Will To Win: BOWL BAY AREA'S ONE-BALL TOURNAMENT

Will To Win: BOWL BAY AREA'S ONE-BALL TOURNAMENT: Are you interested in an unusual test of your bowling skills? Pete Hagin's Bowl Bay Area is hosting an eight-gamer on June 2nd (Sunday)...

LAST CHANCE TOURNAMENT & LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

This photo says it all

Having failed to earn a playoff spot in the regular season, we were down to our last chance -- literally. By winning our league's Last Chance Tournament, we could earn a place in the finals next Wednesday. Top seeded 211 In Progress is waiting for whomever survives this weekend's tournament and playoffs.

Sadly, it wasn't a good day for Team PBS. Each game was a struggle for us. We didn't reach 800 in any of the three games we bowled and we weren't close to making the cut. Here are our scores:

         01  02  03  SER   AVG

Quinton 191 150 193  534 178.0

Mark    206 202 177  585 195.0

Brandon 146 153 179  478 159.3

Garrett 205 216 219  640 213.3

TOTAL   748 721 768 2237 186.4

The four teams to make the cut were Team 3 (henceforth, I will refer to them as Joy Division), Marin Express Lube, Meier & Sons Roofing, and Jack's Patio. In match play, Joy Division defeated Marin Express Lube while Meier & Sons Roofing knocked off Jack's Patio. The two victors earned first round playoff spots at 10:00 AM Sunday morning.

WEEK 36 RESULTS

Points Won: 18 - Points Lost: 9

We wrapped up the regular season by enjoying our first favorable outcome since week #23 in mid-February. We won the first two games from MO but lost the third. We had the edge in total pinfall and we earned ten match points. Quinton earned two points in absentia because league rules provide that when two absent bowlers oppose each other (MO's Andy was absent also), the team winning the game earns a match point.

We finished the final third of the season in last place. Our only hope of winning the league championship is through this weekend's Last Chance Tournament. It was announced that we will begin Saturday at 10:00 AM. If we can survive the tournament on Saturday, we will return for the playoffs on Sunday.

WEEK 36  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800

Quinton 173 173 173  519  2.0  87 15981 183.7  54.0 266  661  25   7   0   0

Mark    197 214 203  614  4.0 105 19882 189.4  71.0 247  659  41  11   0   0

Brandon 164 228 202  594  4.0 108 20666 191.4  58.0 257  688  34   8   0   0

Garrett 171 171 187  529  0.0 105 23074 219.8  70.0 299  876  74  22   8   1

Kevin                           9  1708 189.8   5.0 236  574   4   0   0   0

TOTAL   705 786 765 2256 10.0 414 18311 196.4 258.0 964 2693 178  48   8   1

WEEK 35 RESULTS

Points Won: 8 - Points Lost: 19

Another week and another lopsided defeat. This time we had a rematch with How Swede It Is and their 750-bot which nearly guarantees we start at a four-point disadvantage. If you think I'm exaggerating, even a bowler as skilled as Garrett puts up 250+ in 17.6% of his games and 750+ in 5.4% of his series. That's setting the bar awfully high. Entering this week, Swedish 750-bot had a record of 31-1.

I wish to be clear I'm not criticizing How Swede It Is. They had nothing to do with our league officials' decision to bend the rules and grant them a vacant bowler's average of 250. I wish only to illuminate the absurdity of that decision.

So in my best Joe Friday prose, I will point out that for weeks #1-#26, How Swede It Is had a record of 218.5-483.5 (winning percentage 31.1%). Since they were granted the vacant bowler with a 250 average in week #27, their record is 152-91 (winning percentage 62.6%). Is it a coincidence? Maybe their three remaining bowlers stepped up when Dennis had to drop out. This calls for a closer look.

         1-26  27-34

Kevin     191    191

Lisa      170    179

Eric      204    201

Dennis    203    ---

750-bot   ---    250

Kevin held his ground, Lisa improved 9 pins, and Eric slipped back 3 pins. Lisa's improvement gave the team a slight boost but it wasn't enough to double their winning percentage, especially since it was partially offset by Eric's decline. That increase of 47 pins per game from the 750-bot is clearly the driver of this team's upward movement in the past two months. But I digress.

