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St. Petersburg's Joe Minarik, president of the 900-member Greater Pinellas Young American Bowling Alliance, sees "no problem" with a merger with the ABC and WIBC, pending the outcomes of several meetings scheduled in September.
"We will go with what the ABCWIBC decides locally, and everything so far looks very positive," Minarik said. "Our organization already has said yes to the merger, but what form it will take and how it will be managed will be determined in September."
Earlier this year, the ABC, WIBC, USA Bowling and national YABA board voted to merge into the United States Bowling Congress. The USBC was chartered, and a president and board members were elected two months ago, officially putting USBC on the map.
It remains for national, state and local men's, women's and youth associations to decide whether to merge, remain independent with USBC sanction or strike out on their own. Their decisions must be into the USBC by May 1, 2005.
"What bothers us most is how to handle our awards within the merger," Minarik said. "Now, we give out awards in-house, so with the merger, we'll have to work out a different system."
Minarik said discussions at the recent Florida State YABA meeting were for the merger and positive in moving in that direction.
Meetings of the Pinellas County Bowling Council and local ABC, WIBC and YABA associations may bring about a final solution.
St. Petersburg's Patsy Wedding was elected president of the Florida State YABA for a two-year term.
SENIOR PRO-AM: Walk-in entries for the pro-am Sunday at Seminole Lanes will be accepted. Early registration may be made online, www.seminolelanes.com or by filing a form found at most area centers.
Squad times are noon, 3 p.m. and 6:30. Fees are $50 for adults, $40 for seniors and $35 for YABA and Special Olympic bowlers. The PBA players open 8 a.m Monday. Admission is $2 for Sunday's 8 a.m. practice session, $5 for Monday and Tuesday and $10 for Wednesday. A $15 pass covers all four days. For information, call (727) 392-2271.
PREPS: Tryouts for the Pinellas County High School League are ongoing, with Aug. 13 the final day.
Two three-game sessions at the respective centers will fill rosters for girls and boys varsity and junior varsity teams. Each school entered is allowed one varsity girls squad, one varsity boys team and two JV squads.
Participants pay a $75 fee, which covers YABA sanction, school shirts and lineage. For information, players are to contact their coaches or the nearest center. More coaches are needed. If interested, call Matt Stevenson at Dunedin Lanes, (727) 736-1282.
The 14-week season starts 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 19 at Seminole Lanes. All squads will bowl at 3:30 on Thursdays at various centers. Last year, the league had a record 46 teams. YOUTH WINNERS: Jonathan Ruiz and Michelle Rockwood won their divisions in the Florida Youth Scratch Bowlers Tour event at Seminole Lanes last week.
Ruiz defeated Don Stephenson 190-188 to claim the upper division title and $350 in scholarship money. Jason Mersch finished third, and T. Reeves was fourth. Ashly Galante was the highest scoring girl. Rockwood topped Crystal Stutler 212-171 for the lower division crown and $250. Jenny Brown took third, and Joseph May was fourth.
The tour visits Countryside Lanes on Oct. 16-17.
AROUND THE LANES: High scorers - Bill Merritt, 300-713, at Liberty; Chris Holly, 300-735, Clyde Howard, 300-693, Steve Boggio, 300-672, Rich Begtrup, 300-748, Lou Crispiano, 300-711, and John Genevie, 299 game, Dunedin; Darryl Dempsey, 822 series, and Chris Hunter, 290-749, Southland; and Sean Harris, 816 series, and LeRoy Goffer, 300-779, AMF Kenneth City.
Phil Gulick can be reached at xerxes8@msn.com