Bowling: Michael Ramirez is having a breakout season in Mesquite

Unless Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez falls into an ocean-sized sinkhole, he has a bright future on the lanes and is on a path which will see him become a formidable competitor and force on the lanes in the years ahead.

And after only taking up the game a year ago, he’s very passionate about the sport, practices a great deal, and even films his practices. And his desire to improve even included bowling in a St. George league this past summer. Oh, yea! He’s put together a blueprint for success!

Another key element in his rapid improvement is the ability to throw a bowling ball without his right thumb in the ball which in turn generates a great deal more revs resulting in better pin action.

And all the time and effort put in has paid huge dividends with his game light years ahead of where it was a year ago, which in turn has led to lots of ink, accolades,  and even a headline. So it’s not surprising he’s already compiled multiple 600s in a breakout season, with his latest scoring splurge the best of all.

And it happened while competing in Gamblers 4 Aces League play and began when he tattooed the pocket with nine strikes in a clean 258, followed by games of 233 and190, along with 24 total strikes paving the way for an eye-popping 682 series.

Ramirez also credits Red Powell for some of his success as he’s drilled all of his equipment at Red’s Arizona Pro Shop in scenic, Arizona.

Away from bowling, he’s a huge fan of the Pittsburg Steelers, as well as Cosplay.

Before graduating from Cedar Ridge High School in Richfield, Utah, he lived in both Nevada and Oregon.

Meanwhile, with the best yet to come, a virtual lock on a winning bet is that Ramirez will deliver a beatdown of the Virgin River Bowling Center with his first 700 series before the clock runs out on the 2022-23 season.

In other action, Mike Saldivar took high-series honors with a 726 along with picking up the 6-7-9-10 split in a 257 game, Wayne Donnafield (711-259) is the sixth bowler to roll a 700 this season, and Jim Lytle who hails from Montana and loves gourmet hot dogs fell a pin shy of a 700 with a standout 699 effort with 20 strikes and marks on an impressive 12-of-13 spare attempts.

Kelly Williams (675-256) is having more success on the lanes than his Nebraska Huskers are on the gridiron, and Doug Love averaged an impressive 219 between his Monday Scrach League (665-259) and Wednesday Men’s (649-268) leagues.

Bob Marget (640-220) put up another first-rate effort, Bruce Hooley (640-246) ended a recent scoring funk in convincing fashion, and whatever the reason, Jack Northover’s (629-235) game has been on a roll the last several weeks.

Jeff Branche (615-208, 206, 201) had the type of consistent outing good bowlers love, Frank Addamo (610-221) fired 20 strikes in his best overall performance this season, and Al Gans scratched out a 600 on the nose.

On the single game front, Scott Mattingly (668) outdistanced the field with a 278 beaut,  Austin Finster (607) tossed a 7-bagger in a 247, and Rob Hartman (627) also chucked a 247.

Bill Funk shot a season-high 234, Ernie Kala also registered a season-high 233, and Tim Wellman (587) put up his best scores of the 2022-23 season with six strikes paving the way for a 228 game.

Angel Hernandez rolled another deuce with a 213, Rick Jones pocketed a 211, and Ricky Trujillo, a former outstanding baseball player at Virgin Valley High School tallied a 208.

And Pat Garcia who hails from Utah was happy rolling his first deuce of the season with a 202 in T.G.I.F League action, and Steve Roberts who had a terrific breakout 2021-22 season worked the lanes for a 201.

In women’s pin action, LoriJo Turner set the scoring pace with a 608 series and 225 game, Bev Cormani (570-203)  peppered the lanes with another round of quality scores, and Diane Marget was a pillar of consistency in a 554 effort with games of 188, 186 and 180.

Bobbie Robbins (552-203) merits ink after a good outing, Debbie Hansen cruised to a 524, Cheryl Rogers bagged a 5190, and Lynae Page piloted her way to a 510.

In single game play, Sandy Sheppard (566) smacked a 224, Janie Rappe who’s favorite basketball player was Larry Byrd from her home state of Indiana shot her first deuce this season, a 203, and Ashley Yokoyama-Kesl gets her first ink for a 201.

Josue Mendoza is in his first year of league bowling and tossed six strikes in a season-high 195 game. Away from bowling, Mendoza loves watching soccer games, and also does an exceptional job as an employee working at the front desk inside the Virgin River Bowling Center …   Karrie Henderson should see her 129 average in Gamblers 4 Aces League move higher after throwing a season-high 432 series and a seson-high 176 game … Amanda Hartman was all smiles after blowing away a previous high 90 game with a 127, and also ended a memorable night in T.G.I.F. League play with a season-high 298 series … Phyllis Margolis put up a season-high 179 in Ladies Trio League play … Sue Maranski picked up the 5-10 split.

James Hartley 655-259; Orlyn Meyer 636-239; Dennis Craft 631-215; Jan Kusy 626-213; Mike Rogers 626-223; Dave Pershing 623-219; Michael Ramirez 619-233; John Hollaway 617-224; Mike Yoder 617-214; Darren Simonds 613-242; Mike Gentry 610-214; Jeff Jacobson 604-215; Al Gans 600-209; Dave Newman 299; Mark Brackelsberg 228; Rob Cormani 218; Tom Gelsomin 213; Wally Posey 213; Dale Milligan 212; Alan Jacobson 211; Gary Moore 207; Bryan Pierce 206; Dylan Kesl 206; Gil Niimi 203; Johnny Harper 206; Jim Rappe 205; Dean Sheppard 204; Randy Kezior 203; Sal Diaz 203; Steve Serrano 203; Bob Robbins 201; Darren Talmadge 201; Dave Keil 201; Dennis Hartley 201; Garth Turner 201; Harry Uncles 201; Ron Hendrickson 200; Steve Kenyon 200.