AN AGREEMENT that has elevated my Pin Points column to a new home on The Batavian online news website is a victory for the great sport of bowling and its fans.
Until a few weeks ago, I had every intention of writing the column for publication in Batavia’s daily newspaper. But when I called to make sure we were all set for another year, I was informed that the editor had decided to “go in a different direction” – thus ending a longstanding relationship.
Being someone who has been able to regroup on the fly, I quickly contacted Howard Owens, publisher of The Batavian, and pitched the idea of running the column on his website.
Fortunately, Howard realized the value (both journalistically and financially) of such a column, and he set the wheels in motion to make it happen. With the help of Lisa Ace, his creative graphic artist, and promotional support from WBTA Radio, and online news sites in Orleans, Livingston and Wyoming counties, here we are – the first of 18 columns over the next 36 weeks.
A new column is scheduled to appear every other Thursday through the month of April, and we also intend to sprinkle in bowling news on the website between column publication dates.
This week I am sharing some exciting news at Mount Morris Lanes, “words of wisdom” from the president of the Genesee Region USBC and memories of five Batavia bowlers who passed away recently.
Before that, however, I would like to acknowledge the businesses that have stepped up to keep local bowling in the public eye.
I am pleased to announce that Turnbull Heating in Batavia, Southside Deli of Batavia, Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Mancuso Bowling Center in Batavia, Genesee Region USBC, Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion, Mount Morris Lanes, Sheelar Automotive Repair in Batavia, Perry Bowling Center, Al Vlietstra Masonry in Geneseo, Sloat Tire Shop in Batavia and Letchworth Pines in Portageville have signed on again as sponsors.
We also have a new sponsor – Begin’rs to Pros Pro Shop located in Stone Ridge Plaza in Rochester. You can view these full color ads - which also are linked to websites -- on this page. Some of them will run on The Bowling Page alongside every column, and some will run on an “every other column” basis.
Also on this page you will find a list of Genesee Region USBC bowling centers which have been “hyperlinked” to their websites or Facebook pages, if applicable.
Advertising on The Bowling Page is a cost-effective opportunity for business owners to promote their products and/or services. If you, as a business owner or manager, are interested in learning more about the special rates for this page, please contact me at mikepett2002@yahoo.com.
MOUNT MORRIS LANES GOES ‘SYNTHETIC’
WHEN THE "GUARDIAN" no longer lives up to its name, it’s time to find a replacement. That’s the story at Mount Morris Lanes, where proprietor Bob Santini (in photo above) has made a significant investment by installing new Qubica/AMF synthetic lanes, approaches and pin decks at his eight-lane center on Erie Street in the Livingston County village.
“The Guardian that we had put over the (wood) lanes was peeling off, and it was either go to synthetic or be faced with major repairs to the Guardian,” Santini said.
Guardian is a film overlay that is designed to help make wood lanes last a little longer without resurfacing.
Santini and his brother, Dan, went with Guardian about six years ago "because during a resurfacing job we were hitting a lot of nails,” Bob said, adding that the overlay made the lanes look a lot better. With time and usage, though, the protective coating wore out.
The new lanes, installed in July, require no resurfacing, just daily conditioning (oiling and stripping).
Already, with limited open bowling in the summer, Santini said bowlers are “striking like crazy” and he is confident that scores will go up this season.
FLUKER, GENESEE REGION USBC LOOK AHEAD
TOM FLUKER of Batavia is president of the Genesee Region USBC, the local association that services nearly 2,000 bowlers at 11 centers in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties.
Last month, he conducted meetings with league secretaries at Mount Morris Lanes and at Mancuso Bowling Center, updating them on several fronts, with a major emphasis on the quality awards program the association offers to its members.
I was also on hand at the meetings, wearing a new hat as the GRUSBC association manager.
Fluker pointed out that more than a few men, women and children who participated in USBC-certified leagues last season were not in the GRUSBC database, meaning that either that they paid their sanction fee and it wasn’t recorded or that the secretary failed to collect the sanction fee and submit it to the local association office.
Regardless of the reason, he said there will be a concerted effort this season to make sure that all bowlers in USBC-certified leagues -- whether they are regulars or substitutes -- pay their USBC dues.
It is only fair (and a requirement) that all bowlers pay the one-time membership fee since all bowlers get to enjoy the benefits of USBC certification.
For more information about the GRUSBC, go to its website -- www.bowlgr.com -- or send an email to mikep@bowlgr.com or tfstrikeforce@msn.com.
LOCAL ASSOCIATION LISTS 2016-17 TOURNAMENTS
THE GRUSBC'S 2016-17 tournament schedule is as follows:
Oct. 29 – Adult/Junior Team at Le Roy Legion Lanes
Nov. 5-6 – Gladys Ford Memorial Senior Women at Mount Morris Lanes
Nov. 12 – Senior Masters at Perry Bowling Center
Nov. 12 – Youth Eliminator at Oak Orchard Bowl
Dec. 3 – Bowlers to Veterans Link (BVL) at Livingston Lanes
Dec. 10 – Youth Baker Team at Scopano’s Lanes, Oakfield
Jan. 6-8 – Memorial Scratch at Medina Lanes
Jan. 13-15 – Adult/Junior at Medina Lanes
Feb. 11-12 – Masters at Mancuso Bowling Center
Feb. 18-19 – Youth Doubles at Mount Morris Lanes
March 4-5 – Youth Team at Rose Garden Bowl
March 24-26, April 1-2 – Association Doubles at Perry Bowling Center, Association Team at Letchworth Pines
REMEMBERING THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SPORT
THE BATAVIA COMMUNITY lost several “friends of bowling” over the past few months, wonderful people that I would like to acknowledge in this column. To their families, please accept my deepest condolences.
Brian Morasco (8/17/16) – A craftsman in the truest sense of the word, Brian was one of the best Brunswick pinsetter mechanics around. During the 1990s and early 2000s, he answered my call on numerous occasions to fix a pinsetter at Mancuso's, where I worked as the manager. And he never failed to make me laugh.
Dave Root (7/16/16) – A pleasant individual, Dave represented the average league bowler -- someone who gave his best effort while enjoying the social aspects associated with a night out at the lanes.
Nina Hall (6/21/16) – A fixture on the women’s senior bowling leagues at Mancuso’s and at local, state and national tournaments, Nina also was a Cleveland Indians fan who let me know anytime her Tribe happened to beat the Yankees.
Bob Meisner (6/20/16) – A former bowling teammate and competitor, and fellow slo-pitch softball umpire, Bob was part of the Classic League scene at Mancuso’s for many years. You always could count on Bob to unleash a playful jab or two. I recall him pinning a tongue-in-cheek “world’s greatest bowler” button on me back in the early 1980s.
Nancy Vallese (5/18/16) – An officer with the Genesee Valley Women’s Bowling Association, Nancy was instrumental in advancing women’s bowling in this area and at the state level.
