By Ed Ventry
A new Niagara Falls USBC Women’s Bowling Association’s all-time high series record was set at Bowl-O-Drome on Sunday night. Deanna Mills set the mark of 815 with her games of 290, 267, and 258 in the Sunday Night Mixed League. The previous record was 804 and was held by well-known PBA bowler Liz Johnson.
This was Mills’ second career 800 series. I spoke with her about this accomplishment and she indicated that this one was very special for her and she explained why. Mills rolled a 300-800 on October 26, 1999 at Bowl-O-Drome in the Tuesday night 3-man league. Coincidentally, she was bowling against her father’s team that evening. Deanna loved bowling with and against her father, Tom Mills.
Sadly, Deanna’s father passed away in September of 2000, less than a year after Deanna rolled that career high score. Mills knew that her father loved bowling and loved watching his daughter excel at the sport, so she decided to let her father keep her only 800 ring. Mills said, “I buried my first 800 ring with my father almost 10 years ago. At his wake, I told everyone that that ring was for him and I’d just have to bowl another one for myself.”
It took eight more seasons, but Mills has finally done just that.
It was more about getting that 800 that she promised herself she would get after her father passed. “It’s not just any 800, this one is special for me. ... Going into the 10th on Sunday, I wasn’t even thinking about an 800. I didn’t know how close I was. When I found out after, I immediately broke down. It was extremely emotional,” she said.
• The Niagara Falls USBC Women’s Bowling Association’s 54th Annual Championship Tournament will begin on March 21 at Bowl-O-Drome. This is a 100 percent handicap tournament that features three events: four-women team, doubles, and singles. Each event is $19 per person with “all events” costing $3. Please contact any NFUSBCWBA member for more information and I will also have more information on this tournament next week.
• The Tonawanda’s USBC Bowling Association will be holding its fifth annual “Strike Out Breast Cancer” event at Tonawanda Bowling Center from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds will support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s initiatives against breast cancer. There will be a basket auction and opportunities for education about breast cancer. This year, in addition to the annual activities, there will be a “Strike Out Breast Cancer Scratch Shootout.” The entry fee is $40 for this event ($5 will be donated). For more information, please contact tournament coordinator Bruce Harrison at 807-1225.
• On Valentine’s night, Bowl-O-Drome hosted its annual Sweetheart Mixed Doubles No-Tap Tournament. The tournament was a huge success as the maximum of 48 teams competed, compared to 30 teams from last year. The popularity of this tournament has grown each year and plans are already being made for next year’s event.
The team of Cathy Rickard and Tim Rickard emerged as the champions this year as they rolled a 1,653 3-game total, with handicap. The runners-up were Christine Pohzehl and Jesse Hein with a 1,596. The remaining teams who cashed, in order, are the teams of: Sarah Scipione/Bob Scipione, Donna Garcia/John Hayes, Christine Rulli/Phil Rulli, Jody Dinger/Tim Dinger, Carolyn Macri/Vincent Macri, Sheila Tallarico/John Smith, Deanna Mills/Matt Zajac, and Sarah Hillman/Adam Mulholland. The following bowlers rolled no-tap 300s (nine pins equals a strike) during this event: April Anthony, Jamie Calarco, Cathy Rickard, DJ Chapman, Joe Ventry, Jerry Casero Sr., and John Hayes.
Ed Ventry is a director on the board of the Niagara Falls USBC men and youth bowling associations. Contact him at eventry@roadrunner.com.