Getting back to this week's match, we won the first game but lost the next two and the points for total pinfall. The Swedish 750-bot pulled off another sweep in match play and improved its record to 35-1.

WEEK 35  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800
Quinton 209 178 178  565  1.0  87 15981 183.7  52.0 266  661  25   7   0   0
Mark    222 244 183  649  3.0 102 19268 188.9  67.0 247  659  39  10   0   0
Brandon 172 196 111  479  1.0 105 20072 191.2  54.0 257  688  32   8   0   0
Garrett 212 188 247  647  0.0 102 22545 221.0  70.0 299  876  74  22   8   1
Kevin                           9  1708 189.8   5.0 236  574   4   0   0   0
TOTAL   815 806 719 2340  5.0 405 79574 196.5 248.0 964 2693 174  47   8   1

WEEK 34 RESULTS

Points Won: 7 - Points Lost: 20

We had Kevin subbing for Quinton again this week but the lineup change didn't shake us out of our long slump. Our total pinfall was nearly identical to last week (2247 vs. 2246) and we scored five more points but we were swept again. We remain buried deep in last place with a record of 73.5-196.5.

Many thanks to Kevin for coming out and standing in for Quinton.

Our spirits have been low for several weeks. No doubt we've been down because we haven't been bowling well. Still, we should be able to get our competitive fire burning again. Let's make an effort to get our energy back and enjoy what we're doing.

LEAGUE STAT SHEET

WEEK 34  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800
Quinton                        84 15416 183.5  51.0 266  661  24   7   0   0
Mark    167 142 190  499  2.0  99 18619 188.1  64.0 247  659  37   9   0   0
Brandon 171 195 201  567  2.0 102 19593 192.1  53.0 257  688  32   8   0   0
Garrett 186 222 203  611  2.0  99 21898 221.2  70.0 299  876  72  21   8   1
Kevin   236 169 165  570  1.0   9  1708 189.8   5.0 236  574   4   0   0   0
TOTAL   760 728 759 2247  7.0 393 77234 196.5 243.0 964 2693 169  45   8   1

WEEK 33 RESULTS



Points Won: 2 - Points Lost: 25



I was slow to update the blog with last week's results but I figure none of us were particularly interested in our worst beating of the season. Battle of the Pro Shops II went to The Bowler's Advantage by a score of 25-2. Ouch!

Though we lost the first game, we bowled fairly well with a score of 825. It went downhill from there with scores of 744 and 677 to finish the series. We're now in last place with a record of 66.5-176.5.

LEAGUE STAT SHEET

WEEK 33  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800
Quinton 179 172 183  534  0.0  84 15416 183.5  51.0 266  661  24   7   0   0
Mark    210 159 158  527  1.0  96 18120 188.8  62.0 247  659  37   9   0   0
Brandon 201 169 175  545  1.0  99 19026 192.2  51.0 257  688  31   8   0   0
Garrett 235 244 161  640  0.0  96 21287 221.7  68.0 299  876  70  20   8   1
Kevin                           6  1138 189.7   4.0 223  574   3   0   0   0
TOTAL   825 744 677 2246  2.0 381 74987 196.8 236.0 964 2693 165  44   8   1

WEEK 32 RESULTS

Points Won: 5 - Points Lost: 22

It was another rough week for Team PBS. Quinton was out of action for a second consecutive week. Since we didn't have time to find a sub, we had to suffer a penalty of twenty pins per game. This week's opponent was Beast Mode, one of the toughest teams in the league, so the deck was stacked heavily against us. As one might expect under these circumstances, we were swept again. We failed to reach 800 in any of the three games. Five individual points gave us a score of 5-22 for the night.

Our record for the final third dropped to 64.5-151.5. Our record for the season is 363.5-473.5. Our sad bowler with the 7-10 split has become a regular feature on the blog. It's been eight weeks since I was last able to put up the Garrett-Victory photo. We have about a month to get ourselves sorted out for the Last Chance Tournament.

