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Ten Pin Lanes loses a longtime fixture

By ERIC MUSKATEVC
Published March 11, 2007

He might be remembered as Earle the Pearl. Or Mr. Microphone. Or just the short spunky guy who was always around. Either way, Earle F. Gaudet Jr. always will be remembered at Ten Pin.

Gaudet, 75, passed away March 4 after a long battle with illnesses. Affectionately known as the Pearl, Gaudet touched many lives through his daily service at the center. Kids, leisure bowlers and leaguers could all easily recognize the little man with a big heart.

Gaudet served in the Marines, worked as a bowling writer and was a lightweight boxer, finishing with 20 wins in 21 bouts. Over the last 25 years as promotions manager and all-time finest host of Ten Pin's Strike it Rich, held every Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight, Gaudet was known for his 5-foot-2 stature, love, spunk and quick wit.

Memorial services for Gaudet will be held at Ten Pin Lanes, 1453 Pasadena Ave. S., St. Petersburg on March 17 at 6:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the center asks for donations to the USBC Youth league Scholarship Fund - known as Earle's Kids - at Ten Pin Lanes. For more information, call Ten Pin at (727) 381-1010.

BIRTHDAY WISHES: Congratulations to Jim Hardenberg who turned 94 on Wednesday. Born and raised in Holland, Mich., Jim worked as Mead Johnson & Co.'s maintenance supervisor for 44 years. He and his wife, Ruth, were married in 1935. They have a son, Bruce, of Fort Myers, a daughter, Donna, of Beaver Island, Mich., and two grandchildren. Jim's older brother, Mark, will celebrate his 100th birthday in April.

Retiring in 1974, Jim and Ruth moved to Mainlands III in 1987. They celebrated 69 years of marriage before she passed away last year. Jim had bowled for about five years when they were first married, but did not start back again until their move to Florida. He joined the Mainlands III league and has been bowling since.

His all-time high game is 269 and high series of 666. Jim bowls three times a week, Mondays with the Florida Mixed Senior Stars, Wednesdays with the Super Seniors and Friday with the Florida Senior Stars.

SEMINOLE USBCY: Plenty of good games last Saturday at Seminole in the USBC Youth leagues. Here are the highs. In High Roller, Jeremy Cunningham had a 193 and Bryan San Antonio shot 187. In the Troy Carlson Handicap division, Corey Gillingham scored 189, Joshua Battaglia led all with a 236-196-174 for a 606 series, Vince Eddinger had a 222 game, and Brian Eberhart a 181.

In Troy Carlson Scratch, Danny Prochazka (202), Tiffany Fortunato (205), Brad Hower (217), Ciera Negretti (233) and Zack Rivera (227) all bowled well. Kenny Gernhardt (202-213-214/629), A.J. Foley (209-268-190/667) and Cody Cameron (201-226-222/649) led the way with high series.

DEADLINES: Gift for Life Scholarship and the annual Zeb Scholarship deadlines are April 1. Twelve Gift For Life Scholarships of $1,000 for high school students with financial need. Zeb Scholarships are for a high school junior/senior with academics and service merit.

TEEN MASTERS: Thirty-five teens took to Countryside's Cheetah pattern last Sunday for the annual Teen Masters qualifier. Bowling six games each, four boys and three girls earned spots in the Teen Masters National Finals in Vegas at the end of July.

No stranger to the competition, Joseph May of Palm Harbor led the whole way and finished at the top with 1,468 pins. Daniel Houghton of Temple Terrace finished second with 1,243, Matthew Gauraniak and T.J. Baral, both of Stuart, made the cut with 1,143 and 1,139 pins in third and fourth respectively.

Ryan Tilley of Deltona took the top spot for girls with 1,155 pins, followed by locals Kaylee Magazine of Safety Harbor, who qualified in second with 1,104, and Stephanie Scanlon of Palm Harbor with 1,043.

UPCOMING: Dunedin Lanes will have the 100 & Over Doubles Tournament March 17 at 3 p.m. Details are available at dunedinlanes.com.

[Last modified March 10, 2007, 20:36:59]