BOWLING Gage Hughes wins accolades for his career-first 600 series and points to a bright future on and off the lanes

Gage Hughes is the latest example of a seismic shift that’s taken place in just the last few years in Mesquite league bowling in terms of the raw number of young two-handed bowlers and also in the amount of ink they’ve received and headlines corralled, and that includes two women two-handed bowlers.

And Hughes, in just his freshman season of league bowling captured a headline after throwing his first-ever 600 series, a 637. He’s been practicing a great deal and its reaped dividends for him.

And a deeper dive into his 637 shows he set a blistering pace beginning with the first game when he tattooed the 1-3 pocket with nine strikes including a six-bagger for a 244.

Next, with confidence soaring after his 244, and building on the momentum of his standout first game, he began his second with a four-bagger before finishing with eight total strikes in a clean 236.

So, with a 480 count going into his third game, he knew all he needed to reach his 600 goal was a 120 third game. However, he didn’t take his foot off the pedal so to speak as he began his third game with six straight marks, before hitting a rough patch with open frames in the 7th, 8th and 9th frames. But in the 10th he put an exclamation mark on a top-notch effort with a spare and strike for 157 and a 637 series.

He’s adopted a two-handed delivery from the start, continues working hard on improving his game, and is showing impressive initiative in wanting to learn a great deal more about how ball selection, making adjustments to changing lane conditions, and how different drilling patterns can influence how a bowling ball will work with different oil patterns.

Hughes is passionate about improving his game which has a high ceiling, and while not a slam dunk, you heard it here first that a 700 is doable before bidding adieu to the season in April.

His favorite pro bowler is Kyle Troupe, and he’s a former big fan of NASCAR, with Dale Ernhart Jr. his favorite driver, and in fact, he’s has attended several NASCAR races at the Las Vegas Speedway. And that’s the perfect lead into mentioning his favorite car is a 1969 Chevy Impala, which is the same car from the show, Supernatural.

Away from bowling and work he loves playing video games with friends and two of his favorites are Dishonored along with Elden Ring, and he also reads books and articles about philosophy.

He’s an alumnus of Virgin Valley High School where he was on the tennis and swimming/diving teams and once finished in 3rd place in diving at a Nevada State Tournament.

Hughes has plans down the road of visiting both Ireland and South Korea which is where his mother is from.

In other pin action, Dave Johnson put together his best overall scoring output this season in a scintillating 723 series featuring 24 strikes including nine in a clean 268, and in Monday’s Scratch League action Jeremy Turlington blistered the lanes with 22 strikes in a top-notch 701 effort with games of 245, 234 and 222.

Dylan Kesl is doing a super job in the pro shop and also did a great work in getting marks on 10-of-10 non-split spare attempts and he also chucked 23 strikes on the way to consistent games of 236, 235, 225 for a 696.

And Bryan Pierce, fueled by 24 strikes and picking up the 4-7-10 split in a clean 252 along with games of 218 and 217 finished Kings & Queens League play with a season-high 687, and Al Gans fired 22 strikes in games of 213, 204 and a clean 268 for a 685 series in Mesquite Merchants Men’s League action.

And Harry Uncles raised his MMM League average three pins to 189 with a terrific season-high 685 series while throwing 22 strikes including an eight-bagger in a 268, and an impeccable source has told me Uncles is also one heckuva terrific golfer.

Meanwhile, Mike Gentry lifted his K&Q League average to 200 after throwing games of 245, 233, 207 for a 685 set, and Jeff Harms picked up all 10 of his non-split spare shots and along with 20 strikes and clean games of 252 ,233, he tacked on a 198 to finish with a 683.

And Steve Uhrig’s 20 strikes proved pivotal in chalking up a heckuva nice 663 set with games of 230, 219 and 214,  Dave Houghton’s outstanding 659 with a clean 257 lifted his MMM League average two sticks to 189, and Jeff Branche brought his A-game and cranked out a 649 series with 19 strikes and a clean 225.

And Chris Scott’s 644 featured superb consistency in games of 218, 214, 212, Angel Hernandez ended a recent scoring funk in convincing fashion with a 637 set on games of 229, 215, 193, and Ernie Kala racked up 21 strikes in a 634 outing on games of 220-218 and 199. .

St. George bowler Dennis Craft now averages 202 in the MMM League after navigating the lanes for a 630 series, Harold Hendrick maintained his Gamblers 4 Aces League 200 average with a 613 and 243 game, and it is great seeing Josue Mendoza back on the lanes where he threw a 602 series with a 236 game.

In other action, Doug Schaan garners his first ink in this column for a nice 609 series and 225 game, Gary Smith (599) shot two good games of 221 & 217, Ken Schloman (599-235) fell a stick shy of a 600 in a first-rate effort, and Brent Schlesinger (598-224) also narrowly missed the coveted 600 mark.

On the single game front, Duane Sullivan smacked a season-high 268, Jim Bice (682) fired a 266 gem, Bob Wells (696) strung a nine-bagger in a 257, while southpaw Orlyn Meyer (643) uncorked a 257, and John Martin (642) fired nine strikes in a 257.

