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Sunday, October 20, 2002

By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Kristi Young didn't grasp the magnitude of what she had done until several days and a couple of phone calls later.

That's when Young realized she was the first woman to bowl a sanctioned 800 series in Western Pennsylvania since Polly Schwarzel's 819 23 years ago.

"I think that's really cool," said Young, who recently had games of 277, 255 and 277 in the Mixed Trio League at Miracle Lanes in Monroeville. "I didn't even think about that after I did it, but I checked it out and realized I had done something pretty amazing."

Young's previous high three-game series was 760, two years ago at Miracle Lanes.

"I'm not going to say it's an easy house, but there are a lot of high scores at Miracle Lanes. They're not the same every week," said Young, who averages 215. "This time, the lanes were perfect for me, just the way I like them. I throw a big hook for a woman, and I was throwing it harder than usual."

Young had a feeling during warmup that "somebody was going to bowl a big series."

Young started her first game with nine straight, left three standing, then finished with three strikes for a 277. She had seven in a row to open both the second and third games and threw strikes in 30 of 36 frames. She had a little luck with Brooklyn strikes in the first and second game.

"I just want to be consistent and make my spares," said Young, 28, a nurse at Woodhaven Care Center in Monroeville. "I'm bowling much better since Mike Boudeux drilled my ball and put in a thumb slug. My grip and release are different and my hand comes off the ball a lot smoother."

Young's teammates in the Mixed Trio League are Byron Davenport and her dad, John Young.

"He started it all for me," she said of her father, who averages around 200. "I love bowling with dad."

Bowling has been all in the family for the Youngs. John met his wife, Kelly, in a bowling alley, and Kristi has introduced her four-year-old daughter, Lexi, to the sport.

"I started in the junior leagues and have been bowling for 20 yars," said Young, a graduate of Gateway High School. "I feel like I'm learning more every time I bowl. I feel very comfortable where I'm at."

Asked if she's one of the top women bowlers in the district, she laughs before answering, "I'm up there."

An 809 puts her on top.

The PWBA tour

Tish Johnson, a 22-year veteran on the Professional Women's Bowling Association tour competing in her 232nd consecutive national event, won the Greater Pasadena Open to earn her 25th title. Johnson defeated Liz Johnson in the final match, 246-187.

Leanne Barrette leads the tour this season with three championships, including the Three Rivers Open at Princess Lanes in Whitehall, and tops the earnings with $67,035. Barrette recently became the fourth woman to reach $1 million in earnings, with $1,004,428.50. She trails Wendy Macpherson ($1,174,735), Aleta Sill ($1,071,194) and Johnson ($1,050,825).

The tournament trail

Tom Lovely (Castle Shannon) defeated Bill Hoffman (Columbus, Ohio) in the finals, 246-235, to finish first and earn $1,000 in the Tri-State Bowlers Tour at Alpine Lanes.

Dave Mackowack defeated Chris Kasten in the final match, 255-215, to win Week 2 of the Miller Lite Head-to-Head tournament at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes. Kasten threw a 300 in the second round.

Chuck Bennett (Martins Ferry, Ohio) defeated Doug Gregory (Weirton) in the final match, 212-205, to win the Head-to-Head tournament at All American Lanes in Steubenville.

On a roll

Bob Warnock put together games of 225, 267 and 266 for a 758 series to lead the way in the Coors Light Players League at AMF Noble Manor Lanes.

Lou Bellassario's 257/760 topped the Thursday Coors Light Classic League at Miracle Lanes.

Gary Klapkowski's 279/685 was the headliner in the Thursday Men's Classic at Princess Lanes.

Perfecto

Dave Davison rolled his 10th 300 game in the third game of a 703 series in the Bud Lite $12,000 Classic League at South Hills Bowl.

Oh, so close

Dave Adams rolled a 299 in the Thursday Men's Classic League at Princess Lanes.