Bowling column for Tuesday, July 21, 2020
By: Bette Addington

–CONTINUED CLOSURES – Three weeks from closure is up this Thurs., July 23rd, but with our county now back on the state watchlist and a pretty good certainty they will be closing up additional businesses this Fri., July 24th which includes gyms, hairdressers, and malls, looks like we will be closed down for at least another couple of weeks. Let’s hope we can start fall leagues in September.

–ALONSO LEADS IN VEGAS AT SAM’S TOWN TOURNAMENT!

Patricia strikes again!! This time this past weekend competing in the Sam’s Town Open Summer Trios tournament. Alonso and Andrew Svoren were the only two from Bakersfield to participate in this event. They competed on Saturday, July 18 (tournament runs through the last weekend of August). Alonso ended up leaving her mark by taking over 1st place in Women’s Singles and placed 2nd, 4th and 12th in Trios. Alonso and Svoren bowled all three Trio squads and bowled with three different people (Lloyd Burlseon, Laura Sargent and Joe Gilliland). Alonso and Svoren were teamed with Lloyd Burlseon from Las Vegas for their 2nd place Trios team win. Congratulations and hope your scores stand!! Alonso and Svoren, along with some other Bakersfield bowlers, plan to return to Vegas and bowl this event again the weekend of August 15-16.

–SURPRISE GOODBYE DRIVE-BY EVENT TAKES JAMES McCARTER BY SURPRISE

Thanks to social media and the help of Don Snow, Lisa Isbell and Mary Jane Brust, we pulled this off despite the closure of bowling centers the week before! We wanted to do some kind of surprise send-off for AMF Southwest Lanes General Manager, James McCarter, before he moved out of town and the original plan was to do a drive-by at AMF Southwest Lanes on his last Wednesday working at the center before he left town. Getting the word out without leagues in session was our next obstacle and letting people know and keep James in the dark. So, when they closed the centers, we went to Plan B which was meeting at the Southwest Baseball Park parking lot. On Wed., July 8, we had the event and thank you to all the bowlers who came out to participate! James was overwhelmed and appreciated seeing not only bowlers, but staff from AMF that came. James said, “Wow guys! It really meant a lot seeing this going-away parade. Makes my heart full.” He and his family left Bakersfield on Sat., Jul. 11 headed to their new home in Kentucky. James had been the General Manager for AMF Southwest (and AMF Westchester) for 6 years and has worked for AMF for 13 years. He will be missed.

–TOURNAMENT CLUB CANCELLATIONS CONTINUE

Be sure to check with the tournament director whether an upcoming event is a go or not as it changes from day-to-day, even hour-to-hour! Many of them are trying their darndest to provide events for bowlers to compete in but are up against city, county and state health regulations.

–USBC CANCELS REMAINING 2020 NATIONAL EVENTS

We got the word last Monday when USBC Executive Director Chad Murphy was live to report the 2020 Open and Women’s Championships as well as the rest of the USBC tournaments for 2020 were cancelled. Additional reasons included the uptick of reported Covid-19 cases, the limited flight schedules currently being offered by American airlines and the ever-changing pandemic-related guidelines being issued by Nevada’s Governor. These cancellations include:
–USBC Open Championships
–USBC Women’s Championships
–USBC Masters
–USBC Senior Masters
–USBC Super Senior Classic
–USBC Senior Queens

In addition, the 2020-21 USBC Collegiate season will be postponed until January 2021, and be conducted as a second-semester sport. Dates will be determined at a later time. USA Bowling events have also been postponed to 2021.

USBC plans to resume a traditional schedule of events in January 2021, starting with the USBC Team USA Trials.

Teams registered for the 2020 Open and Women’s Championships may request to have their payments rolled forward for the 2021 tournaments, or they can request full refunds. 2021 Open Nationals will be in Las Vegas, NV and the 2021 Women’s Nationals will be in Addison, IL.

–USBC BANS BALANCE HOLES AS OF AUG. 1, 2020

As of Aug. 1, USBC is eliminating use of balance holes in bowling balls to protect bowling’s future by setting a new specification for oil absorption and the overall results will slightly limit hook potential. USBC research shows that this change will slow oil pattern transition, cause bowlers to move less and keep the same scoring pace with lower oil volume.

