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Eliminate those open frames.
That is the battle cry of Walt Coddington's four-man team in Charlie's Mega-Money League at Liberty Lanes.
"We recently took over the league lead, averaging 239 per man, but we still had some open frames we'd like to eliminate," Coddington said.
He grew up in St.Petersburg, starting the sport at an early age, and Coddington continues with renewed vigor.
"I lived in Palm Harbor for a while and bowled in the Suncoast Association, but I've moved back to St.Petersburg and now am sanctioned through the St.Petersburg Association," he said.
Coddington was third in averages with a 232 behind Darryl Dempsey and Keith Glasgow last season.
Coddington's team (he's the anchorman) recently rolled a 2,874 scratch series. Dave Juric recorded a 248-685, Greg Vanderloop shot 247-718, Ken Puchowski fired 266-727 and Coddington posted 254-744.
The squad's total is far off the ABC record of 3,189 set by Deez Nutz of Sunrise four years ago but very respectable.
"Lately, I've been trying to improve my game with some equipment that Steve Hoskins gave me, but I'm struggling with it," Coddington said.
Hoskins is a 10-time PBA tour winner from Tarpon Springs.
TOURNEYS ON DECK: The Greater Pinellas YABA stages its annual championship tournament Saturday-Sunday. Entries are closed for the event that ends Feb.22.
The 67th annual St.Petersburg Association City Championship is scheduled for April 3-4 and April 10-11 at Sunshine Bowl. The winning team will receive $1,000. Entries are open at $15 per bowler per event, and walk-ins are welcome.
The Tampa Bay Hepatitis and Liver Disease Foundation offers a fund-raising bowl March 14 at Sunrise Lanes.
Entry fees are $20 for adults and $10 for participants 10-and-under. For information, call Don Vauiso, (727) 577-0836.
The Clearwater Traveling Turtles Club will have its annual tournament 1 p.m. Sunday at AMF Clearwater Lanes.
The singles event is open to all Turtles and sanctioned and unsanctioned bowlers for a $15 entry fee. The club uses funds to distribute canned foods to the Helping Hands in Clearwater and other homeless and needy in the community.
For information, call Hilda Stratton, (727) 536-5845.
Liberty Lanes offers a mix and match doubles tournament with a $25 per-duo entry fee and $200 to the winner Sunday. Squad shifts are noon and 2 and 4 p.m.
NABI WINNERS: Jim Gaillard of Safety Harbor stopped Largo's Carl Dean 231-204 to win the club's tournament and $190 on Sunday at Countryside Lanes. St.Petersburg's Les Foerster finished third.
Russ Roseberry of Jacksonville defeated St.Petersburg's Cindy Gieschen 214-186 to win the Feb.1 tourney and $185 at Seminole Lanes. Foerster placed third.
PRO QUALIFYING: To earn a PBA card, a bowler must have a 220 average with 66 games for the most recent season or a 200-plus average for the two most recent seasons.
Without those averages, a player may bowl in regional tournaments for a $250 non-member fee. If a bowler cashes twice in such events, the individual is eligible to compete in the national tour for a $400 registration fee.
Download the membership application from www.pba.com/
membership/membership.asp or send for one from PBA headquarters.The PBA Senior Tour stop at Seminole Lanes is scheduled for Aug.8-11, Sunday-Wednesday.
AROUND THE LANES: High scorers - Sam Ardillo, 300-795, Brian Korcak, 300-823, and Michael Wetherell, 809, at Countryside; John Taft, 300, AMF Kenneth City; youth bowler Jon Brady, 289-815, AMF Clearwater; Rich Lancaster, 300-690, Scotty Gormley, 299-780, Victor Montes, 299-727, Thurston Card, 298-691, Chris Holly, 290-690, Jim Sowers, 300-721, and Gary Shibley, 290, Dunedin; Jerry Tippett, 300-753, Darryl Dempsey, 300-748, Keith Glasgow, 299-743, and Lou Alessi, 289-739, Southland; Russell Stratton, 300-749, Steve Felsman, 300, and Keith Glasgow, 299-798, Seminole; William Ortiz, 300-738, Dale Paulson and Jack Scandaglia, 300 games, and Justin Veitch, 299-691, Liberty; Pete Sahner and Rob Harris, 300, Ten Pin; and Dave Suggs, 300-763, and Eric Williams, 299 games, Sunshine.
- Phil Gulick can be reached at xerxes8@msn.com