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Sunday, December 30, 2001

Bowling always has been an integral part of the lives of Chris Lochiatto and Susan Tokarski -- as children, teenagers, young adults and now parents.

They were teammates on Swissvale Bowl-A-Rama's YABA Traveling League as juniors and have returned to the Bowl-A-Rama in the Monday Nite Mixed Trio League.

Lochiatto, 36, of East McKeesport, has high game this season for a female with a 246 and Tokarski, 35, of Wilkins Township, is second with a 243. Each averages in the mid-160s to rank among the top women in the league.

"This actually brought our friendship back together," said Tokarski, a right-hander who picked up a ball two years ago after a seven-year hiatus when she was raising her daughters, Caitlin, 10, and Brienna, 7. "I missed it. I'm a nurse and bowling helps me relieve stress."

Lochiatto and Tokarski, who played softball together at Swissvale High School, went their separate ways after getting married and having kids.

"This is a great way to get back in touch with her," said Lochiatto, a homemaker whose children are Nicholas, 6, and Jonathan, 4. "It's kind of like being a kid again, being back at Swissvale."

Bowling also played a role in Lochiatto's marriage. She met her husband, Frank Jr., at a bowling banquet on the Gateway Clipper about 12 years ago.

"We bowled in leagues together," she said, laughing, "then we got married."

The tournament trail

Bill DeVault (Weirton, W.Va.) won Week 13 of the Head-to-Head tournament at All American Lanes in Steubenville, Ohio, with a 248-199 victory against Jeffrey Dalfol (Burgettstown) in the final. DeVault averaged 221.

Mike Fuccaro defeated John Kleist III in the final, 226-185, to win Week 9 of the Miller Lite Head-to-Head tournament at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes.

Perfecto

Jason Wunderlich tossed a 300/697 in the Greater Pittsburgh YABA Travel league at Miracle Lanes in Monroeville.

Guy Yerace posted a 300/794 in the STAGS Bowling League at Miracle Lanes.

Brad Semonik had a 300/781 at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes.

Chuck Cashdollar registered his second 300 in the third game of a 712 series in the Bud Lite $12,000 Classic at South Hills Bowl.

League leaders

Griff Williams' 217.29 average tops the Coors Light $10,000 Classic League at South hills Bowl, followed by Steve Hoesch's 210 and Nick Roman's 205.62.

On a roll

Bud Jones had a 279/753 in the Rox Bottoms League at Brannan's Bowl in McKees Rocks.

Bill Scheiwer Jr.'s 269/753 and John Grabiak's 278/767 were highlights at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes.

Paul Cortese strung together games of 279, 244 and 235 for a 758 in the Thursday Men's Classic League at Princess Lanes in Whitehall.

Scott Chapman's 280/764 was the talk in the Thursday Coors Light League at Miracle Lanes.

Brian Kolar (199 average) left a solid 10 pin on his final throw for a personal-best 299 in the Miller Lite Men's Classic League at Playmor Bowl in Lincoln Place.

George Cimba's 264/753 in the Men's Masters League and Wayman E. Humphrey's 289/754 in the Bud Quads league were the headliners at New Great Valley Lanes in North Versailles.

What's happening

The Pittsburgh Women's Bowling Association and the Greater Pittsburgh Ten Pin Association are sponsoring the Greater Pittsburgh Mixed Doubles Tournament that will be Saturday and Sunday from Jan. 5 through Feb. 3 at New Great Valley Lanes in North Versailles. There will be no competition Jan. 26-27.

Entries are available by calling, 412-823-2118 or 412-824-4850.

The Western Pennsylvania Duckpin Series will begin Saturday at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. The Canadian/Western Pennsylvania Duckpins Challenge will be Jan. 11-13 at the PAA. For more information on each event call, Lorraine at the PAA Lanes, 412-621-4200, or Patti, 412-391-3700.