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DEREK SCHROEDER'S 846 Just Misses House Record
by Frank Weiler
8 May 2012
MURRIETA - TOJNA O'BRIEN and JACKIE YOUNG work the desk at BRUNSWICK CAL OAKS BOWL. They keep me informed about happenings at the Oaks and I appreciate their assistance.
Recently, they told me about Derek Schroeder and his big day. Derek just missed setting a new house record when he rolled an 846 (279 - 300 - 267). He needed just thirteen more pins to top JUSTIN BORLAND'S 858. At one point, Derek had twenty-four consecutive strikes.
Schroeder used his new Hammer Brick to fire the big score, which stands as the high series this season in the 640 Scratch Trio League. Derek's 224 average is up twelve pins from his 212 book average.
Derek would like to thank MATT MURTISHAW of FAST LANES PRO SHOP for drilling his equipment. Derek will tell you that bowling balls drilled by Matt fit like a glove. Thank you TRACKING THE BOWLING NEWS.NET for supporting Citrus Belt bowlers.
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MIKE DeVANEY Wins Citrus Belt Masters
by Frank Weiler
30 Apri 2012
VICTORVILLE - The DeVaney Express rolled on at Victor Bowl on April 29th. Mike DeVaney averaged 256 for twelve games on his way to becoming this
season's Citrus Belt Masters Champion. The D -Train used his Storm Manic to win five of six two game matches and the title. While drilling bowling balls at PINS & NEEDLES Pro Shop in Hemet, Mike has been able to become more familiar with his equipment and make better on lane adjustments. The result is better scores and more wins. This win was worth $1,000.
DeVaney had a tough field to beat with two of his competitors, Eddie Van Daniker and Dave Wodka, being recent PBA Tournament of Champions finalists. However, with games of 298, 290, 279 (three times), and 268 he glided through the winner's bracket and into the finals.
After an early round four pin loss to DeVaney, Dave Wodka rattled off games of 279, 278, 269, and 300 to storm through the second chance bracket and into the title match against DeVaney. Two more games would decide the champion. DeVaney started with eight strikes and finished with a 279. Wodka struck often, but couldn't keep up. After a second good game, Mr. DeVaney was declared Masters Champion at 1:30 PM.
After DeVaney and Wodka, our top finishers were Eddie Van Daniker (3rd), Mike Rick (4th), Bobby Campagnale and John Valentine (5th tie), Joel Ricketts and Evan Tolson (7th tie), and Curtis Covey and Mercedes Jackson ( 9th tie).
Two ladies made the finals, Mercedes Jackson (9th) and Bethany Mendoza (13th). Jackson topped the ladies with a 217 average in the finals after posting a 214 average during qualifying. Mendoza's qualifying average was 212.
Bobby Campagnale led the five game qualifying squad with a 248 average, followed by Mike Rick (243), Mike Foster (235), Joel Ricketts (223), and John Cottingini (222). Sean Cochran was low qualifier with a 207. George Billioux was our alternate.
The finals produced two perfect games, one each by Eddie Van Daniker and Dave Wodka. There were three other games of 290 or higher.
Tournament Director Rick Hill was assisted by Alisha Hill, Therese Lloyd, Mike Raddeman, Frank Weiler and Alisha's daughter and friend. Victor Bowl manager Jerry Schultze told me that the above named Citrus Belt team conducted a great finals.
The Citrus Belt would like to thank Victor Bowl for hosting the tournament, our bowlers for entering the Masters, and TRACKING THE BOWLING NEWS.NET for supporting our tournaments.
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JIMMY SCHMITZER Bowls 900
by Frank Weiler
22 Apr 12
NORCO, CA - Richard "Jimmy" Schmitzer rolled the second certified 900 series in Citrus Belt history last Friday night. It has been just over ten years since VINCE WOOD bowled his Triperfecta at Pinky's Cadillac Bowl in Moreno Valley.
Schmitzer bowled his historic set at CLASSIC LANES in the Green River League, using his Storm Virtual Gravity Nano. The ball was drilled by former PBA star GIP LENTINE, proprietor of Bowlers Edge Pro Shop. At eighteen years and eight months, I believe Jimmy is the second youngest to score 900. I also think that he is the first two hander to do it.
I spoke to Jimmy's mom and dad (Marti and Jim) yesterday and was told that the road to nine hundred began eleven years ago, at Arlington Lanes in Riverside. Jimmy was seven years old when his parents introduced him to their favorite sport. He bowled with two hands from day one and nothing could persuade him to use one hand. While he is a natural lefty, Jimmy releases the ball from the right side. While he is a self taught two-hander, Jimmy did work with Gip Lentine on the finer points of the game. Every diamond needs some polish.
