Northpinellas: Tracy is savoring series of success

Triple threat high school athletes aren't rare today, with solid family support, comprehensive coaching and peer competition providing impetus to go for it all in more than one sport.

Success for Andrea Tracy was measured at Rainbow Lanes last week when the hyperactive 13-year-old became the first Young American Bowling Alliance (YABA) female to roll a 700 series at the center.

Proving it was no fluke, the next day Tracy fired a 702 series at Mariner Lanes in Hernando County.

After her first 700, Tracy said, "Oh, my gosh, this is amazing. I've been shooting for this for a long time and I finally got it. I just couldn't believe it!"

Tracy rolled games of 217, 215 and 268 to notch the Rainbow Lanes 700, then followed with 204, 237 and 261 for her 702 at Mariner.

Her previous high series was a 698, and she once flirted with a perfect game in a 295 performance.

Tracy qualified for the USA Junior Gold Nationals last year and finished 117th out of 201 competitors. She has earned a berth in this season's tournament, scheduled for July in Reno, Nev..

The right-hander rolls a 14-pound ball.

"She's no Tomboy, but she's involved in volleyball, basketball and street hockey and often against the guys," said her mother, Deanna Spink.

"She thrives on competition, and that's why she's so involved in sports," Spink said.

Rewards for Tracy's other endeavors came when she helped her Seven Springs Middle School basketball team win last year's conference championship.

The 700 series had been her goal since she first picked up a bowling ball at age 5.

Spink is a bronze certified youth coach and provided the foundation for Tracy's ever-improving game.

Later, Tracy met coach Walter Bowls at Lane-Glo South in Pasco County. He lifted her game to a 201 average at Rainbow and a 199 at Mariner.

It would seem Tracy might be spread too thin.

"I took a year off from bowling two years ago so I could concentrate on volleyball," she recalled, "but I had to come back to bowling because I really love that game."

Tracy's birthday comes up this month. She could ask for no better present than a 300 game or an 800 series -- or both.

TEENS IN TUNE: Shawn Ryan and Jamie Potter continue to lead the Gold Singles standings at Countryside Lanes.

Ryan's mark is 105-21 and Potter's 86-40 in the points-awarded system. Ryan heads the Elite Scratch Singles with a 115-25 record.

Ray Arrazcaeta fired a 278-747 in the B.C. Junior Gold League, but Team 13 grabbed the lead with a 42-18 mark.

Brandon Alipour, P.J. Antonovich, Ben Zold and Cliff Barnes are Team 13, and Barnes carries a 204 average.

Max Kiss rolled a 202 and Justin Fecke a 517 series, but Strike Zone heads the Junior Olympic competition with a 28-7 record.

The Fireballs (25-10) top the Young Olympians, Team No. 2 heads the Olympians at 33-2 and World's Finest (26-9) is the Countryside Elite leader.

SENIORS: The average age of the Karen Wornicki InsuranceSaturn of St. Petersburg Senior Invitational League at Sunshine Bowl is 65.

The session ended for the season with the league average for its 48 bowlers at 203.87.

Leading the charge was Stan Dzierba, 69, with a 288-767, followed by J.C. Smith, 65, with a 724 and Jerry Krauss, 68, with a 720.

Hank Demers, 80, rolled a 269-719, and Dave Larson a 717. Norb Truetel, 62, managed a 267-726 and John Hahmann a 277-699. Vick Rondeau, 81, checked in with a 697, and Joe Rizzi, 72, carded a 686. Demers' 719 was 142 pins over his average.

The league is composed of 16 trios.

MUNSON STRIKES: Clearwater's Mark Munson rolled his third 300 game this season in the Countryside Lanes Mixed Handicap Trio League. The right-hander registered games of 203, 258 and 300, including 22 straight strikes, for a 761 series.

TOURNAMENT UPDATE: The Upper Pinellas YABA Tournament is Feb. 10-11 and 17-18 at Dunedin Lanes, and the Greater Pinellas YABA City Tournament is Feb. 17-18 and 24-25 at Twedt's Lanes. ... Entries are open for walk-ins for the St. Petersburg Men's City Tournament, Feb. 3-4 and 10-11 at Liberty Lanes. Entries close Feb. 26 for the St. Petersburg Women's City Championship, scheduled for March at AMF Kenneth City Lanes. ... The entry deadline is Feb. 17 for the Clearwater Women's Association City Tournament, March 3-4 and 10-11 at Dunedin Lanes.

AROUND THE LANES: Steve Brown recorded an 808 series at Rainbow Lanes. ... Tim Dunbar rolled a 300-750 and Chris Williamson a 300-749 at AMF Kenneth City Lanes. ... George Desgrosilier and Don Ferguson logged 300 games at Ten Pin Lanes. ... Ron Demillion fired a 299-724 at Seminole Lanes. ... Josh Burchard, Robert Sellner and Mark Mugavero had 300 games at Liberty Lanes -- Mugavero's second in less than a week -- and Jeff Murphy managed a 299. ... Ron Dombrowski won the Poor Boy Tournament and Richard Rounds the Gary Hampshire Scratch Tournament at Largo Lanes.

- Phil Gulick can be reached at xerxes6@aol.com or xerxes6@juno.com.

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