Drake Begin becomes the latest in area to toss two perfect games in same series.
In bowling, the complex system of scoring can assign different values for relatively the same performances.
For at least the second time this season, we got word of a bowler rolling 35 of a possible 36 strikes. Drake Begin did it March 25 at Hometown Lanes. He left, and converted, a 10-pin in the seventh frame of his first game. It was the only blemish in an 879 series.
So the bid for a Capital Region bowler to roll a 900 series continues.
Joe Bifaro Jr. went 35-for-36 in September at Cohoes Arena. He left the 4-6-7-10 in the third frame of his third game, picking two pins off the spare for a 262 game and 862 triple.
PWBA touring pro Liz Kuhlkin had 35 of 36 strikes in her USBC women’s record 890 series in Oct. 17, 2016, at Towne Academy. She left a stone 8-pin in the first frame of her third game.
Researching the archives of this column revealed several others who have been close. Jake Shank, in 2010 at Towne Academy, left a 2-8 in the fifth frame of his first game to post an 878 triple. Dan Kryzak had 35 strikes in an 879 series in 2008 at Hilltop. John Musto and Mark Hilton matched 879 triples in 2002 at Sportsman’s.
There likely are some we missed, but anyone who rolls multiple 300s in a single series should be commended.
Local scene
SUNY Schenectady (formerly Schenectady County CC) has a large void to fill with the resignation of men’s and women’s bowling coach Ray Ross, who held the position for the past 26 years. Ross, 51, led six NJCA A championship teams (four women’s, two men’s) in his tenure . ... The New Era Senior Tour has finalized its return for 10 a.m. Saturday. It will be a five-game sweeper, and age groups have been redefined as 50-59, 60-69 and 70-over. Prize funds will be separate for each division. The goal is to find a format that consistently will draw 40 or more bowlers.
Spencer Catlin of Diamond Point topped a field of 33 in a Capital District Youth Scholarship Tour event at Broadway, beating Nate Punches of Marlboro, Mass., 180-147 in the final for his second title of the season.
National news
NBC Sports Network has the first installment of Bowlero Elite Series, three single-elimination tournaments, at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Pro and amateur players from Bowlero leagues around the country “for a total prize pool in excess of $1 million,” according to a press release. The first show, which includes Jason Belmonte, Sean Rash, Andrew Anderson and Danielle Mcewan , is from Chicago. Subsequent episodes are from North Brunswick, N.J. (Sept. 11) and Jupiter, Fla. (Dec. 28) . ... Jakob Butturff and Nick Pate have secured the two U.S. men’s berths for the Panamerican Games, to be held July 26Aug. 11 in Lima, Peru. The women’s representatives will be determined after the USBC Queens on May 15-21 in Wichita, Kan.
Pete Dougherty’s column is published Tuesdays during the bowling season. Items to be considered for publication can be submitted by fax (518-454-5819) or pdougherty@timesunion.com.