This blooming star stands six feet tall and is very graceful on the approach. Probably the smoothest two hander I have observed. He gets low enough at the line to roll a ball as smooth as Josh Blanchard, Kelly Kulick, Dan McClelland or Eddie Van Daniker. All are PBA competitors who roll a bowling ball as if it were gliding silently through the air. While Belmonte and Palerma are power personified, Schmitzer exhibits power but with much more grace. It is exciting to watch him bowl.
Jimmy told me he is headed to the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and plans to enroll next January. While he has competed in many youth tournaments over the years, he is proudest of his two gold medals and one silver medal won at the People to People World Games in Australia, seven years ago. His next goal is to become a member of Team USA.
Jimmy's previous high series was 819 (279-268-272). He has five certified eight hundreds and eight three hundreds. In practice he has bowled approximately twenty eights and fifty perfect games.
What about pressure when you're on a 900 pace? I know my hands and legs would be shaking. Not Mister Schmitzer. He said he was calm throughout his three game strike fest. No tenth frame jitters, no nerves, no shakes. How come? Because of his experience of rolling so many high scores in the past. Also, because of his confidence in himself and his equipment. Repetition breeds success.
The possibility of bowling 900 first entered Jimmy's mind after his second game. The thought that he would actually do it came after the seventh frame of game three. Thirty-one consecutive solid hits that carried convinced him that 900 was inevitable. Jimmy smiled at me when describing the feeling of being focused and mentally locked in. Sport psychologists would say that Jimmy was "in the zone." He saw and heard nothing that distracted him. He felt as if he was in the eye of a hurricane. While excitement swirled all about him, he was perfectly calm. Not many mortals have been where this young man has.
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Citrus Belt's TONY RODRIGUEZ Strikes Big At PBA Tournament of Champions by Frank Weiler
17 Apr 12
LAS VEGAS - Tony Rodriguez recently won a PBA Western Regional Title and came to Vegas to compete in the Tournament of Champions. He competed in the Champions division, which included all regional champions. Twenty-one of these champions would advance to the Elite qualifying division, after two seven game blocks.
Tony breezed through the first block with a 220 average, which was good for tenth place. Advancement to the Elite division seemed imminent. However, the lanes were not oiled for the second block and the dry conditions reeked havoc for everyone. Fewer strikes and more splits caused the scores to dip.
Tony was able to average 195 for the second block and stay in contention until the last ball of the last frame of the last game. Making the cut came down to the tenth frame of game fourteen. It would be a shootout between Tony and Team USA mainstay DIANDRA ASBATY.
Diandra led by four pins but if Tony doubled in the tenth he would surge ahead by a few pins. He had to double or go home.
Tony went first and produced a double and nine count. He now led by three pins. Diandra was up next and needed a double of her own to survive. She doubled and went on to outscore Tony by just five pins. She advanced to the Elite division.
While Tony missed the cut, it still was a good day for this Citrus Belt legend. When a bowler is surrounded and supported by his family (wife, son, mom and dad), things can't be all bad.
Tony would like to thank VANCE SISK for drilling his equipment. He told me that Vance is responsible for making him more competitive as a PBA player and champion. Tony would also like to thank TRACKING THE BOWLING NEWS.NET for supporting Citrus Belt bowlers.
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MIKE DeVANEY Is Citrus Belt's Top PBA Pro by Frank Weiler
16 Apr 12
LAS VEGAS - Mike DeVANEY is showing everyone why he is currently the Citrus Belt's top professional bowler. Entering the PBA Tournament of Champions he was on the PBA National Top Twenty lists for High Average, Money Won, and Performance Points. In addition to high finishes in several PBA World Series events this season, Mike finished second in the Elite Players Championship.
DeVANEY entered the Tournament of Champions with two PBA national titles to his credit, looking to win his first major. As a PBA exempt player he was seeded into the Elite field and averaged 230 for twenty games. This allowed him to advance into the field of thirty-six.
Mike continued to strike during the next nine game block and found himself in ninth place. The second and final nine game block saw Mike average 200 for a twenty-fourth place finish. His efforts were worth nearly five thousand dollars. I'd say that Mike's performance against the best bowlers in the world was awesome.
Other current or former CITRUS BELT bowlers with PBA national titles to their credit include Walter Ray Williams, Jr. (47 titles), Mike Haugen (2 titles), Jim Murtishaw (one title), Lon Marshall (one title) and Dave Wodka (one title).
Who will be the next Citrus Belt PBA star? How about MATT MURTISHAW, son of Citrus Belt legend JIM MURTISHAW. Maybe it will be our young two hander JAMES HAWKINS, or a stroker like DEREK SCHROEDER. All of these young men are good and could advance into the pro ranks. Two hander BOBBY CAMPAGNALE is good enough to compete at the national level right now, but needs a sponsor. All of these young competitors are grateful to TRACKING THE BOWLING NEWS.NET for covering their on lane exploits.
