5-pin bowlers on a roll

Tyler Wendel and Chantal Papineau are at the top of their games at the moment in the Niagara Mixed 5-Pin Pro League in more ways than one.

This week both produced some fantastic sets which backed that up.

First off, Wendel, for the second time in less than a month, flirted with the vaunted 1,000-series benchmark, this time just missing the hallowed mark by a mere four pins. He finished with a Richter scale-registering 996, besting his set rolled three weeks earlier by one.

Wendel started out with 393, faltered a bit in the second game ending with 193 before opening with nine strikes in a row in his final game to finish with 410.

He is currently tops in the men’s average and triple categories, and has the second high single.

That game was the fourth 400 single rolled in the league this year with a full segment to go.

Wendel’s effort led the Lakeside Electrical Lightning to a 2-1 win over the Oh Canada Eh Dinner Show Canucks. Norm Stup backed him up with 737 (269, 246, 222).

The Canucks replied with Rob Fisher, who lit up the lanes with an 836 (348, 219, 269), and Trish Aubertin, who pitched in with 658 (220, 275).

Not to be outdone, Papineau, who represented southern Ontario in the ladies singles at the Canadian Open Championships last season, boosted herself into position to take the triple crown on the ladies side as she exploded for a super 980 (350, 272, 358).

Currently, the ladies high average holder, who also had a 410 earlier in the season, bested the previous ladies high triple of 977 to now hold first in all three categories.

Papineau’s performance piloted the Crossfire Wrestling Piledrivers to a 3-0 blanking of the Scorecard Harry’s Half Pints, and wrapped up the second segment title for the Piledrivers.

She was aided by Brian McFarlane’s 696 (288, 240) and Wendy Bonnette who added 679 (285).

The Half Pints fought back with Matt Kowalyk’s excellent 848 (308, 300, 240).

In other matches, the Oh Canada Eh Dinner Show Town Criers took two of three from the Reggie’s Renovations Inc. Hammerheads.

Chris Disher paced the winners with a solid 765 (341, 225), while getting help from Fern French’s 726 (251, 265).

Paul Asselin led the Hammerheads with a solid 780 (262, 232, 286) while Jeff Stevens backed him up with 702 (240, 226, 236).

In the evening’s final match, the Dale Mellway Life Insurance Magic whitewashed the Wine Place Whiners 3-0 on the strength of Adam Eckhardt’s 749 (222, 227, 300) and Dave Pendlebury’s 671 (251, 216).

The Whiners responded with John Wendel’s 668 (279).