Fair Lanes

The Young American Bowling Alliance, a nationwide tenpin organization devoted to introducing youths to bowling and to developing their ability, has 18 Master Instructors on its national roster.Cary Pon has just been appointed a Master Instructor for the Mid-Atlantic region."Being named Coach of the Year by the Baltimore-area YABA was great," Pon said. "Being selected as a Master Instructor is unbelieveable."Being chosen as the local Coach of the Year (there are 20 tenpin centers in the local organization)

Bowling is for everyone. Take the story of two duckpin bowlers from Pikesville, both setting records, both part of team victories.Jeff Kaplan lives in Pikesville and bowls on Saturday mornings in the National Duckpin Youth Association league."

Five years ago, when he was 30 years old, George Windisch picked up a tenpin bowling ball; he has no intention of ever puting it down."Right now all I want is to get better," the right-hander said. "I practice every chance I get, 10, 12, 15 games a day. I'm looking forward to getting the PBA card so next month I'll start bowling the regionals."The first PBA regional event for Windisch, a 160-plus-average tenpin bowler, will be in Chesapeake, Va.Born and raised in Overlea, now living in Essex, Windisch credits his improvement in the sport to his brother-in-law, Richard Reese.

Bowling in the Friday mixed league at Bowl America Glen Burnie on April 8, Bonnie Parker put together games of 246, 253 and 266 for a 765 set."As far as I know that's the house record for a woman's series," said Chuck Kelly, manager of the center.Born and raised in Anne Arundel County and presently living in Millersville, Parker bowls in two additional leagues -- the Saturday Mix-Ups and the Bud Scratch Trio at Bowl America Glen Burnie.Last season she averaged in the 190s. Currently that average is 202, her high individual game is 288.What was different on the night she shot out the lights at Bowl America Glen Burnie?

The Baltimore Young American Bowling Alliance Championship Tournament at Greenway Bowl Odenton produced a number of winners from the Baltimore area.The Major Girls Team from Fair Lanes Rolling Road -- Erica Berndsen, Keirston Woods, Lavira Brown and Stephanie Small -- captured first place with a total pin fall of 2,430.The Major Mixed Team from Bowl America Reisterstown consisting of Beth Fastner, Keith Wright, Vlad Ioffe and David Mize dropped 2,708 pins to take first place in that division.

Wednesday, Feb. 8, was a day better suited to the Yukon than Anne Arundel County, a day with ice piled upon ice and temperatures well below freezing.But Dorothy Stewart thought it would be a great day to go duckpin bowling."

John Vananzo started bowling with his mother, Margaret, when he was a teen-ager in an youth/adult league at Fair Lanes Edgewood. They're both still bowling.Margaret Vananzo carries a 163 average and John averages a bit more. Last season he was listed seventh in the Cecil-Harford Counties Bowling Association's Yearbook with 221.John Vananzo bowls in five leagues -- Saturday it's Fair Lanes Edgewood's new league, Fair Lanes on the Fairway; Monday it's the Classic at Country Club Lanes, Wednesday and Friday, Country Club again then on Thursday it's back to Edgewood.

Anybody who follows the PBA knows that many of the pro tenpin bowlers have sponsors. The cost of competing on the pro tour runs about $1,000 per week.Duckpin bowlers don't rack up expenses like professional tenpin bowlers do, but to compete at a higher level in duckpins the expenses of just bowling in several leagues can put pressure on the pocketbook. That's where the sponsors of duckpin bowlers become active.Duckpin sponsors back individuals, teams, leagues and tournaments with both their time and money.

Every Wednesday morning 10 teams of four women gather to bowl duckpins in the Kitchen League at Fair Lanes Southwest. There are the Microwaves, Dirty Spoons, Rollin' Pins . . . the list goes on.The Hot Pots have a season-high game of 535. The Silver Spoons posted a three-game total of 1,701.Just recently three of the bowlers had sets of over 400, and they have a combined total of over 100 years on the lanes.Dot McNeill of Glen Burnie has been bowling for what "seems like forever. I was here when Southwest opened."

Jane Devore of Glen Burnie is easy to spot when you're in a bowling center. She's the woman with the high backswing."I remember one time that the high backswing got me in trouble," she said with a laugh. "I had the ball just about up to its highest point when I lost my grip, and the ball whipped backward and into the scoring pedestal. Later, I noticed that no one was sitting behind me when I bowled."But that high backswing generates enough power to win one of the most prestigious awards in bowling, the Triple Crown.