A special night for the Mitchells

When Rick Mitchell stepped up to the podium to deliver his York-Adams Bowling Hall of Fame induction speech last month, he looked into the audience and focused on his father, Hayden.

It was a special night for the Mitchells. It marked the first time in the hall of fame’s 47-year history that a son delivered an induction speech while his father, also a hall of famer, was in the audience.

The Mitchells became just the third father-son members of the York-Adams Bowling Hall of Fame. The elite group includes Ralph and Tom Dasher and Bob and Terry Huber. Tom was inducted in 2004, three years before his father, Ralph. Terry, part of the 2011 class of inductees, joined his late father Bob, who was posthumously inducted in 1997.

“It was definitely a special moment,” said Hayden, 71, of York, who was inducted into the hall of fame in 1998. The proud father started his son bowling at age four. “Bowling is something Rick and I have been able to share, and it has helped our relationship.”

As a youngster, Rick tagged along to watch his father compete in leagues, learning from him and others. “He was around the best bowlers in the county,” commented Hayden.

When Rick got older, he and his father bowled in leagues together.

“It’s an honor to join my father in the hall of fame because he’s been one of my biggest supporters,” said 40-year-old Rick of East Berlin. “It was nice to hear other hall of famers congratulate my father on being the driving force behind my success.”

Hayden served as a junior bowling instructor when Rick was growing up and learning to bowl. While he tried to impart as much knowledge and advice as possible, he resisted the urge to switch Rick from a left-handed bowler to a right-handed bowler.

“Dad allowed me to do what came naturally,” said Rick. “He didn’t force me to follow in his footsteps as a right-hander.”

Rick has made the most from rolling on the left side of the lane. He owns 35 perfect games and 33 800 series, including a high of 836. He achieved his high average of 240 during the 2008-09 season.

“I was never the super bowler that Rick is,” commented Hayden. “He has accomplished so much.”

In the end, however, Rick’s biggest achievement was to join his father in the hall of fame.

“It was nice to look into the audience and see my father so happy,” said Rick. “I just wish Terry’s father had been alive to see him inducted. It’s a night that will live with me forever.”

Micah Grilley: Bowler of the Week

Bowler: Micah Grilley, 11, of York.

Latest bowling accomplishment: Rolled his first 200 game at East Lincoln Lanes.

I started bowling: At East Lincoln Lanes when I was three years old.

Bowler I have learned the most from: Tracy Bair.

Best bowling advice I ever received: Hit your mark and follow through.

Parts of my game I’m working on improving: Focusing on the 10^th frame and hitting my mark consistently.

Bowling appeals to me because: My entire family bowls and I know a lot of other people who bowl.

Advice I would give to someone just starting to bowl: Keep the ball on the lane and follow through.

Non-bowlers don’t realize: How exciting bowling can be. Most of them think it’s boring.

The toughest part about bowling is: Being consistent from week to week.

Future goal: Roll a 300 game.

Note: Hanover Bowling Centre hosts a six-game singles 700 Club Tournament at noon on Sunday, March 13. Cost is $25 per person. For more information, call 632-2695.

Bowler of the Week is submitted by the York County Bowling Proprietors Association. To nominate a bowler, send email to bowleroftheweek@gmail.com.

Bob Myers: Bowler of the Week

Bowler: Bob Myers, 61, of East Berlin.

Latest bowling accomplishment: Rolled his first career 300 game at Lincolnway Bowling.

I started bowling: At Weiglestown Lanes more than 20 years ago.

Best bowling advice I ever received: Don’t over think the game.

Bowlers I have learned the most from: John Fuhrman and Ralph Dasher.

PBA bowler I enjoyed watching: Earl Anthony.

Most memorable bowling moment: When my VFW team won the VFW tournament at Nellie Fox Lanes.

Part of my game I’m working on improving: Making the 10-pin.

Bowling appeals to me because: It keeps me active in the winter.

Advice I would give someone just starting to bowl: Don’t give up.

