BOWLING: Jacoby Ford ‘s Impressive 2024-25 Rookie Season is a Preview of a Future Scoring Juggernaut

Jacoby Ford began winning accolades for his smooth two-handed delivery in the opening weeks of the 2024-25 season, and as it continues unfolding a great deal more will surely be coming his way.

In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise once this baby goes online in the Mesquite Local News his cell phone will likely blow up with calls from other bowlers in need of a sub or a team looking looking to add a bowler with his scoring potential to its roster for next season.

So, next let’s pivot to show you some specifics so you know we’re not hyping this.

First, in the first 11 weeks of competing in his first-ever regular adult league, the King & Queen’s, along with six games as a sub in the City Rollers League, he’s already tossed a trio of 600 series scores, and if you’re thinking he must be one of those young two-handed bowlers who throws a ton of strikes, you’re right on.

Yes, in fact, in over those nine games and out of a possible 108 strikes, he’s tattooed the 1-3 pocket with 57, along with marks on 30-of-41 spare attempts.

His first-ever 600 was a 621 on consistent games of 209, 208, 204, and followed it with a 650 on more good games of 234, 219 and 197. And fueled by 21 strikes and marks on 3-of-3 on his shots at a 10 pin leave, he put an exclamation point on his three 600s in K&Q League action two days before Thanksgiving with an eye-popping 667 series on games of 232, 221 and 214.

“The biggest thing I want to work on now is to become more consistent in hitting my target,” said Ford. And he’s doing exactly that by practicing in his free time and also competing in the challenging Sunday Scratch Sport Shot League. So, with that kind of focus, determination, and great positive attitude, without any equivocation, you just know he’s on a trajectory of becoming a scoring juggernaut. And while not a slam dunk, seeing him throw a 700 before bidding adieu to the 2024-25 campaign wouldn’t even be a surprise. So stay tuned!

His favorite pro bowler is Dan Tang, Call of Duty is his favorite video game, and while he may not be Jimmy Hendrix playing the guitar, but no one else is either, but he does enjoy playing that instrument.

In other abbreviated league action due the Thanksgiving holiday break, Doug Love delivered a masterpiece two nights ago in the Monday Scratch League when he began his first game with two spares followed by 10 straight strikes for his umpteenth 279. However, he wasn’t done throwing strikes. Nosiree, as he continued blasting strikes on the front eight, giving him 18 straight strikes before finishing with 266, and along with a 190 finished with a scrumptious 735 set.

And Jeremy Turlington followed his previous week’s 690 in the MS League with an impressive clean 720 set on games of 247, 239 and 234 which included 23 strikes and marks on 11-of-11 on his spare shots, and in spite of throwing 23 strike in another heckuva good outing, Austin Finster (694-257, 235, 202) narrowly missed a 700.

And David Walker sparked by a clean 257 which included a five-bagger and nine total strikes finished with a top-notch season-high 673, and Alfred Oliveira V’s 668 raised his average two sticks to 208, and it’s definitely going higher.

Jerod Bundy (666-234, 230, 202) continued his good outings in the MS League and likely raised his 210 average, and it’s great seeing Dean Sheppard (659-244, 215, 200) deliver a top-notch effort.

Gary Smith’s first-rate 658 included a clean 257 and will definitely raise his MS League’s 182 average, Dale Knight (622-220) posted some solid scores, and Mike Gentry (621-237) keeps chalking up 600s since his return to the lanes following major heart surgery.

Ernie Kala 603-222) is due for a big scoring production in the weeks ahead, and Joe Gillis merits his first ink in several years for his first 500 this season, a 554 on games of 204, 180, 168 all of which will no doubt his raise his 154 average.

On the single game front, Mike Rogers (647) spared a 9 pin leave in the 7th frame, but rattled off  11 strikes overall to finish with a 279, Bruce Hooley (630) had nine strikes in a 266,  Scott Mattingly (658) punched out a 258, and Dave Pershing (599) pocketed a 253.

And Michael “Smurffzzz” Ramirez (637) logged a 248, Logan Hendricks booked a 237, Bobby Dixon who hails from St. George registered a clean 227, Dave Houghton continued an amazing run of least one deuce game a week with his 226, and Ray Morrison merits ink for a 213 which blew away his 125 average.

Allen Pearson cruised to a 205, Ron Johnson also bagged a 205, Dave Castro popped a 204, and retired military veteran Shaun Edwards nabbed a 202.

In women’s action, Vickie Martinsen followed up a 612 with a 265 game the previous week with an even better outing in Monday night’s Gambler 4 Aces League play with a whopping 678 series including a stratospheric 276 gem. And the way the southpaw from Overton has been bowling in her last two outings, it’s possible her second career perfecto is on the table.

Diane Marget (586-214) put up the next best set in the women’s scoring food chain, and it’s great seeing Georgia “GG” Godfrey (570-202, 200, 173) continue inching closer to her first 600.

Meanwhile, Cheryl Rogers (560-214) has put together really back-to-back outings and with her athletic delivery continuing this scoring run can certainly happen, and a nice effort by Jane Burgoyne (536-205) raised her K&Q League average a pin to 163.

Judy Connelly (536-199, 189, 148) merits major kudos for her best outing this season which will definitely raise her current G4A League 138 average, Tama Hixon was also stoked after peppering the lanes with a season-high 462 series on games of 157, 154 and 151 which also raised her K&Q League average to 135 from 130.

On the single game front, Lexi Mattson (551) fired a 221, Gayle Parison navigated the lanes for a 211, and Evelyn Hooley (508) 202 helped raise her K&Q League average a pin to 151.

Kelly Williamson 584-196; Alfred Oliveira V 559-204; Dale Knight 553-200; Jacoby Ford 206; Sal Diaz 201; Riley Clayton 190.

John Hollaway 677-239; Dennis Craft 666-228; Milan Carr 653-259; David Johnson 637-231; Kelly Williamson 532-232: John Martin 624-224; Dylan Kesl; 622-228; Dean Baum 602-209; Steve Serrano 234; Javier Delgadillo 227; Darren Simonds 226; Al Gans 224; Ken Meacham 221; Frank Addamo 213; Max Burgess 212; Felix Cruz 205; Ryan Baeza 205; Harry Uncles 204; Dave Harris 202; Jimmy Webb 202.

Autumn Telford 557-214; Sandy Sheppard 543-185; Lee Ann Harmes 540-199; Lenae Page 507-195.