Milestone birthday for local bowler

By Dallas Kadry

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Zeta Caldwell, longtime bowler and Hall of Famer, will be celebrating a real milestone this Sunday, her 100th birthday. Already an avid bowler when she and her husband, Wendell, moved from Grand Island, Neb., to Modesto in 1948, she jumped into the local bowling scene.

Caldwell was a charter member of the Modesto Women's Bowling Association and had the distinction of bowling in every women's city tournament until 2008 when she retired from bowling.

She was elected to the Modesto Bowling Hall of Fame at its inception in 1981 along with Jerry Marsh, Art Renner, George Wessling, and Helen Moss.

Caldwell has held countless of offices at the state, local, and league levels, and was the "mover and shaker" in area bowling for many years. Friends and bowling acquaintances can stop by her home this Sunday for an Open House event from 1 to 3 p.m. at 900 Harvard Ave. in Modesto. Happy birthday, Zeta!

It wasn't looking like a good league day for 14-year-old Kyle Simi when he started with a 171 game in the Video Mania. He booked at a 191 average, and is currently holding a 209.

But he came back strong the second game with a 279, and finished the day out with a perfect 300 game, his first, for a 750 series. Simi is a freshman at Big Valley Christian High School and has been bowling since he was four.

Laverne Howe finished first in the "Anyone's Guess" No-tap at McHenry with her 830 series. Howe topped the Women's 151 & Up Division with her score. Olivia Clinton was second at 798, followed by Anja DeBoer's 769 score. For the Women's 150 & Below Division, Margo DosSantos earned the top spot with a 792 score. Rose Baker and Betty Tull both turned in a 759 score for the next two places.

Bob Ferraro topped the Men's 161 & Below Division, turning in an 862. Ray Reim was second with his 775 set. In third, at 749, was Al Fontes. For the Men's 162 & up Division, Roger Baker finished first, rolling a 798 series. Dennis McKinney ended in second with a 770 and, in a tie for third, Jim Cronkite and Rod Hirtzel tallied a 763.

As a surprise addition, a Mystery Doubles prize list was done using scores from the singles event. Howe and Cronkite were paired up and took the first prize with their combined 1,593 score. Ferraro was matched with Joyce Goblirsch to score a 1,520 and take second spot. Jim Eccleston and Olivia Clinton ended together and took third with a 1,468 score.

Earl Purcell, Donnie Johnson, and Larry Barker teamed up to win the McHenry Old Spice Tournament with a 2,376 score. Barker boosted the team total with no-tap games of 277, 300 and 254. Taking the second slot is the team of Harold Walker, Bill Bender, and Jim Pastorelli. The trio scored 2,338. Mike James, Mike Swickard, and Ray Swickard finished third in the event with a 2,286 score.

McHenry Bowl just purchased a new lane conditioning and cleaning machine and placed it into service last Thursday. Larry Garner, bowling in the Black Oak Casino Classic League that evening, was happy with the way the $30,000 machine oiled the lanes. He posted a 300 game his fourth game.

This Friday, the "55 and Older" no-tap is rolling at Yosemite starting at 1 p.m. Check-in is at 12:30.

Join the fun at Yosemite this Saturday when the Junior/Adult Halloween Tournament rolls. Bowling starts at 6 p.m., with check-in at 5 p.m. Cost will be $15 per team for three games of nine-pin, no-tap bowling. Costumes are welcome, and averages are not required. Call 524-9161 for more information or to sign up.