Logan Hendrick’s (644) 247 included a seven-bagger, and Sal Diaz (650) cruised to a 244 and if we were giving out medals for split conversions, his highlight reel spare of the virtually impossible 7-10 split in his 244 would win the gold.

Ken Schloman (599) tallied a 235, Tony Urias cruised to a 226, Cedar City, Utah’s Tim Brandt popped a 220, and Bill Rife booked a 210.

Meanwhile, Overton’s Gary Connelly logged a 210, while Del Cammack captured some ink for a 209 in his Early Risers League play, and Humberto Urias tossed five strikes and had only one open in a 207.

Alan Pearson pounded the 1-3 pocket for five strikes in a 203, Brent Young delivered a nice 203, and Louis Dilisio scratched out a 202 and he can’t wait for his Philadelphia Eagles to kick butt against the KC Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

Finally, John Steagall punched out his first deuce of the season, a 201, Myles Benally and his brother, Terrull each rolled a 199, and Eddie Elsner’s season-high 547 included his picking up of the 6-7-8-9 split in a season-high 198 and he celebrated both with his pet dog, Earl, who played a pivotal role in helping bring Elsner out of a coma suffered after a fall working on home construction job almost three years ago.

Women’s bowling starts off on a somber note when bowlers in the Gamblers 4 Aces League on Monday night were informed with the stunning news that the highly respected, popular and always upbeat BA Burgess unexpectedly passed away on Saturday. Our condolences to her husband, Max, and brother, Jerry Holloway.

In pivoting back to women’s league bowling, Diane Marget set the scoring pace with a 603 series and she’d love to roll her 11th, yes, 11th career 300 game before the clock runs out on the 2024-25 season.

Meanwhile, Sandy Sheppard, a towering figure in Mesquite women’s bowling popped the week’s only other 600, a 601 on games of 214, 205, 182 and she’s on pace to have one of her two best years of bowling in Nevada’s fastest growing city since changing her zip code to Mesquite.

And when Cheryl Rogers throws a competitive 564 that usually means her scores will rocket even higher in the week’s ahead, and the good news about Georgia “GG” Godfrey’s 557 and 203 game are both a continuation of some really good bowling for over a month.

And Krista Kilpatrick, a former high school and college basketball star tossed a season-high 552 and had seven strikes in a 210 and five in a 194, and Kim Finnegan led Ladies Trio League scoring with a 525 set.

Cindy Petersen who’s bowling journey began years ago in youth bowling rolled a 520 with a 191 high game, and Maria Tristan-Flynn has to get some ink because her legion of fans and supporters at the Eureka where she’s employed will be happy knowing she tossed a 510 series with a 197 game.

Laurie Dillree mowed down 507 sticks including 204 in one game, and by the way, one her sons, Chase Evans, threw an eye-popping 816 series with a 300 game in St. George this past Sunday, and Suzie Fehseke, the outstanding secretary of the Ladies Trio League logged a 502 series.

In single game play, Debbie Hansen’s nice 543 effort included a season-high 220, and Bev Cormani (552) tossed a 202 and she still throws the most explosive strike ball in local women’s bowling.

Cheryl Carr blistered the lanes with six strikes in a 202 game and she religiously rides her bike daily for five or more miles, Molly Gomes smacked a 200 on the nose in Monday’s Scratch League action, and Jan Wellman also merits ink for her first 200 this season in Monday’s Gamblers 4 Aces League play.

Alfred Oliveira V 212; Sal Diaz 203; Dylan Kesl 202.

Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez 663-246; Austin Finster 663-259; Scott Mattingly 661-243; John Hollaway 659-226; doug Love 652-245; Dave Castro 643-234; Dan Aslin 640-237; David Walker 634-237; Bob Marget 629-224; James Hartley 628-221; Jacoby Ford 626-244; Alfred Oliveira V 612-236; Dean Sheppard 611-219; Alan Jacobson 247; Rob Cormani 234; Ken Meacham 233; Jimmy Webb 229; Robert Melendez 227; Bobby Dixon 226; Darren Simonds 224; Mike Yoder 224; Randy Kezior 224; Shaun Edwards 224; Larry Willis 222; Roman Perez 221; Milan Carr 217; Dale Knight 214; Dave Cirbo 213; Frank Addamo 211; Jessie Dixon 211; Steve Kenyon 211; Vic Reading 211; Bill RIfe 210; Ken Thompson 208; Bruce Hooley 207; Steve Serrano 206; Jim Lytle 205; Randy Brown 205; Jim Rappe 204; Ed Hoepfner 203; Johnny Harper 203; George Huston 202; Mike Rosenlof 202; Michael Donovan 201; Mitch Fletcher 201; Jan “Kooz” Kusy 200; Jedd Fisher 200; Mark Brackelsberg 200.

Cathy Gardner 543-190; Reiko Schultz 530-194; Mary Posey 520-199.