Bowling: Sandy Sheppard ends women’s scoring woes with stellar 640 series

One thing that’s certain about scores in the opening weeks of the 2022-23 season in women’s bowling at the Virgin River Bowling Center is they’ve basically been a yawner.

And so is something else. The good news is the so-so scoring ended in stunning fashion last week in Kings & Queens League play when Sandy Sheppard blistered the lanes with the first woman’s 600 of the season, a 640.

And for Sheppard, the reigning high-average champion at the VRBC in women’s bowling, it was easily her best outing this season. In fact, the stat sheet shows she never missed the 1-3 pocket all night as both her 236 and 194 games were 9 pin no-tap 300s, and her only open in a 210 game came on a 7-10 split.

She’s been a scoring juggernaut harking back to her days competing in the Centennial State before changing her zip code to one in Mesquite where she will be gunning for an 8-peat in the race for the women’s high-average crown.

Away from bowling, Sheppard did some kayaking down the Salt River in Arizona this summer, went on a breathtaking rafting ride on the Snake River, and one of the items on her bucket list is to go airborne by hopping a ride on a hot air balloon.

In other action, fueled by a clean 225 game and 14 total strikes, Debbie Hansen tossed a season-high 575 series, and look for Bev Cormani’s (560-225) scores to rip higher. She’s in the pantheon of top women bowlers in Mesquite and rolled the only 700 series ever bowled by a woman at the VRBC.

Meanwhile, a first-rate effort by Georgia Godfrey (560-227) hopefully puts her on the cusp of a breakout season, and Bobbie Robins (535) who hails from Sitka, Alaska delivered a solid score.

Finally, Lynae Page, Cheryl Rogers and Frances Harper logged scores of 529, 523 and 510, respectively.

In single game action, Mary Posey (553) punched out a 234, MaryAnn Davis who’s a first-rate bowler with a 300 on her resume tallied a 214, and Carol Saldivar had a blast putting together her first 6-bagger in a career-high 207.

In men’s play, Mike Saldivar (715) has bragging rights to shooting the first 700 in the Wednesday Men’s League two weeks ago, and after last week, make that a pair of 700s after he pounded out a 716 that included a 9-bagger in a 266.

Meanwhile, Al Gans (678-242) is a terrific bowler with an eye-popping resume who’s primed for even higher scores, Darren Simonds (667-243 & 644-257) ended a scoring funk in convincing fashion with a 216 average between a pair of impressive league performances, and Jim Lytle delivered a standout 678 including 10 strikes in a 269 effort on his first night of league play.

Austin Finster (635-235) is a name to remember as he’s an impressive young power bowler who throws a powerful strike ball with serious revs, while both Gil Niimi (626-236) and  Alan Jacobson (621-225) also delivered quality performances.

Dean Baum (620-225) shot a workmanlike 600, and if you’ve seen Rob Hartman (604-221) throw a bowling ball you know within a nanosecond why he has a legit shot at his third 300 game at the VRBC this season.

Finally, Red Powell (599-249) finished a pin shy of his zillionth 600 the bulk of which were bowled during a hall of fame career in Utah where he compiled a jaw-dropping resume. Powell drills all his own bowling equipment and continues winning accolades from the Mesquite bowlers he’s drilled bowling balls for at his pro shop in Scenic, Arizona.

In single game play, Mike Rogers (658) set the scoring pace with 10 strikes in a 289, Mike Gentry (603) tossed eight strikes in a 258, James Hartley (684) fired a 6-bagger in a 257, and Frank Ferreira popped a 246.

Meanwhile, Sal Diaz put together seven strikes in a clean 235, Carlos Baeza chalked up a 228, and the day after Dan Aslin’s 228 he traveled to Pinto, Utah for a hiking venture, and huge Utah Utes fan Steve Kenyon put together six strikes in a 227.

And David Harris rolled seven strikes in a clean 223, Roger Durrant delivered a 6-bagger in a season-high 219, Jimmy Webb who also plays senior softball tossed seven strikes in a 218, and Dennis Hartley a huge fan of the Cleveland Guardians racked up a 214.

Hard throwing right-hander Brian Collins tallied a 212, Fred Emmons who formerly worked at ESPN booked a 206, and Johnny Harper’s 206 was his first deuce this season.

Kerri Roberts who once threw 10 legit consecutive strikes in a 9 pin no-tap event at the VRBC tossed six strikes in a season-high 180 … Patsy Burtchette who originally hailed from Hurricane, Utah booked a clean 189 game … Jan Quinn nabbed her first turkey of the season in a 192 effort … Cher Erhart put together a turkey in a season-high 189 … Sonya Robinson who was on her high school rodeo team in Utah tossed a 179 game which blew away her 124 average … Virginia Glossa threw an impressive 197 game.

Scott Mattingly 649-224; Doug Love 660-236; Milan Carr 608-212; David Houghton 602-210; John Hollaway 641-232; Dean Sheppard 247; Ken Kaylor 245; Bruce Hooley 239; Bob Monson Sr. 235; Gary Connelly 234; Mardon Connelly 232; Dylan Kesl 230; David Newman 227; Bob Robbins 225; Jeff Branche 224; Orlyn Meyer 224; David Pershing 223; Wayne Donnafield 223; Jeff Jacobson 220; Doug Blume 220; Rob Cormani 218; Ron Johnson 217; Bill Funk 217; Ed Hoepfner 216; Ken Thompson 215 Nick Medina 215; Dennis Craft 214; Jan Kusy 214; Tim Wellman 213; Garth Turner 212; Bob Morgan 209; Frank Addamo 209; Steve Serrano 209; Larry Willis 207; Juan Morgana 207; Bob Ballard 204; Robert Melendez 204; Harvey Scow 202; Jedd Fisher 202; Paul Parz 202; Eddy Elsner 201; Ernie Kala 201; Gary Moore 201; Dick Lonick 200; Josh Parz 200; Ken Meacham 200.