Bowling: Javier Delgadillo Powers his way to First-Ever 600 Series

Yes, while it’s true the 2024-2025 season is still in its infancy, one impressive storyline that’s already emerged from the second week of bowling is weight lifter extraordinaire Javier Delgadillo throwing his first-ever 600 series in just his second season of league bowling at the Virgin River Bowling Center.

And the second takeaway is numerous bowlers are already in midseason form judging by the sheer number of 700s and huge single game scores.

First however, Delgadillo, fueled by eight strikes in his first game punched out a 225, followed with a 203, and wrapped up a memorable night in his bowling journey with a 187 game and a total of 19 strikes for a career-first 600 series, a 615.

His previous personal-best was a 595 in last year’s rookie season, his career-high game is a 274 bowled on March 12, 2024, and his final average last season was a 172. And if you’ve seen him throw a bowling ball you know odds are he’ll finish his sophomore season with an even higher average.

Delgadillo is also the chief lane mechanic at the VRBC where he’s doing an outstanding job and he’s also been a great addition to the local bowling scene.

Away from bowling he enjoys lifting weights, with his most impressive bench press to date lifting an eye-popping 315 pounds, and he’s also competitive when playing the popular vehicular soccer video game, Rocket League.

Delgadillo grew up in Mexico where he attended high school with an emphasis on engineering and focus on technology, but did attend the high school in Mesquite near the end of his senior year in 2017. Additionally, after coming to America to stay at 18, he now has dual citizenship.

And now more about all those aforementioned 700 series scores. For starters, Mike Saldivar led all scoring with a 750 including a monster 278 game, Al Gans tallied his second straight 700 with a 724 along with a 264, and Darren Simonds checked in with a 711.

James Hartley’s 10 strikes in a 278 gem paved the way for a 707, Austin Finster put together his best outing this season with a 705 on games of 268, 223, 214, and two nights ago in the Gambler 4 Aces League, Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez posted a 703.

Dennis Craft’s 278 gem helped propel him to the week’s seventh 700, a 702, David Johnson who threw a 300 last year fell a pin shy of the week’s eighth 700 with a 699 set, and a winning bet is both John Martin (666-246) and Mike Rogers (665-259) will surpass these series scores multiple times before bidding adieu to the 2024-25 season.

Bill Rife put together a really good week rolling a 632 and 247 game, Dave Castro averaged 203 in his two 600s (610 & 607), and Alfred Oliveira IV is another really good bowler from St. George who also worked the lanes for a 610.

And sparked by a 241 including three strikes in the 10th frame, Dave Cirbo corralled his first 600 of the season, a 608. Amazingly, Cirbo’s teammate and Utah Hall of Famer Red Powell also struck out in the 10th in a 212 game, and it became contagious as another teammate, Tim McNees also struck out in the 10th in a 207 effort.

And Wally Posey’s 607 and 227 may signal he’s about to usher in his best season in Mesquite, and also in Early Risers League action, Marty Roper an avid Las Vegas Raiders fan scratched out a 600 on the nose.

In the single game scene, Dean Baum (697) punched out 11 strikes in a 289, Minnesota Twins fan Bob Marget (662) also finished a 289 with a 11-bagger, while Myles Benally showed again he delivers a bowling ball with some pop throwing 10 strikes in a 279 edging out Jared Bundy’s (652) 278 for the next best game.

And Vic Reading (662), an instructor at Dixie Tech in St. George punched out a 264, Shaun Edwards (636) fired a nine-bagger in a career-high 259, Larry Willis (635) racked up a 258, Jerry Holloway (610) brought his strike ball to the Monday Scratch League and rolled a 257, while Steve Serrano uncorked a 253 and so did Angel Hernandez (641).

Jimmy Webb delivered a 232, Chris Westwood (603) pocketed a 231, Jacoby Ford worked the lanes for a 213, while Bruce Hamilton chalked up a 212, and Tim Brandt who makes a weekly trek from Cedar City to bowl in the Monday Scratch League tossed a 207.

Finally, Britt Kesl, Wade Heileson, Juan Morgana and Jake Swingler registered games of 211, 207, 206 and 205, respectively.

Meanwhile, on a related bowling note, major kudos go to a Mesquite team which set a new Nevada State Record with a Total Score of 3046 for a High 3-game Handicap Series (4-man team) on May 30, 2024 in City High Rollers 2 League action. Team members and scores were Mike Saldivar 257-227-246=730 Scratch/763 Handicap, Chance Evans 218-165-265=648 Scratch/747 Handicap, Chase Evans 235-278-224=737 Scratch/803 Handicap, and Austin Finster 233-243-191= 667 Scratch/733 Handicap. Bay-Bee!

Women’s bowling also featured some robust scoring action led by Sandy Sheppard’s 19 total strikes in a 656 set including nine strikes in a clean 263, while Diane Marget also delivered a strong effort with a 655 on games of 238, 214, 203, and after spending her summer in Alaska, Kim Marshall tossed an energized 623 with a 221 game.

In single game play, Autumn Telford punched out a 253, and with her 628 coming on the heels of an opening week 649, it’s not hyperbole to mention she’s off to her best start to a season since her 2017-18 season in St. George when she finished with a 208 average and a season-high 739 series.

Evelyn Hooley (566) peppered the lanes with a 232, Georgia Godfrey’s (570) first-rate outing included a 229, and LoriJo Turner (542) popped a 221.

And Cathy Gardner (560) garners her first ink in this column with a 216, Molly Gomes navigated the lanes for a 214, and MaryAnn Davis (570) continued a good start to the season with a 211.

Ohh, Bay – Bee!

Rob Hartman picked up the 6-7-10 … Gary Connelly  converted the 4-7-9 split … Richard Long of Alaska Railroad fame spared the 1-5-10 washout … Charlene Heiden, secretary of the Gamblers 4 Aces League spared the 6-7-10 split … Mike Bray picked up the 3-4-6-7 split.

Mike Yoder 672-240; Sal Diaz 666-246; Doug Love 665-248; Chase Evans 652-235; John Hollaway 652-278; Gil Niimi 641-252; Randy Brown 636-259; Scott Mattingly 632-247; Dave “Mr. 300” Pershing 613-235; Bruce Hooley 610-257; Ryan Baeza 608-228; Dale Knight 604-224; Harold Hendrick 602-210; Dave Harris 238; Jimmy Webb 232; Max Barz 232; Robin Drury 231; Ernie Kala 227; Milan Carr 590-225; George Huston 225; Logan Hendrick 223; Dave Houghton 222; Felix Cruz 222; Harry Uncles 222; Randy Carter 221; Dave Castro 218; Alfred Oliveira 217; Ken Moeller 217; Fred Emmons 217; Steve Kenyon 212; Red Powell 213; Dean Sheppard 211; Max Snyder 211; Dale Davidson 209; Josue Mendoza 209; Robert Melendez 209; Dylan Kesl 208; Tim McNees 207; Chris Scott 207; Frank Addamo 207; Juan Morgana 206; David Newman 205; Jake Swingler 205; Jim Lytle 205; Brian Collins 203; Eric Goldfarb 203; Mike Carpenter 202; Rob Cormani 202; Kelly Williamson 201; Ken Schloman 201; Reiko Schultz 565-197; Sheila Green 530; Margaret Baron 506-189.