Recent Updates

Rich 6:02 pm on July 21, 2019  

Westgate Warriors take UBA New England title

Westgate Warriors NE champions 7-21-2019

The Westgate Warriors New England championship squad: (Front: Danny Khuu, Bill Beck, Jim Bessette; Back: Sean Richard, Jim Ferguson, Stan Lewis, Jon Hester, Zach Thompson, Brian Egan)

Today, the Westgate Warriors claimed the 2018-19 UBA New England championship in a 36-4 rout over New England Heat. The day’s standouts were Jon Hester (782 with a 299 game) and Jim Ferguson (752) in Scratch, Brian Egan (716) in Handicap 1, and Stan Lewis (703) in Handicap 2.

The Warriors will now face X-Treme Chaos, out of the New Jersey South district, in the Battle Bowl Elite 8 at Bowlarama in New Castle, DE.

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Rich 5:01 pm on July 17, 2019  

Bob Hamilton throws 299 in Monday doubles

After I posted about Jim Ferguson’s 300 yesterday, Rob Young contacted me to say that Bob Hamilton also had a 299 the other night. Nice game! 🙂

Rich 3:50 pm on July 16, 2019  

Jim Ferguson posts 300 in Monday doubles

I don’t ever remember Jim Ferguson bowling a summer league, but he was convinced to sub on Brian Egan’s team last night and rewarded himself for doing so with a perfecto. Congrats!

Rich 3:48 pm on July 14, 2019  

Westgate Warriors defeat Raging Bulls for UBA district title

I haven’t posted about about the Westgate Warriors in quite some time, so this serves as an update:

The Westgate Warriors scored a 30-10 decision over Raging Bulls at Callahan’s Bowl-O-Rama in Newington, CT today to claim the UBA New England North title. The Warriors got a 774 from Sean Richard in Scratch, a 700 from Danny Khuu in Handicap 1, and a 708 from Stan Lewis in Handicap 2.

The Warriors will face New England Heat next Sunday at Lessard Lanes in Plainville, CT for the right to represent the New England region in the final four at Battle Bowl in Delaware.

Rich 12:07 pm on July 9, 2019  

Ethan Rosenberg fires 290 in Adult/Junior league

Congrats to Ethan Rosenberg for a 290 game in the Adult/Junior league on May 30. I’ve mentioned him before for a team score, but this is the first individual score of his that I’m reporting on.

Rich 12:01 pm on July 9, 2019  

Stephen Major wins first AXS title at Old Mountain Lanes

As reported by AXS in the post above, Westgate bowler Stephen Major became their newest champion Sunday at Old Mountain Lanes in Wakefield, RI after defeating John Williams, 277-216 (with handicap; Stephen was bowling scratch), in the final match, the video of which is below. The lane condition was Kegel Tower of Pisa.

Congrats Stephen! 🙂

Rich 5:44 pm on June 19, 2019  

Shane Litchfield tosses 300 at Wonder Bowl

Sandi Litchfield posted a video on her Facebook timeline (limited to friends) that showed her son Shane putting the finishing touches on a 300 game last night in Wonder Bowl’s Tuesday night summer league. Good job, Shane! 🙂

Rich 7:50 pm on June 15, 2019  

Westgate Warriors qualify for UBA playoffs; Louis Bacci shoots 299

James Bessette posted in the (closed) Westgate Warriors Facebook group that they won 22 points against Raging Bulls today at East Providence Lanes and have qualified for the New England North playoffs on July 7 at the Bowlero in Milford, CT, where they will face the Auburn Maulers. Leading the way today was Louis Bacci, with a 299 game.

UPDATE: The host center for the NE North playoffs has been changed to Callahan’s Bowl-O-Rama in Newington, CT.

Rich 7:39 pm on June 15, 2019  

Keith Callahan rolls first 300 in Kingston

I saw on Facebook (post was not shareable) that Keith Callahan of the His & Hers league (and bowling Monday Summer Doubles at Westgate) bowled his first 300 game in the Friday Night Doubles summer league last night at Kingston Ten Pin. Congrats! 🙂

Note: It is not known if this league is certified.

Rich 3:55 pm on June 11, 2019  

Keith Kaestner throws 290 in Monday doubles

The Monday Summer Doubles league has been updating standings same-night, but I didn’t realize that until last night, when I saw that Keith Kaestner had a 290 for the high game of last week. Nice bowling, Keith! 🙂

Rich 5:46 pm on June 6, 2019  

Sean Richard tosses 299 at Wonder Bowl

I saw Stephanie Bourhill’s Facebook video of Sean Richard’s 300 attempt in the Wonder Bowl Summer Classic league last night, but left a solid 9 pin for a 299. Sean additionally reported that an open 8th frame in the third game cost him the 800, but bowled a 268 fourth game to go over 1,000 for the set.

Nice bowling! 🙂

Rich 5:46 pm on June 3, 2019  

Danny Khuu shoots 299 in Monday doubles

On the first night of the Monday summer doubles league, Danny Khuu put up a 299 game, which was probably his last bowling before his Vegas nationals trip. WTG! 🙂

Rich 2:34 pm on May 29, 2019  

Aaron Major sets new BPUSBC record average

Tim Major reported to me that his son Aaron finished the His & Hers season with a 241.6 average. As Jim Ferguson’s record average last season was 240.83, Aaron becomes the new BPUSBC association record holder. Congrats Aaron! 🙂

Rich 5:50 pm on May 25, 2019  

My “glamor shot”

It’s easily been about 10 years since I posted a video of my own bowling, so I got together with my bestie for a recording session. I may not have beautiful form, but the goal for the final video was all ten back. You can see for yourself below:

A copy will be on the Facebook page for comments.