Future goal: A perfect game had been my goal for a long time. Now that I have one, I can’t think of another goal. It’s a great feeling to finally get a 300. I had been close several times.

Note: The Calvin Campbell Memorial Youth Singles Tournament will be held March 26-27 and April 2-3 at Lincolnway Bowling. More than $5,700 in scholarships will be awarded. There are four age divisions. Entry fee is $13 per bowler. Entries must be turned in to the youth program coordinator/coach no later than Saturday, Feb. 26.

Bowler of the Week is submitted by the York County Bowling Proprietors Association. To nominate a bowler, send email to bowleroftheweek@gmail.com.

Hanover bowling team sets county record

Pella Corporation team members recently had their sights set on a big prize at Hanover Bowling Centre, but they unknowingly ended up with an even bigger prize.

The team of Barry Gulden, Neil Smith, Don Smith, Brent Hunter and Adam Baer knew they had a chance at the Hanover Bowling Centre team record of 3,656.

The Thursday night squad tallied 3,757 pins, shattering the house record by more than 100 pins and the county record by two pins.

Neil Smith led the way with an 814 series, while Hunter added a 782. Don Smith, Neil’s father, contributed a 724 series and Baer was close behind with a 722. Gulden chipped in with a 715.

The previous county team record was 3,755, set by Dan Ledwith, Ben Marvel, Rick Bretz, Bob Workman and Jake Hawkins at Suburban Bowlerama in 2009.

“We knew what the house record was, but we had no idea what the county record was,” said Hunter. “I don’t know if it would have helped us or not. I think we’re glad that we didn’t know. That took some of the pressure off of us.”

Don Smith added, “No one knew that we had set the county record until the next day. I’ve been bowling a long time, but I’ve never been on a team where all five guys rolled a 700 series.

“There are a lot of good bowlers in York County, and I’m just flattered to be part of team that set the county record.”

Gulden said, “I’m amazed what we accomplished. We’ve had some good matches this year, but the difference this night was that our light hits were carrying. We have five guys who are capable of rolling big games, and everyone had a good night.”

Neil Smith confessed that he was too nervous focusing on a possible 800 series to think much about the county record.

“Once I rolled the first strike in the 10^th, I knew I had my 800 series,” he said. “I was able to relax a little after that.”

He added, “Being part of a record-setting team with my dad is very special to me. It was an unforgettable night.”

Baer said the team missed a chance to substantially pad their county-record total. After getting off to a quick start, Baer said neither team member rolled a strike in the 10^th frame of the first game.

“After I rolled my first practice ball, I felt we were going to score big,” offered Hunter.

“There was a lot of area to play.”

Pella Corp.

Barry Gulden 252 216 245 715

Neil Smith 279 235 300 814

Don Smith 258 239 227 724

Brent Hunter 256 237 289 785

Adam Baer 218 269 235 722

Total 3,757

Andrew Miller: Bowler of the Week

Bowler: Andrew Miller, 19, of Loganville.

Latest bowling accomplishment: Rolled a 300 game and a 760 series at Lion Bowl.

Bowlers I have learned the most from: Cory Moore and Jeff Parker.

Best bowling advice I ever received: Keep your emotions under control.

I started bowling: At Springfield Lanes when I was six years old.

My most memorable bowling moment: Rolling my first 300 game in March of 2010.

PBA bowler I enjoy watching: Bill O’Neill.

Part of my game I’m working on improving: Adjusting to the changing lane conditions and making the appropriate moves.

The toughest part about bowling is: Throwing strikes.

Advice I would give someone just starting to bowl: Learn from any one who’s willing to help you. A lot of bowlers are willing to help, if you ask them.

Future goal: Roll an 800 series.

Note: The 72^nd Annual Pennsylvania State Bowling Association Championships will be held March 26 through June 19 in Altoona. Entry fees are $125 for team, $50 for doubles, $25 for singles and $7 for all-events. Final entry deadline is midnight June 1.

