Home >  Sports >  Notebooks

Sunday, January 21, 2001

Jason Yeschke can't explain why he did it. Maybe it helped. Maybe it didn't.

With a page with a blue dot on it from the National Enquirer stuffed in his pocket, Yeschke rolled his first 300. The blue dot is supposed to have a mystical power, a psychic energy that that can bring luck to its holder.

"I did it just for the heck of it," said Yeschke, who had games of 300, 168 and 236 for a 704 series in the Wednesday Nite Men's League at Forward Lanes in Squirrel Hill. "That was the first time I ever did that."

He laughed. "It made a believer out of me."

It was the first perfect game for Yeschke, 23, who left a 10-pin for a 299 in 1996 at Arsenal Lanes in Lawrenceville. It also was the first 300 since the league moved from Arsenal to Forward Lanes 10 years ago.

Was it the blue dot?

"Who knows?" Yeschke said with a laugh. "You rub it and wish for good fortune. It seems real weird, but I did roll a 300."

Yeschke said he didn't start thinking about a 300 until the eighth frame.

"I tried to calm myself down," said Yeschke, who was born and raised in Arsenal, graduated from Peabody High School and works at Arsenal Lanes. "Every one was a solid strike. I couldn't believe it, but I don't remember much of the 10th frame."

A right-hander who averages 210 in the Monday Nite Men's League, Yeschke started the second game with three consecutive open frames.

"I was still shaken from the 300," he said. "In the third game, I got three strikes in the 10th for a 236 and a 700 series. I really wanted to get 700."

He still carries the blue dot around with him and plans to write to the National Enquirer's staff and tell them about his 300.

Scholastic stars

Hempfield's Tim Black averages 212 for nine games to pace the boys in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League. Hempfield is 5-0 with a two-game edge in the East Division. Other top scorers above 200 are Matt Cenci (206), Ray Shimko (206) and Frank Paganie (200).

The other division leaders are Baldwin (5-0) in the Central and Ambridge (5-0) in the West.

For the girls, Oakland Catholic's Allison Bordogna leads with 192 average, followed by Ashley Kessler (190), Stephanie Geis (189) and Lindsay Underwood (188).

The division leaders are Baldwin (5-0) in the Central, Hempfield (5-0) in the East and Our Lady of Sacred Heart (5-0) in the West.

Double perfecto

There were two 300s rolled in the Monday Classic League at Pines Plaza Lanes in North Hills. Rocky Mori had a 300/760 and Larry Olko a 300/699.

Perfecto

Russ McWilliams tossed a 300/692 for WABTEC at North Versailles Bowl.

Skip Sears had a 300 for Bo Club at North Versailles Bowl.

High rollers

Rob Shaffer's 771 series featured a 290 game in the Wednesday Men's Classic League at Rosedale Lanes in Penn Hills.

The tournament trail

Don Stahl (Latrobe) picked up $1,000 by winning the Saunier Wilhem-sposnored Scratch Tournament at Stan's White Oak Bowl. He beat Mike Sipple (Oakland, Md.) in the final.

Tom Bohr defeated Mike Pofi, 238-180, to win Week 13 of the Sunday Miller Lite Head-to-Head tournament at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes. Tonight's tournament starts at 8:15. Entry fee is $20.

Can you top this?

Justin Marton converted the 4-6-7-10 split in the Fellowship League at Swissvale Arcade Lanes.

Gary Ranallo picked up the 4-6-10 split in the St. Margaret's League at Arsenal Lanes. Ed Lasoon made the 3-7-10 and Mike Loftis the 6-7-10 in the St. Raphael's League.

What's happening

Saunier Wilhem is sponsoring a Scratch Doubles tournament for men and women today at Nesbit's Lanes in Plum, with first place worth $3,000. Squad times are 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Entry fee is $98 per team.