Rich 9:05 pm on May 23, 2019  

Corey Major becomes youngest with 300 at Westgate

Congratulations to Corey Major, who bowled his first 300 game tonight in the Adult/Junior league. As I was able to confirm with Rose Hamilton, Corey, at age 14, is now the youngest bowler with a 300 game at Westgate Lanes, pending formal USBC certification.

Sean Richard sent me the video below:

Rich 4:47 pm on May 22, 2019  

May 22 practice session

I threw another two-game practice session today to spend some more quality time with the redone Alpha Crux. I started near where I wanted to be on the lane, but Stephen (and, to a lesser extent, Bob Hamilton) helped me get lined up.

When I finally did find the pocket, I left a flat 10, so that was a good time to try the Art of Bowling tip on finger position to help carry the flat 10. The strikes started coming when I tucked my pinky in, so I knew the next flat 10 would require a move. I threw my best shots near the end of the second “game” (I kept resetting to full racks.), one mixer and the other three dead flush with the carry.

I’m really preparing for something special this weekend, which will very likely feature the Alpha Crux.

Rich 1:02 pm on May 21, 2019  

2019 Brunswick Mixed prize note

I had to miss my league’s banquet to cover NEBA, but Si brought my prize money Sunday. I won high scratch game in men’s “C” (with my 255 on the last night), and the team won 2nd high scratch game (not including the usual point money). I don’t know what individual prize Steve won, but I knew Si was high average in his division, as well as most improved male.

Hope to see everyone in the fall. 🙂

Rich 7:17 pm on May 20, 2019  

Billy Trudell wins 2nd NEBA title at Westgate

Following a thrilling tie at 236, Billy Trudell defeated Jalen Scott-Jones 49-40 in a 9th & 10th frame roll-off to claim his 2nd title (first singles) at the NEBA Westgate Lanes Open. The title match punctuated a fun match play portion of the tournament, which also saw 16-year-old Nate Purches take down New England bowling legend Mike Lichstein in the first round, as well as a sibling “rivalry” match in the semifinals (Billy Trudell vs. his sister Nicole).

The videos of the final match and winner’s interview may be found on NEBA’s Facebook page.

Westgate’s cashers were Aaron Major & Kevin Thibeault, who both reached the quarterfinals, along with Alex Aguiar & Shawn Hagan; Jim Ferguson was high senior out of the money.

Sunday’s qualifying was highlighted by Eric Copping’s 264-300-290 for an 854 (first three of five) on the 12:30 PM squad, and a 290 by Bill Webb and a 299 by Brian Boghosian on the 9 AM squad.

Blanket congratulations to all, and thank you to the NEBA tournament staff for running another great tournament.

Rich 9:32 pm on May 18, 2019  

2019 NEBA Saturday notes

A couple of notes/observations from tonight’s NEBA squad:

  • Jim Savasta had the high game on the squad with a 299, with a 9 pin spoiling the perfecto.
  • Both lefties on the squad, Westgate’s Aaron Major along with Jalen Scott-Jones, made the squad cut. With PBA Tour champion Anthony Pepe, also a lefty, due at Westgate in the morning, tomorrow will be really interesting.
Rich 2:57 pm on May 18, 2019  

Art of Bowling added to sidebar

I found a YouTube channel, Art of Bowling (not to be confused with Jason Belmonte and Diandra Asbaty’s International Art of Bowling), which belongs to New York City-based Silver coach Arthur O’Connor. The channel has lots of good tips, so I decided to place the sidebar link under the coaching category rather than the general one for videos.

Rich 5:44 pm on May 16, 2019  

“Roll” reversal

I’ve been having second thoughts about my Alpha Crux, which was originally a pin-down layout for an early roll. However, I roll a slower ball, so the early ball was not optimal. I had Kevin redrill the ball pin-up, with the thought that the surface will make it go harder off the spot.

My axis (PAP) has changed a lot since I learned a modern release, and is now 5.25″ over, 1.125″ up. The resulting layout is 75° X 4.5″ X 30° (if you want the older notation, 4.5″ X 6″ X 2″). The weight hole is also gone, as I wanted the ball to still be legal when weight holes become illegal in the 2020-21 season.

Trying out the ball today (thanks for the oil, Bobby), the ball does indeed go longer, but I wasn’t getting the back-end move I was hoping for, so Stephen took the ball surface up to 4000 Abralon. I found I was carrying a couple more mixer strikes, and my last shot on 57 was dead flush and carried all ten. I’ll need more practice, but the change looks promising.

Rich 9:10 pm on May 14, 2019  

Aaron Major posts 804 in His & Hers

As announced by the BPUSBC above, Aaron Major threw 279-268-257 for an 804 series tonight in the His & Hers league. Aaron actually needed a 266 third game to break Jim Ferguson’s association record average, but Sean Richard reported to me that Aaron left a stone 8 pin in the penultimate frame, which cost him the record.

Congrats again, anyway, Aaron! 🙂

Rich 12:22 pm on May 14, 2019  

Shawn Hagan rolls 300 in Pepsi league

The Pepsi league season also ended with a bang last night, with Shawn Hagan putting up a trey, the last shot of which is shown below:

Nice game! 🙂

Rich 12:16 pm on May 14, 2019  

Sean Richard throws 810 in Westport

“$eany Ka$h” has been bowling the Westport Trios league at Holiday Lanes on Monday nights rather than the Pepsi league. While it took him until the last night, he finally broke through last night, posting 267-266-277 for an 810 (see above). WTG! 🙂