoring pace with a 649 set on games of 242, 237 and 170. When she was bowling twice a week in St. George she finished multiple years with a deuce average with the highest being 208, and her multiple 700s include a career-high 747.

Sandy Sheppard launched her City High Rollers League play with an impressive 642 effort on games of 236, 213 and 193, and Mary Ann Davis who sports a 300 on her resume delivered a first-rate 584 in E.R. League play.

And Samantha Powell, the daughter of the incomparable Red Powell throws a bowling ball with some serious pop. And if you haven’t seen her deliver a bowling ball, all you need to know is in the Utah State Open Championship she won the scratch Singles event. Wow! Bay-bee! And her 12-year-old daughter is also a good bowler already.

Diane Marget (568-224) will no doubt be having another good season, Nannette Kezior (565-215) had a really strong outing in her Gamblers 4 Aces League, Lynae Page (517-203) is good for at least one 500 set per week, and Deb Paul who’s been a great addition the to the Kings & Queens League beginning last season tallied a 505.

In single game play, LeeAnn Harmes (564) punched out a 223, Bev Cormani (539) racked up a 214, and Donna Evans checked in with a 207.

Francine Gastelum’s (512) really good night of bowling included a 203, Pam Jacobson also uncorked a 203, Cheryl Rogers (554) fired a 202, and Sheila Green who hails from St. George tossed a 200 on the nose.

Incidentally, Dylan in the pro shop already has 20 bowlers lined up for a Sunday Scratch Sports Shot League (Duos) featuring six different PBA shot patterns over the duration of the 28 week schedule. The first league meeting will be on September 29th beginning at 4:00pm and league play will begin a week later on October 6th at 4:00pm. Cost will be $20 week/per bowler.

Ohh, Bay – Bee!

Maria Tristan-Flynn’s legion of fans at the Eureka will be happy hearing she finished a 185 game with a strike in the 9th frame and for good measure threw three more in the 10th … Mark Brackelsberg with sore elbow and all picked up the 4-7-10.

WOMEN’S HIGH SCORES

Jamie Turlington 512; Gayla Parison 504; Kim Marshall 504; Gayle Ruesch 199.

MEN’S HIGH SCORES

Doug Love 668-247; Milan Carr 662-233; Max Snyder 637-238; Bob Wells 632-254; Darren Simonds 628-223; Jake Heaton 627-236; Dennis Craft 621-234; Chase Evans 621-219; Michael Donovan 617-223′ Jeremy Telford 611-225; Mike Rogers 611-210; Tony Zaccheus 605-24; Kelly Williamson 605-215; Harold Hendrick 603-223; Eric Goldfarb 598-211; Shaun Edwards 233; Jerry Holloway 227; Fred Emmons 226; Clarence Bales 226; Dave Pershing 225; Dave Castro 224; Ryan Baeza 218; Allen Cope 214; Mike Foote 214; Bruce Hooley 213; Dave Houghton 213; David Newman 213; Jim Bice 213; Orlyn Meyer 213; Steve Helbig 213; Chris Scott 211; Chance Evans 210; Larry Moultrie 209; Chris Westwood 205; Dennis Hartley 205; Jerry Bundy 203; Jim Rappe 203; Gary Connelly 202; Jeff Harmes 202; Britt Kesl 201; James Hartley 201; Mike Dunlop 200; Josue Mendoza 200; Dave Harris 201.