Team leads change hands at USBC Women's Championships
June 05, 2010
EL PASO, Texas - The leaderboard at the 2010 USBC Women's Championships got a makeover as new team leaders emerged in two of the event's three divisions Thursday.
CRC CARSTAR of Fort Collins, Colo., cruised into the lead in the Ruby Division with a 2,880 total, which included scratch games of 828, 923 and 850 and an additional 93 pins of handicap per game. All That & More of Little Rock, Ark., previously held the lead with 2,809.
Baton Rouge Gals of Denham Springs, La., grabbed the top spot in the Sapphire Division with 2,450. The team's surge into the lead came on scratch games of 781, 748 and 777 and an additional 48 pins of handicap per game. Chick-A-Boom of Bloomfield, N.M., had held the lead since April 20, when it posted a 2,424 total.
CRC CARSTAR's success at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center happened with a supporting cast much different than the one team captain, Donna Laughlin, planned on when she first signed up for the 2010 Women's Championships. Two team members were unable to make the trip to El Paso, leaving her to scramble to fill out the team.
"We had to pick up two subs," said Laughlin, who also reached another milestone by competing in her 30th Women's Championships. "I placed an ad on the sub board on BOWL.com, and that's where we found Faith (Zimmer). We picked up Terri (Lion) during our state tournament. She told us if we needed any help, she would be there."
Lion, who entered the tournament with a 145 average, led the charge with a 584 series. She was followed by Karen Smith (559), Pam Weeks (524), Zimmer (499) and Laughlin (435).
The teammates were aware they were putting together some good games, but were surprised to find out their effort was enough to take over the top spot.
"I thought we had all bowled well, but I didn't have any idea we were leading," said Laughlin, who bowls regularly at Chipper's Lanes Horsetooth Center in Fort Collins. "I was hoping we would reach 2,600 (scratch), but I didn't tell anyone because I thought it would jinx us. I didn't know that would be enough, though. Terri was on fire, and Pam bowled really well, too. It was definitely a team effort."
With just 30 days of competition left before the conclusion of this year's Women's Championships (July 4), the members CRC CARSTAR are optimistic and excited to see if they can hold on and claim the first Ruby Division team title in tournament history. The 2010 event marks a new era for the Women's Championships, which now features three divisions, instead of five, and a format that uses 100 percent handicap.
"We'll be on pins and needles for the next 30 days," Laughlin said. "I'm sure we'll be checking the standings every day. We come to this tournament because we like to participate, and it's fun to see different parts of the country. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine being in first place."
Baton Rouge Gals found itself in a similar predicament, needing to add two substitutes. The sub boards on BOWL.com helped team captain, Toni Keller, find Isabell Sivetta and Isabell Bettia. They were joined by Charlotte Stotts and Krystal Trahan.
The chemistry between the team members was nearly instantaneous, and it showed on the tournament lanes.
"I couldn't believe how nice they were, and we developed chemistry very quickly," said Keller, who bowled in her third Women's Championships. "Sometimes, in these situations, people just don't want to talk, but we got along great from the beginning."
Leading the effort for Baton Rouge Gals was Bettia, who rolled a 493 series. She was followed by Trahan (492), Sivetta (471), Keller (456) and Stotts (394).
The team members didn't find out their status as tournament leaders until they arrived to bowl doubles and singles. They had left the venue as soon as they finished their team event because they wanted to rest and prepare for their six games Friday.
"We just happened to glance at the leaderboard, and we saw our team name," said Keller, who bowls at Circle Bowl in Baton Rouge, La. "We were shocked. We knew we did well, but didn't know it was that well."
With their scores in the books, the members of Baton Rouge Gals look forward to seeing where they finish up at the 2010 event.
"We're probably just going to wait and see," Keller said. "It's exciting just to see our names on the leaderboard, so it would be great if we held on."