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It's ANDY MILLER'S Time
by Frank Weiler
3 Apr 2012
MURRIETA - Bowling lessons pay off. Bowling lessons from PBA Champion JIM MURTISHAW really pay off. Just ask Andy Miller. After several years under the tutelage of Mr. Murtishaw, Andy is averaging 224 and recently rolled his second perfect game in four weeks.
When I first met Andy four years ago, at CAL OAKS BOWL, he was a good bowler. He shot 600s regularly and averaged 200. However, he wanted to get better. Wife LISA MARIE suggested lessons from Jim Murtishaw. Jim operates the FAST LANES PRO SHOP, inside Cal Oaks, and is always available for private lessons.
After many lessons and practice Andy has become a 225 bowler. He regularly rolls 700s and recently shot 761 (227 - 234 - 300). That score topped all bowlers in the 600 Scratch Trio League.
Maybe you should consider lessons from your local Pro Shop operator. Andy wants to thank Lisa Marie for supporting his bowling endeavors and Jim Murtishaw for making him a better bowler. Thank you TRACKING THE BOWLING NEWS.NET for supporting Citrus Belt bowlers.
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For The Love Of Bowling
by Frank Weiler
6 Feb 2012
My father didn't bowl. It wasn't because he tried and failed. It wasn't because he didn't like the sport or had a bad experience. It was because he had to work. In those days a family man with kids had to work two jobs to get by. He drove a coal truck during the day and an oil truck at night.
Dad was an orphan, raised by an older sister, from the time he was five years old. He never had a chance to play games or sports. Household chores included gathering fire wood, mopping floors, washing dishes, washing windows, laundering clothes, cutting grass and shoveling snow. He had a job by the time he was nine years old. He sold the old DELINEATOR Magazine on street corners, for a nickel. He earned one penny for every ten copies sold. It was the "great depression" and a penny would buy a loaf of bread.
Pop never finished grammar school and when he got his GED High School diploma, at the age of sixty, the whole family celebrated. Dad passed at the age of sixty-three never having entered a bowling center. Yet, my father loved bowling.
He loved bowling because I loved bowling. He loved bowling because I was a bowler. FOR THE LOVE OF BOWLING my dad took a third job on weekends, so I could bowl. He took a job shoveling coal so I could bowl. He shoveled coal on Saturday so I could bowl on Saturday.
As a kid, I lived for Saturday mornings. I spent those Saturdays at THE PALACE, with other youth bowlers. The Palace was the bowling center close to my home. It was a two story "cathedral" of bowling. Six lanes downstairs and six upstairs. The decor was western, with wooden Indians and cowboys in every corner. Powder blue saddle bags were on the sides of the ball returns. There was a Wall of Fame that every junior bowler wanted to be pictured on. I was no exception. I wish dad could have seen my picture there.
Dad was a poor kid. Because he had nothing, he wanted his kids to have everything. He never had a dog, so my brother and I had several. He never had any toys, so we had a box full. He never had time for sports, so we could play any sport we wanted. Our favorite was bowling. He never had a bowling ball, so we had the bowling ball of our choice.
When I was ten, Santa brought me a new Brunswick Black Beauty. I could see myself in it's mirror finish. I really liked polishing that ball, and used Simonize floor wax for the best results.
That Black Beauty was a magnificent ball. Maybe the best bowling ball ever manufactured. Surely it was the most beautiful. A surface texture as smooth as a cue ball and pitch black in color. It held it's luster better than any other ball. It shined no matter how many games it was used. Boy, did it glow when polished.
I still have that ball. It sits among my bowling trophies as a reminder of my dad's love for me and a testament of his love of bowling.
My father never won a trophy, never received an award. He never won a tournament. When I brought my first bowling trophy home dad was elated. He was the happiest man in the world. He was so proud. His face glowed as my trophy was placed on a small shelf above our radio, next to Grandma Dydula's portrait. That trophy sat in it's place of honor for years. It was there when I left home for military service.
Years later Mom told me that dad cherished that plastic statuette. That trophy represented the fruits of his labor. It was there for him when I was a world away. It was there for him when I couldn't be. Now that trophy is here for me when dad can't be. He is gone now, and for me that trophy represents his love for me and his love of bowling.
Dad taught me that a life of hard work, a life providing for one's family, a life serving one's community, a life being a good citizen is a life well lived. It is a life with true joy and deep meaning. His example showed me that love is extravagant. Love will pay any price, expend any time, and endure any hardship to make a loved one happy. Dad proved you don't have to be a bowler to love bowling. You don't have to be a bowler for bowling to make you happy.
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