Knott's Interiors cops Dan Merkosky Memorial Classic League title

May 17, 2008 02:41 pm

— Knott’s Interiors scored 16 points and defeated Olympic Fun Center (12 points), Basilones (7.5 points) and T.K. Systems (4.5 points) to win the 2007-08 championship of the Dan Merkosky Memorial Classic League that competes at Sunset Lanes.
Knott’s team members and their roll-off series are as follows: Chuck Knott (569), Joe Wansack (610), Ken Ratkowski (616) and Jerry Jara (723). Knott’s Interiors is a unique team. Chronologically, they are the oldest team in the league. However, they also have the distinction of having three team members in the Mercer County Bowling Hall of Fame (Knott, Ratkowski, and Jara) and one team member (Wansack) in the Mercer County Sports Hall of  Fame.
Team season high scores went to the following. Team scratch game: Sunset Lanes (1042). Team members are Dave Blough, Brock Perfilio, Chris Morrison and Jeff Van Ord. Team scratch series: T.K. Systems (2808). Team Members are Mike Yocum, Ron Achenbach Jr., Fred Leunis and Scott Baker.
Team handicap game went to Dean Food with 1088. Team members are Joe Dix, Keith Maloney, Bobby Johnson and Steve Feigert.
Frogtown Driving Range took team handicap series with 3003. Team members are Frank Negrea III, Chuck Carroll, Steve Quillen, Ed Schuller and Fred Marini.
Individual season highs are as follows: High scratch game, Tony Sandy and Baker (300). High scratch series; Van Ord (847): High handicap game, Paul Steele (321); high handicap series,  Morrison, (856).
Jara led the league in individual points with 81, while Brian Chec had high average with 226.41. Ben Ferencik was most improved bowler going from 202 to 222.83, an increase of 20.83 pins.
ä Pizza Joe’s won the 2007-08 championship of the PNA Monday Night Mixed League that competes at Thornton Hall. Pizza Joe’s entered the playoffs as the 1st-half wildcard team. Team members are Andy Klutcher, Therese Smith, Miles Lawrence, Sandy Gregory and Rich Kovack. Their championship score was 2480.
Other teams who participated in the roll-offs and their final scores were as follows: (2) Leipheimer and Tomon (2nd quarter winners) 2420, (3) Sharpsville VFW (4th quarter winners), 2414, (4) Sharpsville American Legion (3rd quarter winners), 2396, (5) Ermes (2nd half wild card), 2365 and (6) Nittany Pub (1st quarter winners) 2256.
Season high team honors goes to the following: High team scratch game; Erme’s (870). Team members are Linda Taylor, Eileen Tolone, Jeff Martincek, Joyce Geisel and Chris Glancy. High team series; Pizza Joe’s (2486).
High team handicap game went to Eagle Software with 959. Team members are Ann Sever, Janie Uretta, Bill Wygant, Brian Geisel and Kim Klutcher. Pizza Joe’s also had high team handicap series with 2660.
Individual season highs are as follows: Men’s high scratch game; (1) Brian Geisel (270), (2) Dan Sadowski (266), (3) Greg Foust (257). Men’s high scratch series; (1) Rick  Kovack (640), (2) Don Hook (624), (3) Glancy (590).
Women’s high scratch game: (1) Helene Roberts (247), (2) Deanna Johnson (244), (3) Tina Cull (222). Women’s high scratch series: (1) Joyce Geisel (643), (2) Joni Delfratte (563), (3) Sandy Geisel (549).
Men’s high average went to Geisel with 204.54, while Roberts led the women with 177.13.
Martine had the most improved average for the men going from 115 to 126.47, an increase of 11.47 pins. Sandy Gregory topped the women going from 142 to 149.32, an increase of 7.32 pins.
ä An  incident that was reported at the national level (in the May 2008 issue of Bowlers Journal) brought cause for alarm and did little if any good for the image of our sport.
In Baltimore, Md., Steve Caparelli had the first 11 and then purposely threw the 12th shot in the gutter. His reason for the action is he made a vow that if he ever got close to a perfect game, he would forego the 300 because “they aren’t worth anything anymore because league bowling has become little more than the great wall of China.”
Although I may agree with his thoughts, I’m not pleased with his protest. His gutter ball cost his team a victory (they lost by 5 pins). I’m sure a bowler of his caliber could have thrown a shot that wasn’t a strike, but still get enough pins to give his team the win.
ä Just a reminder that the annual meeting of the Mercer County USBC Women’s Association will be held Thursday, May 22, at the Elks Club in Sharon. It will begin at 7 p.m.
Any sanctioned member of the association can attend. Tournament prizes will be distributed and there will be an election of officers for the 2008-09 season.

Gabe D’Angelo is a local bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Writers Association who writes this weekly column for The Herald.

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