WEEK 32  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800
Quinton 163 163 163  489  1.0  81 14882 183.7  51.0 266  661  24   7   0   0
Mark    202 203 184  589  1.0  93 17593 189.2  61.0 247  659  36   9   0   0
Brandon 199 162 130  491  0.0  96 18481 192.5  50.0 257  688  30   8   0   0
Garrett 156 243 241  640  3.0  93 20647 222.0  68.0 299  876  68  19   8   1
Kevin                           6  1138 189.7   4.0 223  574   3   0   0   0
TOTAL   720 771 718 2209  5.0 369 72741 197.1 234.0 964 2693 161  43   8   1

SINCE MY LESSON WITH BILL HALL...

In the seven weeks since my lesson with Bill Hall, I have been averaging 197.3 and my percentage of 200+ games has been 47.6% (10 of 21). Prior to my lesson, I was averaging 186.4 and my percentage of 200+ games was 34.8% (24 of 69). I am extremely pleased with the results so far. Thanks, Garrett, for arranging that lesson.

WEEK 31 RESULTS



Points Won: 5 - Points Lost: 22
(MAYBE)

Quinton wasn't able to join us this week and we didn't have a sub lined up. This forced us to use a penalized score of 173 in Quinton's absence.

We were beaten rather handily by How Swede It Is but not without some controvery. I'll have more on that later. So far as the bowling went, it wasn't one of our better nights. We didn't break 800 in any of the games while our opponents did in all three, due in part to the controversial issue which I will cover later in this report.

WEEK 31  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800
Quinton 173 173 173  519  1.0  81 14882 183.7  49.0 266  661  24   7   0   0
Mark    218 190 211  619  3.0  90 17004 188.9  60.0 247  659  34   9   0   0
Brandon 184 186 194  564  1.0  93 17990 193.4  50.0 257  688  30   8   0   0
Garrett 191 230 197  618  0.0  90 20007 222.3  65.0 299  876  66  18   8   1
Kevin                           6  1138 189.7   4.0 223  574   3   0   0   0
TOTAL   766 779 775 2320  5.0 360 71021 197.3 229.0 964 2693 157  42   8   1

The issue in dispute was the vacancy score used by our opponents. Eric Ellard had to drop out of the league and in his place, a vancancy score of 250 was granted. We found this score baffling. No bowler in our league has an average anywhere near 250 so how is it equitable compensation for a team missing a bowlier? At the time, we went along with the posted score but with the intention of questioning its correctness afterward.

According to our league's rules, the vacancy score is supposed to be the sum of the present members' entering averages subtracted from 785. That clearly was not the case as my email to the powers-that-be at Diablo Valley Bowl explains: 

"Good morning. In last night's Showcase 810 match between Team 6 (Pinole Bowlers Supply) and Team 11 (How Swede It Is), a vacancy score of 250 was used by Team 11. I am unable to reconcile this score with our league’s rules.

According to League Play Rule #6 (page 7), “Vacancy/Blind score will be the three present members’ entering averages subtracted from 785.”

According to Averages Rule #3 (page 3), “To be eligible to participate in this league at less than the maximum average, a bowler must have two years of book averages, of 40 games or more, during the past five years.”

According to Individual Entering Average Notes #1 & #2 (Page 4), “The league will not recognize ANY league average of less than 40 games; with the exception shown in rule 2 following.” (“If you have an average that is between 21-39 games, and it is higher than your 40 game minimum average for that season, then that average takes precedence for that season.”)

Using the USBC listings found at Bowl.com, Lisa Burney’s entering average is 164 and Kevin Burney’s entering average is 187. Dennis Ellard has only a summer league average listed and it’s based on less than 40 games so it is not recognized. (The exception in Rule #2 was not met.) Lacking a recognized book average, I assume his average would be the “maximum average” but I don’t see where that is defined. I noticed that Dennis was absent during the first week of the season and an average of 223 was used in his absence. Perhaps that means the maximum average is 233 and with the required ten-pin penalty for absence, his score for each game was 223. Perhaps he had established a higher average that is not listed on the USBC’s website.

