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The good times roll at Countryside LanesBy PHIL GULICK © St. Petersburg Times, published January 21, 2001 You could call Cheryl and Bill Bedford the Pied Pipers of Pinellas County, piping to the tune of rumbling bowling balls, cycling pin-setters and laughter. What's the Bedfords' big attraction? Is it their deep knowledge of the game, their innate ability to relate to youngsters or their dedication? Or, perhaps it's their British accents, which endure long after departing hometowns of Coventry and Stratford-Upon-Avon. Whatever it is, the Bedfords have attracted more than 220 young men and women from such far-flung villages as New Port Richey, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and points in between. Their magic is evident in the leagues at Clearwater's Countryside Lanes. They are the Young Olympians, Junior Olympians, Olympians, Countryside Elite, Elite Scratch Singles, B.C. Junior Gold and Gold Singles. Each is tailored to bowlers 4-17, starting with the Young Olympians and offering handicap and scratch competition, match play and a 30-week season. Among the Bedfords' many standout achievers are Jamie Potter, 13, and Shawn Ryan, 17. Like hundreds of their peers, each followed the Bedfords from their successful nine-year run at Pasco County's Lane-Glo Bowl to Countryside Lanes. And, like many of their peers, each must be chauffeured to and from Saturday and Sunday competition and weekly practice sessions -- a ride of more than half an hour, usually along that infamous route, U.S. 19. Potter lives in New Port Richey, is an eighth-grader at Southern Springs Middle School and started bowling when she was nine. She carries a 189 average and has rolled career highs of 298-699. Potter is the top scorer in the girls Gold Singles and second high in the Elite Scratch Singles. "Bowling's for me," Potter said, "because it's great competition, a lot of fun and I've met some really nice kids." Ryan, a junior at River Ridge High School, is averaging 220, leads the boys Gold Singles and the Elite Scratch Singles and has won a Youth Bowlers Tour event. He picked up his first ball at 4 in Georgia and bowled as a service lad in Germany. "I first heard about the Bedfords from friends in their leagues at Lane-Glo," Ryan recalled, "and I felt they could really help my game and they have." Ryan has a high 298-765 at Countryside and went to the National Gold Junior Finals last year. Every team in the leagues showcases fine talent, from the 8-and-under tots in the Young Olympians to the prep players in the Gold leagues. Potter and Ryan reeled off the names of some of their toughest competitors: Kelli McManus, Kelly Fecke, Teresa Scanlon, Nick Gates, Cliff Barnes and J.R. Foraker. In the younger leagues, Vincent Sadowski, Gabby Arrazcaeta, Joseph May, Stephanie Scanlon, Richard Sossi and Nichole Honey keep showing up on the leader boards. "We like to think we have a farm system here," Cheryl said, "in that we are developing youngsters who turn into young adults who join the ABC and WIBC and even the pro tours." With mythical flute in hand, the Bedfords are tuning kids into something special at Countryside Lanes. AROUND THE LANES: Joe Bereczki fired a 300-772 and Greg Meana a 300-752 at AMF Kenneth City Lanes. ... Bob Smolka rolled a 299-788 at Sunshine Bowl. ... Ron Paige, president of the St. Petersburg Association, shot a 300-751 at Seminole Lanes.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
