Anniversary post

It’s been 2 years now since I took the game up again, and my experience in the last year has been well above expectations. My average has taken a couple of steps down since last summer, but I still feel I’m improving my overall game. I still booked my highest average ever this past winter (183), and nearly had my first 700 series towards the end of last summer (my 694, helped out by my closest approach so far to my best game ever, the 265).

As I learned there is no longer a regular bowling column in the Enterprise, I took it upon myself to put a modern spin on that and began regularly posting local bowling news. When I learned where all of the league standings at Westgate Lanes are posted online, I began tracking each winter league and reported on all of the honor scores (mostly 300 games and 800 series) shot at Westgate Lanes. I missed some opportunities to give congratulations early in the winter season, notably Richard Mines’ 300 in the TNBA league. I congratulated him at the BBA’s Hall of Fame dinner a few months ago, and do so again here.

I also follow all of the tournaments at Westgate Lanes (notably the People’s Tournament and NEBA), and also have at least started note all of the local bowlers’ performances when those tournaments are away from Westgate Lanes (when the locals cash). I’ve also found results of the PBA East regional tournaments, and will start trying to note the locals’ accomplishments at that level.

I’m going to keep the list of thank-yous brief, as the important people were thanked last year. I do want to thank a few people again, though, so here’s the list:

• Ray DiSanto, Jr. again for continuing my bowling education, and also for drilling my new Hy-Road (he did it himself this time rather than having one of his employees do the work).
• The gang in the Brunswick Mixed League, for welcoming me when I couldn’t get into the Westgate Mixed League. Special thanks go to Helen, Ted, Patrick, and Carl, my first winter league teammates since I returned, for helping make the season fun.
• Bonnie, Bill, and Rob, my current summer league teammates…here’s hoping we do well the rest of the season.
• The Brockton Bowling Association, and especially Bob Young, Jr., for recently giving me a link on the association’s new website.
• The IRC user known as “Heretic,” for alerting me to the woot.com deal on my Canon ZR-950 camcorder, which eventually allowed me to post my own bowling video here.
• Finally, Chris Marasti-Georg, one of the BowlingFans.com gang, for having the vision to start up BowlSK.com, which has definitely made my bowling blogging easier.

Here’s to another year of good bowling. 😀