If Dennis’s entering average was established as 233, the sum of the present bowlers’ entering averages was 584 and the vacancy score should be 201, not 250. (785-584 = 201.) If his entering average was 223, the vacancy score should be 211. For the vacancy score to be 250, Dennis’s entering average would have to be 184 and we are unable to see how that could be determined under the existing league rules.

At your earliest convenience, can you please clarify how the vacancy score of 250 was determined?"

I am anxious to see DVB's response to my inquiry. If my figures are correct, we won the second game and Garrett's score in the second game topped the vacancy score. We'd still be on the losing end of the match but by a score of 9-18 instead of 5-22.

WEEK 30 RESULTS

This week we had a position round that paired us with the Four Horseman

Points Won: 11.5 - Points Lost: 15.5

(yes, the subject is singular and there's a woman on the team -- I don't have an explanation). It was a contest between two struggling teams that saw its share of ups & downs. Sadly for us, there were a few more downs than ups.

The first game was a tight one which saw the Four Horseman edge us in the tenth frame. They lit us up with a 924 in the second game, paced by Jason Ysip's 279. We came to life in the third game with Brandon's 246 and Garrett's 257 carrying us to a score of 878 that averted a sweep. The score for the evening was 11.5-15.5 which dropped our record to 54.5-107.5.

WEEK 30  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800
Quinton 171 224 173  568  2.0  81 14882 183.7  49.0 266  661  24   7   0   0
Mark    205 213 202  620  1.0  87 16385 188.3  57.0 247  659  32   8   0   0
Brandon 181 158 246  585  2.5  90 17426 193.6  49.0 257  688  30   8   0   0
Garrett 187 203 257  647  3.0  87 19389 222.9  65.0 299  876  65  17   8   1
Kevin                           6  1138 189.7   4.0 223  574   3   0   0   0
TOTAL   744 798 878 2420  8.5 351 69220 197.2 224.0 964 2693 154  40   8   1

WEEK 29 RESULTS

Points Won: 7 - Points Lost: 20

We had some shots we'd like back but overall we did okay. The problem was High Flush bowled quite well. We were swept with the final score being 7-20. This dropped us to 15th place with a record of 43-92. 


LEAGUE STAT SHEET







WEEK 29  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800
Quinton 192 205 193  590  1.0  78 14314 183.5  47.0 266  661  23   7   0   0
Mark    210 158 191  559  3.0  84 15765 187.7  56.0 247  659  29   7   0   0
Brandon 177 175 192  544  2.0  87 16841 193.6  46.5 257  688  29   8   0   0
Garrett 176 268 265  709  1.0  84 18742 223.1  62.0 299  876  63  16   8   1
Kevin                           6  1138 189.7   4.0 223  574   3   0   0   0
TOTAL   755 806 841 2402 12.0 339 66800 197.1 215.5 964 2693 147  38   8   1

WEEK 28 RESULTS

Points Won: 6-5 - Points Lost: 20.5

In week #28 we continued to navigate a course in the wrong direction. We Got This! humbled us by a score of 6.5-20.5, including a loss by one pin in the final game. Our record for the final third of the season dropped to 36-72. The lone positive note was Garrett's 742 series (253-230-259) that earned 4 of our 6.5 points.

Next week we face High Flush, one of the top teams in the league. After that, we have a position round. At this point, we don't have a chance of earning a playoff seed. Our only hope is to get ourselves tuned up in time for the Last Chance Tournament at the conclusion of the regular season. That will be Saturday, May 18th at 9:00 AM sharp.

