Dixon finally bowls elusive 1,000 triple
Tim Dixon has done many things over his 46-year bowling career at the local, provincial and national level.
Inducted into the Niagara Five Pin Hall of Fame in 2012 as a result of the many things he’s achieved as both a bowler and a coach, the one thing that has eluded him has been reaching the vaunted benchmark of a 1,000 triple. His oldest daughter Valerie beat him to the punch a few years ago, at the age of 25. But proving that you are never too old to give up on your goals, in the Niagara Five Pin Mixed Pro League, the 64 year old Welland left hander connected for the best set he’s ever bowled in his life. Like a well-oiled machine, Dixon threw strike after strike en route to fantastic games of 378, 334 and 311 resulting in a blistering 1023 set.
“I’ve had a 998, 995, and 994 but have never been able to get over the hump and get my thousand, until now,” said an elated Dixon. “I knew I had to mark in the last frame to get it and when I threw the spare, I thought I still needed a count, and then someone else pointed out, I had it.”
Despite Dixon’s superb effort, his Church Street Pete’s Pizza Panzerottis dropped a tight 2-1 decision to the Lakeside Electrical Lightning. Dixon had help from Chantal Papineau, who tossed a solid 757 (338, 224). The Lightning struck back for the win on the strength of John Wendel’s sizzling 846 (246, 312, 288), son Tyler Wendel’s 838 (207, 329, 302) and Jeff Stevens’ 686 (229, 234). The win allowed the Lightning to creep past the Panzerottis into first place in the standings.
The Oh Canada Eh Dinner Show Canucks took two of three from the Host Pub & Grill Half Pints. The Canucks got a great showing from P.J. Cole who led the way with 802 (265, 227, 310), while being helped along by Sarah Stevens’ 732 (257, 246) and Matt Kowalyk who rounded out the scoring with 700 (216, 242). The Half Pints answered with Shawn Pellizari’s steady 793 (279, 263, 251) and Dan Stup’s 738 (242, 279).
The Oh Canada Eh Dinner Show Town Criers knocked off the Scott Street Pete’s Pizza Pepperonis 2-1 as Valerie Vallee took the reins for the winners, tossing 760 (235, 217, 308). She was aided by Wilma Vanderzwaag’s 686 (232, 263) and Jason Pendlebury’s 664 (211, 250). The Pepperonis returned fire with Al Gaudet’s 663 (248, 213).
The Crossfire Wrestling Piledrivers body slammed the Wine Place Whiners 2-1. Chris Disher led the winners with a scorching 873 (271, 318, 284) while being backed up by Joanne Durocher’s 750 (272, 290) and Kayla Ferguson’s 705 (231, 258). The Whiners replied with Jonathan Tensen’s 677 (253, 223) and Dave Pendlebury’s 658 (266).
In the evening’s final match, the Ferguson-Neudorf Glass Glaziers beat the Smith’s Home Services Ravens 2-1 as Matt Burghall paced the winners with one of his better nights, rolling a stellar 816 (200, 260, 356). He was pushed along by Bruce Hartley’s 691 (253, 242). The Ravens shot back with Norm Stup’s 678 (256, 231).