BOWLING: A 300 Game by Sal Diaz Puts Him In Rarified Air in Mesquite Bowling

It began with a strike in the first frame of his first game and followed by nine more. So, knowing he only needed two more strikes for his first perfecto, the nerves really kicked in as he stepped on the approach for his 11th shot, but seemingly unfazed by the pulse-pounding pressure he sent a laser to the 1-3 pocket for a strike which really put him in unchartered territory.

Well, you’ve already guessed it, displaying nerves of steel on his final shot, a spontaneous thunderous applause erupted within a nanosecond of his electrifying 12th ball crushing the 1-3 pocket for a strike for his first-ever 300 game. And that put him in some really select company as he became just the 23rd bowler to throw a 300 game in league play since the bowling center opened in 1998.

Diaz began bowling in the 2021-2022 season which he finished with a 145 average and his game has  rocketed higher each season to the point where he’ll finish with an average around 208 this season. So, with multiple 700s already on his resume, a virtual slam dunk for a deuce average this season, and now with a 300 game reached as a goal, could an 800 series be on the horizon? And with his lethal two-handed strike ball another perfecto surely is.

Chris Prather is his favorite pro bowler, he’s an alumnus of Virgin Valley High School, loves playing card games, and is a fan of the Green Bay Packers, LSU Tigers, and FC Barcelona.

In other pin action, Austin Finster is another young strike-throwing machine who’s 24 strikes paved the way for the week’s high series, a chart-topping 739 on games of 269, 265, 205, and Mike Yoder is a veteran bowler who can match throwing strikes with bowlers of any age and did so with 24 in a standout 717 effort in the Mesquite Merchants Men’s League on games of 258, 256, 203 and raising his average to 216, and two days ago in the Monday Scratch League he pounded out a 707 en route to a mouthwatering 237 average over his last six games.

Meanwhile, in the same league as Yoder, James Hartley raised his average to 202 after tossing a 712 on Games of 266, 232 and 214, and Dennis Craft’s second consecutive 697 raised his King & Queens League average to a lofty 222 with games of 279, 212 and 206 including marks on 14-of-15 spare shots.

Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez just missed adding another 700 to his collection this season with a 690 including a clean 252, 21 strikes, and marks on 11-of-12 spare attempts, Jeremy Turlington also racked up a 690 which included 10 strikes in a 268, nine in a 245 and 23 total strikes in top-notch effort, and Jared Bundys 678 included 20 strikes, a clean 258 and only two open frames.

Bruce Hooley (655-235) navigated his way around changing lane conditions in a first-rate outing, and without much fanfare, Dean Baum (649-237) continues putting up highly competitive scores.

Steve Serrano’s goal this season is his first 700, and while not a slam dunk it’s definitely doable, and so is a 200 average with more outings like his 202 average last week between 623 and 604 league outings, and Ricky Trujillo’s 624 with a 242 game bumped his average up a pin to 200.

In other action, Bob Ballard’s first 600 of the season, a 617 included a clean 214, 16 strikes and marks on 14-of-15 spare shots all of which helped up his average three pins to 181, and Tim Brandt who makes the long drive from Cedar City, Utah to bowl in the Monday Scratch league tossed a 616 on games of 236,202 and 178 with 19 total strikes, and if you’re looking for info on what it’s like bowling with string bowling, Brandt’s your man.

Stan Benally raised his MMML average to 179 on a season-high 614 with 19 total strikes including a 230 with a five-bagger and bowling on his same team is his son, Myles who fired a 211 game in a 568 series, and he’s bowling better right now than his Chicago Bulls are who only have seven wins so far in this NBA season.

And in the same league as Benally, Al Gans (613-215) booked a solid 600, but he always aims for series scores a great deal higher, and should as his resume sports multiple 300s, 800s, and lotsa 700s and Mike Dunlop (606-222) raised his average another pin to188, and Brent Schlesinger merits ink for his second 600 this season, a 604 which should raise his184 average.

In single game play, Doug Love (690) narrowly missed out on a third 300 in Mesquite before finishing with a 290 gem helping raise his K&QL average to 210, Logan Hendricks hammered out a 279 beaut, Dale Knight (629) punched out a 246, and Harry Uncles delivered a five-bagger in a 232.

Ryan Baeza cruised to a 229 and here’s betting we’ll see his scores rocket higher before the clock runs out on 2024 on December 31st, and like Baeza, Jim Rappe also thumped the lanes for a 229, and Nick Paul, an avid UNLV fan tossed a 225.