WEEK 28  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800
Quinton 137 141 175  453  0.5  75 13724 183.0  46.0 266  661  22   7   0   0
Mark    224 194 168  586  1.0  81 15206 187.7  53.0 247  659  28   7   0   0
Brandon 159 178 196  533  1.0  84 16297 194.0  44.5 257  688  29   8   0   0
Garrett 253 230 259  742  4.0  81 18033 222.6  65.0 299  876  61  16   7   1
Kevin                           6  1138 189.7   4.0 223  574   3   0   0   0
TOTAL   773 743 798 2314  6.5 327 64398 196.9 212.5 964 2693 143  38   7   1

WEEK 27 RESULTS

Points Won: 7.5 - Points Lost: 19.5

It was another rough night for us. We pulled off a win in the first game but that had more to do with the struggles of our opponents (Jack's Patio) than any stellar bowling on our part. From there, our opponents weren't so cooperative and they beat us 19.5-7.5. We averaged only 188.8 as a team so we might consider ourselves fortunate to get 7.5 points.



LEAGUE STAT SHEET


WEEK 27  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800
Quinton 201 202 140  543  1.5  72 13271 184.3  44.5 266  661  22   7   0   0
Mark    231 166 182  579  1.0  78 14620 187.4  52.0 247  659  27   7   0   0
Brandon 187 190 183  560  1.0  81 15764 194.6  43.5 257  688  29   8   0   0
Garrett 167 190 227  584  0.0  78 17291 221.7  61.0 299  876  58  16   6   1
Kevin                           6  1138 189.7   4.0 223  574   3   0   0   0
TOTAL   786 748 732 2266  3.5 315 62084 197.1 205.0 964 2693 139  38   6   1

WEEK 26 RESULTS

Points Won: 11 - Points Lost: 16

We came up a little short again as we were outscored 11-16 for the second consecutive week. Our record now stands at 22-32. At this pace, our chances of earning a playoff spot are steadily diminishing. If we're unable to get on a roll soon, it would appear our hopes will be limited to the Last Chance Tournament on May 18th.

For the curious, our lineup change didn't affect the outcome this time. Whether it was Quinton or I in either position, we would have earned one point in the first and four points in the second.

WEEK 26  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800
Quinton 197 215 193  605  4.0  69 12728 184.5  43.0 266  661  20   7   0   0
Mark    214 172 187  573  1.0  75 14041 187.2  51.0 247  659  26   7   0   0
Brandon 183 185 183  551  0.0  78 15204 194.9  42.5 257  688  29   8   0   0
Garrett 206 185 224  615  3.0  75 16707 222.8  61.0 299  876  57  16   6   1
Kevin                           6  1138 189.7   4.0 223  574   3   0   0   0
TOTAL   800 757 787 2344  8.0 303 59818 197.4 201.5 964 2693 135  38   6   1

WEEK 25 RESULTS

Points Won: 11 - Points Lost: 16

This was the opening week of the final third of the season and a rematch with Team 3 whom we bowled two weeks ago. Unfortunately, we weren't as successful this time. Each of us bowled better than we did in last week's position round but we still came out on the short end this week by a score of 11-16. (In our previous meeting with Team 3 two weeks ago, we held the 16-11 advantage.) Our record of 11-16 puts us in 11th place.

One thing that did go well for us was the lineup change that had Quinton and I swap positions. Had we kept our regular lineup, the score would have been 9-18 instead of 11-16.  I would have lost the second game which Quinton won and Quinton would have lost the third game which I won. The outcome in the other games would have been the same.

WEEK 25  01  02  03  SER  PTS   G  PINS   AVG   PTS  HG   HS 200 600 700 800
Quinton 173 202 189  564  4.0  66 12123 183.7  39.0 266  661  19   6   0   0
Mark    194 170 243  607  1.0  72 13468 187.1  50.0 247  659  25   7   0   0
Brandon 213 193 177  583  1.0  75 14653 195.4  42.5 257  688  29   8   0   0
Garrett 236 167 215  618  2.0  72 16092 223.5  58.0 299  876  55  15   6   1
Kevin                           6  1138 189.7   4.0 223  574   3   0   0   0
TOTAL   816 732 824 2372  8.0 291 57474 197.5 193.5 964 2693 131  36   6   1