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Sunday, December 01, 2002

By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

More turkeys were stuffed this week than thrown. But some bowlers feasted on the lanes with a diet of strikes although many of the district houses curtailed their league play because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

One of the highest, and possibly most unexpected, performances was turned in by Chris Kastin, who put together games of 299, 289 and 219 for an 807 series for the first 800 in the Thursday Nite Classic League at Princess Lanes in Whitehall.

It was the first time Kastin cracked the 800 barrier.

"But I have not bowled a 700 series yet," he said.

The hottest bowler around has to be Harley Schultz, who went over 800 for the second time in the past three weeks. After rolling an 870, he came back with an 802 in the Thursday Bud Lite Trio League at New Great Valley Lanes in North Versailles.

Schultz, whose average has reached 230, threw games of 290, 275 and 237.

On a roll

Tara Molina (172 average) rolled a 279, 186 and 192 for a 657 series in the Coors Light Players League at AMF Noble Manor Lanes.

Sharon Cohen's 238/675 was high for the women in the Pinjammers League at Nesbits' Lanes in Plum, and Ed Lundy's 279/735 topped the men.

John Fichter (263/766), Cliff Baker (267/706) Pete Baumiller (288/700) and Bob Wiesen (257/700) topped the charts in the Bud Lite $12,000 Classic League at South Hills Bowl.

Dan Hubert's 299 was the headliner in the TU 7 League at Funfest Entertainment Center in Harmarville.

Dan Putteman Jr. fired a 286/705 to take honors at the Swissvale Arcade Lanes.

League leaders

John Fichter's 225 average leads the Bud Lite Classic League at South Hills Bowl, followed by Dave Berman's 217, Pete Baulmiller's 213, Dave Davison's 212 and Ed Keefe's 212.

South Hills Bowl is in first place and Team Yuengling is second.

Perfecto

Dave Adams of Bill's Pro Shop threw his 17th sanctioned 300 in the final game of a 692 series in the Bud Lite Classic League at South Hills Bowl.

Never too young

Vicki Burns, 12, had a 222 in the Thursday Juniors to become the first 200 game by a girl in the junior program at Sharpsburg Lanes. Other high scores by the juniors were turned in by Mike Fechke Jr. (254), Rob Pofi (224) and Steve Richey (212).

Tournament trail

Jim Petzel picked up $1,000 and Jeff Poholsky $520 for second in a scratch event at Freeway Lanes sponsored by the Pittsburgh Bowlers Tour.

Starting up

A record 25 boys' and girls' teams will begin the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League season Wednesday and continue through February. The Pennsylvania State Championships will be March 15-17, with the singles competition at Brunswick Playmor and the team championships at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes.

What's happening

There will be a No-Tap handicap tournament today at Corpen Lanes sponsored by the Pittsburgh Bowlers Tour, with $500 to the winner. Entry fee is $19. A scratch doubles tournament will be at Plaza Lanes next Sunday, with $2,000 to the first-place team and an entry fee of $98 per team. For more information on the Pittsburgh Bowlers Tour, check its Web site, http://www.bowlthis.com.

The Tri-State Bowlers Tour will sponsor a tournament Saturday and next Sunday at Klondike Lanes in Masontown, with $1,000 guaranteed for first place. Entry fee is $40.

The feature event of the year sponsored by the Tri-State Bowlers Tour is the West Virginia Open, May 24-25, at Suburban Lanes in Morgantown, W.Va., with first place worth $5,000. For more information call, 304-599-3522.

The second in the series sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Duckpins Association will be Saturday at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association. Call Patti or Sam, 412-391-3700.