Jeff Branche (582) had only one open in a 222, Dave Cirbo fired a 221, Randy Kezior gets ink for a 218, and Jack Northover gets his share of pars when golfing, and deuce games when bowling, with his latest a 212.

Finally, Vikings fan Mark Maguire chucked a 211, Max Burgess is a retired dentist from SoCal who popped a 207, Felix Cruz merits ink for a 202, while Dan Erhart pocketed a 201, and Tony Urias put together a clutch finish in a 198 game by throwing a 5-bagger and six pins on his fill ball in the 10th.

In women’s pin action, Vickie Martinsen’s drive from Overton to bowl two days ago in the Gambler’s 4 Aces League on Monday was made all the more memorable with a 612 series including a nine-bagger in a 265 gem. I clearly recall seeing her name on the honor board when I first began doing this column when she held the house-high series record with a 686 which has since been eclipsed multiple times by both Bev Cormani and Sandy Sheppard. Martinsen has also bowled in Vegas leagues before where she rolled a 300 in league play at Texas Station, and it’s great seeing her back bowling in Mesquite.

Meanwhile, Cheryl Rogers delivered a heckuva terrific outing in the Monday Scratch League when she spanked the lanes with a season-high 611 series which included 18 total strikes, a clean 214 game and marks on 10-of-13 spare attempts. She’s very athletic, still plays senior softball, pickleball, was a defensive standout on her high school basketball team, and her 611 is her first 600 since a 629 in 2021.

And Georgia “GG” Godfrey, building on the momentum of a 600 bowled in a tournament in Sin City this past weekend fired her best league outing this season on Monday night with a 577 effort that included a clean 204, 12 total strikes and marks on 14-of-16 non-split spare attempts. She throws a ball with good ball speed, hits the pocket with some nice pop and so she has the game to be putting up scores like her 577 on a more frequent basis.

Reiko Schultz booked a nice 565 including a clean 207 with six strikes and six spares, and it’s great seeing Bev Cormani (568-225) get her mojo back after a nasty pulled hamstring muscle slowed her game, Ashley Yokoyama (548-203) will use this solid outing as a springboard and motivation to continue seeing her game gain altitude, and Bobbie Robbins of Wrangell, Alaska fame will aim for more outings going forward like her 541 and 199 scores.

In single game play, Sandy Sheppard (587) logged a 238, Lee Ann Harmes (551) smacked a 225, and so did Lisa Rice in Ladies Trio League action.

Diane Marget (538) registered a 216, and Gayle Parison peppered the lanes with a 211 and unless you’re cool about losing your money, you do not want to play poker with Parison.

Jane Burgoyne tallied a 203, and Molly Gomes has taken a liking to deuce games with another one, a 200.

MEN’S HIGH SCORES

John Hollaway 686-247; Dylan Kesl 671-247; Dalton Smith 666-236; John Martin 661-254; Dave Houghton 659-265; Darren Simonds 655-256; David Johnsoin 651-222; Milan Carr 650-232; Dean Baum 649-237; Dave Pershing 648-233; David Harris 623-226; Ernie Kala 623-224; Harold Hendrick 616-235; Mike Gentry 615-223; Vic Reading 613-234; Alan Jacobson 612-221; Mike Rogers 611-256; Gil Nimmi 609-237; Orlyn Meyer 607-253; Kelly Williamson 604-229; Tim Usher 604-234; Dean Sheppard 601-223; Roman Perez 239; Duane Sullivan 233; Chris Scott 232; Harry Uncles 232; Rob Drury 225; Jeff Harmes 225; Bob Marget 224; Robert Melendez 224; Randy Carter 223; Jerry Holloway 222; Dave Cirbo 221; Bryan Pierce 215; Larry Willis 213; Max Baarz 213; Jim Bice 212; Rob Cormani 211; Angel Hernandez 210; Steve Kenyon 210; Jacoby Ford 209; Dave Deen 208; Chad Klein 206; Paul Sullivan 206; Bob Robbins 204; Jan Kuzy 202; Brian Collins 202; Ken Meacham 202; Dave Castro 201; Mike Foote 200.

WOMEN’S HIGH SCORES

Lynae Page 543-192; Kim Marshall 536-212; Pam Jacobson 516; Jamie Turlington 503; Suzie Fehseke 503.