Mellos team to win, help BVL

Yvonne and Eddie Mello won the Modesto USBC Friendship Doubles Tournament. Yvonne scored an 818 and Eddie added 727. With their 372-pin handicap, they totaled 1,917 for the win.

Both Eddie and Yvonne recorded no-tap 300 games in their sets.

Terry Sue Waring and Theresa Medeiros claimed the second spot with a 1,896 total. That included Medeiros' 821 (with a no-tap 300) and Waring's 706 with a 369-handicap. Teeny Allen and Paul Morelli were third (1,855).

As usual, though, the real winner is the BVL Fund. The event raised $934 that will be spent to help veterans get into the game.

Will Garber brought home a prestigious PBA honor when he was named Rookie of the Year for the West Region. He earned the title based on his best finish, second place, and five finishes in the money and four match-play appearances during the season. The PBA has seven regions for local high-caliber bowlers.

The ladies were scoring in the 55 and Over No-Tap at Yosemite. Marilyn Nienaber topped the field with a 950 set. But Ann Zuidema wasn't too far behind, rolling a 942 for second. Sharon Moore (877) was third. Rick Akins rolled an 880 to take the men's title with David Brown (841) second and Ken Thomas (823) third.

This is becoming a habit. The trio of Ken Thomas, Bre Sandoval and Rick Lazaro won their fourth consecutive Mixed Kegler Trio at McHenry last week with a 2,485 score. Thomas led his team with an 843 set including a no-tap 300. Earl Purcell, Jerry Allard and Larry Barker were second (2,317) as Purcell posted a no-tap 300, and Ann Zuidema, Anja DeBoer and Eric Benz (2,220) were third.

The first Scratch 6-Gamer of the year is Sunday at Yosemite. Check-in starts at 11 a.m. with tournament scoring at noon. The PBA Cheetah oil pattern will be used.

The Senior No-Tap runs Friday at McHenry starting at 1 p.m.

Nominations for the Modesto USBC Hall of Fame and Pioneer Award must be turned in by Feb. 1. Forms are available and at either bowl. Call (209) 571-2695 for more information.

The PBA is introducing its new team format Sunday on ESPN starting at 9 a.m. The two-hour, live show will include the first round of the historic PBA League from Thunderbowl Lanes in suburban Detroit.

The eight-team PBA league, featuring celebrity owners and all-star PBA rosters, is being conducted in conjunction with this week's Detroit Winter Swing. The Swing includes four tour stops: The Carmen Salvino Classic, Mark Roth Classic, Don Carter Classic and Earl Anthony Players Championship.

The four tournaments will award PBA Tour titles and the qualifying scores posted by each PBA League team member will be combined to produce the team qualifying scores for the ESPN telecasts. The four PBA League matches on the ESPN telecast will use Baker Format matches, where each team member will bowl two frames in each game to combine for one score.

Dallas Kadry is an employee of McHenry Bowl; reach her at mchbowl@aol.com or (209) 571-2695