No current USBC approved balls will be deemed illegal. All equipment is grandfathered in, indefinitely. Balance holes need to be plugged by August 1, 2020.

So why did USBC eliminate the balance hole? In recent years, balance holes have become a tool for pro shop professionals to manipulate the balls. Their studies determined the balance hole can greatly increase the Differential RG to strengthen the reaction of the equipment beyond the ball’s original design intent.

So do you have to buy a new ball if you have a balance hole in your existing equipment? No. While USBE is eliminating balance holes on Aug. 1, 2020, the static weight allowance is increasing to three ounces in all directions. Many weight holes were added to existing balls to meet the one-ounce specification for side, finger and thumb weight. If the hole is plugged, it should be legal to use in USBC certified competition withing the new specification limits. It is very unlikely that you will need a completely new bowling ball.

If you plug a balance hole, will your ball roll differently? It may vary based on the layout chosen by you and your pro shop professional. In general, your ball should go longer before it starts to hook.

–PBA INTRODUCES JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

On a positive note, the PBA just announced their inaugural PBA Junior National Championship which will enable youth bowlers from around the country to compete for SMART scholarships totaling more than $38,000. Juniors must be 18 years or younger as of Aug. 1, 2020 to participate.

The two-fold competition will start around the county on Sept. 5 where each region will guarantee a first-place $2,000 SMART scholarship and will be awarded to one out of every six entries in each division.

The West Region will take place a Bowlero Christown, in Phoenix, AZ. For additional information, go to www.pba.com/junior

. PBA Jr. is a new membership for youth bowlers that includes exclusive perks like PBA swag, discounts and early access to PBA events.

–WHAT’S TAKING PLACE? WHAT’S CANCELLED??

To help bring you up to speed on what has been nationally cancelled or postponed indefinitely, here’s what we know:

–ISC/ITC Sectionals—postponed indefinitely
–USBC Senior Queens—cancelled
–USBC Masters—cancelled
–USBC Convention—cancelled
–PWBA Tour—cancelled
–USBC Queens—cancelled
–PBA Tour – scheduled to start April 6, status—West/NoWest scheduling events
–Super Senior Classic—postponed until later this year
–USBC Senior Masters—cancelled
–USBC Senior Championships—postponed to 2021
–PBA World Series of Bowling Finals (Storm PBA XI Animal Pattern Champ.) – postponed indefinitely (Fox Sports is planning multiple re-broadcasts of PBA World Champ, PBA Tourn. of Champions & Roth-Holman PBA Doubles Champ. finals on FS1 and FS2 (check your local listings for dates and times).
–PBA Playoffs—postponed
–PBA League Draft—postponed
–Intercollegiate Team & Singles Championships—cancelled
–2020 USBC Open & Women’s Championships—cancelled
–Bowl Expo scheduled for July 2-6 in Aurora, Colorado—cancelled
–TNBA 2020 National Championship Tournament scheduled from Aug. 6-17, Las Vegas—cancelled
–TNBA 2020 National Convention scheduled for Aug. 10-11, Las Vegas—cancelled
–USA Bowling National Championships – cancelled
–Youth Open Championships – cancelled
–USBC Junior Gold Championships – cancelled

For local tournaments, check my calendar at the end of this column on what has been cancelled and scheduled to date.

–LOCAL BOWLING CENTERS

– The BLVD! – CLOSED for Bowling, Food & Alcohol!!–3200 Buck Owens Blvd., BLVDBakersfield.com

, 661/873-4477
Military Service (Active, Reserve, Retired, Law Enforcement, Fire & First Responders) get 15% off Food, Soft Beverages, Bowling, Laser Tag, Ropes Course & Arcade Play Every Day!
Live Music on the Patio – Every Friday from 6pm-8pm – FREE!
Sign Up for The BLVD!’s E Club, connect with them to get exclusive offers & updates. Join via their free WiFi or fill out a card today! (Like & follow @BLVDBAKERSFIELD.)
Monday-Thursday (Open-Close) $4.25/Game, per person
Friday (Open-5pm) $4.25/Game, per person
Friday (5pm-Close) $42/Hour, per lane*
Weekends (Open-Close) $42/Hour, per lane*
Shoes – $4/person—Socks – $2.50/pair
*Up to (6) people per lane

– AMF Southwest Lanes – CLOSED –3610 Wible Road – 661/834-2695, amf.com.


