Wow! 34 strikes in 36 frames

MODESTO -- It was a record-setting week for Nick Kelley and the cities of Modesto and Tracy.

Kelley began the week bowling in his Tuesday league in Tracy. He started his first game by rolling 12 strikes for a perfect game.

Then he rolled 12 more, a second perfecto in a row.

He started his third game with another strike, but then left a 10-pin. He picked it up and rolled strikes to the count ball to finish with a 279.

His 879 set — with 34 strikes out of 36 frames — was a record for Tracy.

But Kelley wasn't done.

The next Saturday, he competed in the Mexican American Tournament at Yosemite Lanes in Modesto. His 869 set included games of 280-289-300 for a new Modesto city record. The previous high series bowled in Modesto was an 868, rolled once each by Will Garber and San Jose's Paul Mandap while he was competing in the 2009 Modesto Masters Tournament. Kelley is currently averaging a 240.

Zeta Caldwell, a Modesto Hall of Famer and a pioneer of local bowling, passed away Sunday at age 103. Caldwell started bowling in 1939 in Nebraska. She rose to the office of President of the Nebraska State Women's Bowling Association before moving west in 1947. She and her husband, Wendell, settled in Modesto and became active in Modesto's fledgling bowling community.

Caldwell spearheaded a drive in 1951 to break away from the Stockton Bowling Association to form the Modesto Women's Bowling Association. She was elected secretary as a charter member and served for 10 years. She stayed involved in the local association for many years as an officer or director, and served on the California WBA as a director for 15 years. Caldwell was instrumental in bringing the 1958 State Tournament and the 1979 Senior State Tournament to Modesto. She was honored as Bowler of the Year in 1975 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1981, the first year of its existence.

A Celebration of Life will be July 4, her favorite holiday.

After the first weekend of the Modesto City Tournament, here are the scores to beat:

• Team/Scratch Division — RJ Glover, 3,330;

• Men's Division — Gordin & Associates, 3,358;

• Mixed Division — Weekenders, 3,399;

• Women's Division — Family Ties, 2,518.

Leading Men's Doubles are Noel Carraway and James Benner scoring a 1,499. Bre Sandoval and Ken Thomas are high in the Mixed Doubles at 1,415, and Sharon Zimmerman and Sheri Cole lead the Women's Doubles at 1,464. Christopher Bygum is high for Men's Singles (795), and Bonnie Garber leads the Women's Singles (720).

Final squads run Saturday and Sunday. Call either bowling center for times.

Norm Wiggins and Ron Gilbert teamed to take the lead in the Modesto USBC Senior City Doubles Tournament. They posted a 1,580 no-tap total. The final squad is Friday at 1 p.m. at McHenry.

The Ladies Luncheon No-Tap rolls Friday at Yosemite at 9:30 a.m.

The Bowling for a Cure Tournament is in progress at McHenry through the end of March. League bowlers will be asked to donate $1 and use their league scores for a place on the prize board. Prizes will be a combination of cash and merchandise. All money raised will be donated to American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

Dallas Kadry is an employee of McHenry Bowl; reach her at (209) 571-2695