Teams bowling in the Ruby Division have combined averages between 750 and 899, with handicap based on 100 percent of 900. The Sapphire Division is made up of teams with combined averages of 749 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 750.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.
CRC CARSTAR of Fort Collins, Colo., cruised into the lead in the Ruby Division with a 2,880 total, which included scratch games of 828, 923 and 850 and an additional 93 pins of handicap per game. All That & More of Little Rock, Ark., previously held the lead with 2,809.
Baton Rouge Gals of Denham Springs, La., grabbed the top spot in the Sapphire Division with 2,450. The team's surge into the lead came on scratch games of 781, 748 and 777 and an additional 48 pins of handicap per game. Chick-A-Boom of Bloomfield, N.M., had held the lead since April 20, when it posted a 2,424 total.
CRC CARSTAR's success at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center happened with a supporting cast much different than the one team captain, Donna Laughlin, planned on when she first signed up for the 2010 Women's Championships. Two team members were unable to make the trip to El Paso, leaving her to scramble to fill out the team.
"We had to pick up two subs," said Laughlin, who also reached another milestone by competing in her 30th Women's Championships. "I placed an ad on the sub board on BOWL.com, and that's where we found Faith (Zimmer). We picked up Terri (Lion) during our state tournament. She told us if we needed any help, she would be there."
Lion, who entered the tournament with a 145 average, led the charge with a 584 series. She was followed by Karen Smith (559), Pam Weeks (524), Zimmer (499) and Laughlin (435).
The teammates were aware they were putting together some good games, but were surprised to find out their effort was enough to take over the top spot.
"I thought we had all bowled well, but I didn't have any idea we were leading," said Laughlin, who bowls regularly at Chipper's Lanes Horsetooth Center in Fort Collins. "I was hoping we would reach 2,600 (scratch), but I didn't tell anyone because I thought it would jinx us. I didn't know that would be enough, though. Terri was on fire, and Pam bowled really well, too. It was definitely a team effort."
With just 30 days of competition left before the conclusion of this year's Women's Championships (July 4), the members CRC CARSTAR are optimistic and excited to see if they can hold on and claim the first Ruby Division team title in tournament history. The 2010 event marks a new era for the Women's Championships, which now features three divisions, instead of five, and a format that uses 100 percent handicap.
"We'll be on pins and needles for the next 30 days," Laughlin said. "I'm sure we'll be checking the standings every day. We come to this tournament because we like to participate, and it's fun to see different parts of the country. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine being in first place."
Baton Rouge Gals found itself in a similar predicament, needing to add two substitutes. The sub boards on BOWL.com helped team captain, Toni Keller, find Isabell Sivetta and Isabell Bettia. They were joined by Charlotte Stotts and Krystal Trahan.
The chemistry between the team members was nearly instantaneous, and it showed on the tournament lanes.
"I couldn't believe how nice they were, and we developed chemistry very quickly," said Keller, who bowled in her third Women's Championships. "Sometimes, in these situations, people just don't want to talk, but we got along great from the beginning."
Leading the effort for Baton Rouge Gals was Bettia, who rolled a 493 series. She was followed by Trahan (492), Sivetta (471), Keller (456) and Stotts (394).
The team members didn't find out their status as tournament leaders until they arrived to bowl doubles and singles. They had left the venue as soon as they finished their team event because they wanted to rest and prepare for their six games Friday.
"We just happened to glance at the leaderboard, and we saw our team name," said Keller, who bowls at Circle Bowl in Baton Rouge, La. "We were shocked. We knew we did well, but didn't know it was that well."
With their scores in the books, the members of Baton Rouge Gals look forward to seeing where they finish up at the 2010 event.
"We're probably just going to wait and see," Keller said. "It's exciting just to see our names on the leaderboard, so it would be great if we held on."
Teams bowling in the Ruby Division have combined averages between 750 and 899, with handicap based on 100 percent of 900. The Sapphire Division is made up of teams with combined averages of 749 and below, with handicap based on 100 percent of 750.
Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.