Bowler of the Week is submitted by the York County Bowling Proprietors Association. To nominate a bowler, send email to bowleroftheweek@gmail.com.

Green rolls back-to-back perfect games

Chad Green admitted he was somewhat embarrassed by all of the attention.

But when you roll back-to-back perfect games like he did recently at Colony Park North, you are guaranteed to draw a crowd and have news of the feat spread faster than Hollywood gossip.

Green became only the eighth York County bowler to put together back-to-back perfect games en route to an 823 series. His strike streak reached 27 before he was stopped by a 9-pin in the fourth frame of the third game.

After chalking up his ninth career 300 game in the opener, Green continued striking.

“Around the sixth or seventh frame of the second game, I thought, ‘I need to pay a lot of attention.’ I didn’t want to get distracted and lose my focus,” said Green, a 38-year-old right-hander.

By the 10^th frame, a crowd, hoping to witness a piece of local bowling history, had started to gather around Green’s lanes, and Green heard bowlers in the background discussing his chances of back-to-back perfect games.

“My adrenaline was pumping, but I was actually very calm,” he said. “I reminded myself not to rush and do everything the same way I had all night.”

After burying two more strikes, he was on the verge of an once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“I was still calm, my legs weren’t shaking and I was feeling confidence,” he said. “I was trying to block everything out of my mind. When the ball came off my hand, I was confident it was going to be a strike.”

There was no doubt about the final strike, which unleashed a barrage of high fives and congratulations.

Although he was ecstatic, Green wasn’t ready to take the rest of the night off. He knew he still had a shot at Adam Mobley’s house record of 866.

A disastrous 4-7-10 split in the sixth frame, however, ended his quest. Green described it as an “errant shot,” one that he bumped out too far on the lanes.

“I really wanted the house record,” said Green. “But you can’t be too disappointed after rolling back-to-back perfect games.”

Hanover team rolls rare triplicate

Call it a fluke, a rarity, a once-in-a-blue-moon event.

The Kuhn Brothers Oil team in the Thursday night league at Hanover Bowling Centre recently rolled a triplicate of 1,006.

The team of Doug Raber, Steve Raber, Bill Spangler, Ken Appler and Dan Strausbaugh Jr. tallied 1,006 pins for three consecutive games. A team triplicate is rarer than converting the 7-10 split.

“We knew a team triplicate was a possibility after the second game, but no one actually thought we would do it,” said Steve Raber. “No one was keeping track of the score. It’s not the kind of thing you have much control over.”

Spangler noticed that in the last frame of the game anchor bowler Doug Raber needed to convert the 10-pin for another 1,006 game.

“It was neat that Doug converted the 10-pin,” he said. “It’s not often a team gets a chance to record a triplicate.”

While the team doesn’t receive any kind of award from the USBC for the accomplishment, it’s still special.

“I was shocked by the triplicate because it’s not the type of thing you can set out to do,” offered Doug Raber, who owns a pair of individual triplicates. “I’ve never heard of team rolling a triplicate.”

Although Appler didn’t realize the team finished with a triplicate until weeks later, he said, “We just come out to have fun, so it’s cool to be part of something so rare. It’s nothing you could ever predict.”

All the team members agreed the feat is much tougher to accomplish with a five-man team.

“An individual bowler has far more control over his score than a five-man team does,” pointed out Spangler. “It’s a matter of a lot of luck, at least until you reach the 10^th frame with your anchor bowler.”

The Kuhn Brothers Oil teammates averaged 201 per bowler each game. Doug Raber led the way with a 728 series, while Steve Raber followed with a 658 series. Spangler chipped in with a 645 series. Ken Appler and Dan Strausbaugh Jr. rolled series of 551 and 436, respectively.

The teammates, who have bowled together for more than 10 years, said the best part of the night was beating their opponent, Siddonsburg Garage. Kuhn Brothers Oil won 17.5 of the 23 points.