Wheelchair tourney shows challenges

The wheelchair almost was as tall as 10-year-old Kristy Lee, but it didn't seem to intimidate her when she climbed in and rolled a 94 game.

Lee, the twin daughter of St. Petersburg's Bob and Kara Lee, was among nearly 80 stand-up bowlers in the third annual Dick Baker Memorial Wheelchair Tournament at Seminole Lanes.

Lee's score tied Judy Fincher for high women's game, calling for a one-frame rolloff to determine the winner. Lee knocked down nine pins on her first try. Fincher channeled her ball, so the trophy went to Lee.

"She was so nervous going up there that I wasn't sure she could keep the ball on the lane," Kara Lee said.

That was a problem for everyone. Kristy Lee rolled a 16 her first game, including six straight channel balls. However, after she solved the chair, she ended with a 184 series. Her sister, Chelcie, recorded a 149. Their cousin, Tiffany, 16, shot a 193, and Kara Lee managed a 211.

The idea was to eliminate leg power and demonstrate how difficult the game is for wheelchair-bound bowlers. Players with 200-plus averages went red-faced in sub-100 games.

"It's a whole different game, and I certainly appreciate how well those folks perform," said Glenn Harger, a 200-average player who has had a 300 game. He carded a 124-350.

Halstrom Masonry was the team winner with a 1,610 pinfall. The squad was comprised of Gary Halstrom (334), Mike Labranche (398), Bob Smolka (393) and Darrin Campbell (485). Campbell's 177 game was the men's high. Proceeds went to the Paralyzed Veterans Association of America. The event honored Baker, who was a PVA president.

COUNTRYSIDE DOMINATES: Boys and girls from the Countryside Lanes youth program captured 17 of 22 titles in the Upper Pinellas Junior Bowling Association City Tournament at AMF Clearwater Lanes. Countryside won 4 of 5 team crowns, 3 of 5 doubles championships and 10 of 12 singles titles.

NABI: Sarasota's David Downey won his seventh title and $509, beating Pinellas Park's Kerry Harris 267-256 at Liberty Lanes. New Port Richey's Fred Heiferman captured his 10th crown with a win over Largo's Carl Dean at Sunrise Lanes.

Seminole Lanes will play host to the NABI's anniversary tournament. It starts today and ends April 21.

RARITY: Matt Blankenship and Gary Zaelski rolled 300 games on the same pair of lanes on the same team in the Wednesday Night Men's Commercial League at Sunrise Lanes.

BENEFIT: Sunrise Lanes will have a benefit bowl for the Tampa Bay Hepatitis and Liver Disease Support Group, Inc. 1 p.m. today. For information, call 522-2174.

CORRECTION: Linda Nore is the principal at Bardmoor Elementary School, and Ken MacKenzie is principal at Starkey Elementary. They were switched in a column.

AROUND THE LANES: Dawn Cook became the 30th woman to roll a 300 in Pinellas County in a 731 series at AMF Clearwater. ... At Seminole, Mariann Russo recorded her third career 300 (740), Keith Glasgow posted a 299-792 and Bill Carter notched a 299-727. ... Tom Johnson fired a 299-798 and Loy Pryor a 290-715 at AMF Kenneth City Lanes. ... James Jarrell logged a 300-692 at Southland Lanes.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright