Home >  Sports >  Notebooks

Sunday, November 18, 2001

Carolyn Dorin-Ballard moved a step closer to being named the Professional Women's Bowling Association Player of the Year when she tied the all-time professional women's bowling record with seven titles in a season.

She picked up her seventh with a 280-258 victory against Michelle Feldman in the championship match of the $100,000 Brunswick Women's Open in Las Vegas. The combined score was the highest in a championship match this season.

"I'm just on cloud nine right now," said Dorin-Ballard, the PWBA tour leader in titles (seven), earnings ($125,670) and average (214.44). "This has been a very special year for me. I can't imagine Hollywood writing a better script."

Dorin-Ballard has made the televised championship round 18 times in 22 tournaments this season.

Brunswick Shootout

Feldman might not have won the Brunswick Women's Open, but she came up a big winner in the Brunswick Shootout with strikes in the 11th and 12th frames to finish first in the eight-bowler field. It was worth $21,500.

"Not bad for a day's work," said Feldman, who pocketed $7,500 as runner-up in the Brunswick Open.

Kelly Kulick finished second, followed by Wendy Macpherson and Anne Marie Duggan.

The tournament trail

The team of John Faber and Charles Fischerkeller split $2,000 by winning the scratch doubles tournament at Plaza Lanes in Natrona Heights, which was sponsored by the Pittsburgh Bowlers Tour. Mark Barkley and Eric Sands picked up $1,010 for second place.

Eric Johnson defeated Shawn McCullough, 237-189, to win Week No. 5 of the Miller Lite head-to-head tournament at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes. The strike jackpot has reached $670. The tournament starts at 8:15 p.m. today, with a $21 entry fee. For more information call Shawn Endler, 412-590-8323.

Traveling along

Pines Plaza Lanes rolled a National Honor Score of 1,029 for a four-man team at Pines Plaza Lanes in North Hills, which traditionally is considered one of the toughest scoring houses in the Pittsburgh Area Scratch Travel league. Captain Jack Eyerman had a 290, Joe Zeis Jr. 267, Frank Dodds 265 and Greg Nesbit 207. A search of league records couldn't come up with a higher score in recent memory.

On a roll

Mike Ewing strung together games of 279, 257 and 258 for a 794 series in the I.C. Light League at Rosedale Lanes in Penn Hills.

Eric Rushmore's 280/784 was the highlight of TU-Seven league at FunFest Entertainment Center in Harmarville.

League leader

John Fichter's 219.55 average for 33 games leads the Bud Light $12,000 Classic League at South Hills Bowl. Ramon Estrada is next at 215.97, followed by Dave Keefe (212.81) and Shawn Pilyih (211.39).

What's happening

There is a handicap tournament today sponsored by the Pittsburgh Bowlers Tour at Freeway Lanes in Zelienople, with $1,000 for first place and a $39 entry fee.

Plaza Lanes in Natrona Heights will be the host of a scratch singles event next Sunday. For more information on the tour, check the Web site: http://www.bowlthis.com

The deadline for advance reservations for the Pennsylvania State tournament in Altoona next spring and summer is Dec. 1. The handicap tournament for men and women will have singles and doubles competition and will run from the first weekend in April through the third week of June at Pleasant Valley Bowl and Holiday Bowl. The entry fee is $22 per event. Early reservation guarantees a spot in the field, but entries can be submitted until April. For more information call, 412-824-4850, or write to, 105 Penn Plaza, Turtle Creek, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15145.

The bowling column will appear every Sunday from September through April. We're always looking for good stories, unique happenings and the people behind the scores. If you have an anecdote or an intriguing tidbit, either call Phil Axelrod at 412-253-1103, fax to 412-263-1926 or e-mail to paxelrod@post-gazette.com. Individual scores of 225 and series of 625 for men and 200 and 600 for women will be published every Tuesday.