Hours of Operation
Mondays – CLOSED
Tuesdays – 4pm – 10pm
Wednesdays* – 4pm – 10pm
Thursdays – CLOSED
Fridays* – 4pm – 12 midnight
Saturdays – 12 noon – 12 midnight
Sundays – 12 noon – 10pm
*may open earlier on these days

ROBB’S PRO SHOP (inside AMF Southwest Lanes) –661/833-2695:
Hours of Operation
Mondays – CLOSED
Tuesdays – 4pm – 8pm
Wednesdays – 2pm – 8pm
Thursdays – CLOSED
Fridays – 4pm – 8pm
Saturdays – 12 noon – 6pm
Sundays – 2pm – 8pm

– West Side Lanes – CLOSED–500 Cascade Place, Bldg. D, Taft, 93268 – 661/763-4246 or 765-6677

– Mt. Mesa Lanes – CLOSED–4612 McCray Road, Mt. Mesa, CA 93240 – 760/379-3131, www.Kernvalley.com/mtmesalanes


“I can do ‘to go’ food, but nobody can come inside.”–Gabriella Mayfield

– High Desert Lanes – CLOSED–205 Fitzgerald Blvd., Edwards AFB, CA 93523 – 661/275-2695

–CONGRATULATIONS
– Congratulations to stand-out local bowler Zack Newman who was signed a Staff contract with 900 Global on July 18, 2020.

–OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES
– On July 6, 2020, we lost Ernestine Salazar (Irene Villalobos’ Mom). She had contacted Covid-19. She was known as “Grandma Ernie” to league bowlers as Irene always brought her when she bowled league. Our sincere condolences.
– On July 8, 2020, Roy Jones lost his Mom and our thoughts and prayers are with him through this difficult time.

–BOWLING COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Sat., Mar. 21: USBC Open Nationals, National Bowling Stadium, Reno, NV—CANCELLED. (2021 will be in Las Vegas, NV)

Sat., Apr. 18: USBC Women’s Nationals, SouthPoint, Las Vegas—CANCELLED. (2021 will be in Addison, IL)

Wed., Jul. 23: GEUSBC General Board Meeting, 6pm, via Microsoft Teams

Fri. & Sat., Jul. 24-25: PBA Member/Non-Member Doubles, SouthPoint, Las Vegas, 360/600-1229, pba.com

Sat., Jul. 25: CBT Beat the Board Format, squads at 10/12/2:30/4:30, 45 bowlers max. per squad, Forest Lanes, Lake Forest, 661/418-8007, cbtbowling.com

Sat., Jul. 25: Elite Bowling Club Scratch 6 Gamer, AMF Carter Lanes, Fullerton, 909/450-9415—CANCELLED

Sun., Jul. 26: 60 & Over Scratch Classic, Canyon Lanes, Cabazon, 562/243-0175—CANCELLED

Sun., Jul. 26: HammerPins Handicap Alibi Doubles, Bowlero, Chico, 707/631-1331—CANCELLED

Thurs.-Sun., Jul. 30-Aug. 2: 21st PBA/PWBA Striking Against Breast Cancer Mxd. Doubles, Copperfield Bowl, Houston—CANCELLED

Fri.-Sun., Jul. 31-Aug. 2: 12th Cal Bowlers Tour Reno Invitational, National Bowling Stadium, Reno, 925/757-2695, CalBowlersTour@gmail.com

Sat., Aug. 1: Bowling Bass Spec. goes into effect on NO balance holes

Sat., Aug. 1: USBC Youth maximum age change from 20 to 18

Sun.-Fri., Aug. 2-7: 2020 Teen Masters, Richmond, VA, TeenMastersBowling.com

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