Winter League Recap Week 19
After a much-needed break for Christmas and New Year’s, The Hasbeens returned to action, sitting in third place heading into the night’s competition. We needed a strong team effort to hold our position in the standings as we approached next week’s position rounds.
Our opponents, currently in eighth place, were not a team to overlook. Three of their four bowlers average 170 or better, and their young standout carries an impressive 209 average. We expected him to get his numbers, so our strategy was to focus on the other three to make up ground. While we held a 104-pin handicap advantage, that margin could disappear quickly if any of the remaining bowlers caught fire. Their lowest-average player was absent, replaced by a substitute who carries a solid 170+ average in two other winter leagues at this house. We knew the challenge ahead. Frankly, this team belongs in a scratch league—they are far better than their ranking suggests.
Fortunately, the night unfolded in our favor. Several teammates delivered standout performances across the three-game match. Our leadoff bowler, who averages 120, opened with a strong 150 in Game 1. Our most consistent bowler, batting second, posted his first 200+ game of the season in Game 2 with an impressive 203. The veteran on the team also held his own, starting with a 178—32 pins above his average. As for me, I turned in my best game in quite some time, firing a 224 in Game 1.
We won Games 1 and 2, dropped Game 3, but secured the total pinfall victory to earn five points while conceding only two. Handicap helped, but the outcome still required a fight. As usual, the series featured a few mid-set slumps—open frames and splits reared their ugly heads—but we managed to grind it out.
Individually, I finished with games of 224, 183, and 161 for a 568 series, all above my 158 average. In Game 1, I started with the front five, followed by a nine-spare and a strike, before leaving a 1–2–9 for my first open. I followed with an eight-spare in the ninth, then a strike and 6–1 count in the tenth. My second shot in the tenth flushed the pocket but left a stubborn 1–2–4–10. The four pin refused to fall, costing me a clean game and a potential 237. The Phaze II was dialed in early, and I stayed with the line throughout the game.
Games 2 and 3 were more typical for me on this pair. In Game 2, I encountered three splits and failed to convert any of them, managing only five strikes. However, I strung four together late to salvage a respectable 183. I moved left and stayed with the Phaze II longer than I probably should have. After two opens in three frames during Game 3, I switched to the Destiny Hybrid and picked up a couple of marks before another split appeared. I moved farther left, returned to the Phaze II, and found it rolling true again. I briefly tried the Road Warrior in Game 3 but didn’t like the reaction, so I finished the night alternating between the Phaze II and Destiny Hybrid. Game 3 wrapped up at a more typical 161—just three strikes, but only three open frames. The highlight was converting a tough 2–4–7–10 split in the sixth frame.
Position rounds are next week, and we’ll likely face the fourth-place team, depending on how the rest of the league finished. We’ll see how it shakes out.
RIGHT–LEFT–RIGHT — Lanes 3/4
Unfortunately, Tuesday’s momentum did not carry over to Thursday. We were originally scheduled to bowl on my favorite pair, lanes 9 and 10, against the tenth-place team. They only held a 41-pin handicap advantage, so if we bowled our averages and picked up an extra mark or two per game, we expected a comfortable 7–0 win and a chance to maintain our third-place position. That plan quickly unraveled.
We were reassigned to lanes 3 and 4—my least favorite pair—and nothing clicked all night. Whether it’s their position at the lower end of the house or a mental block on my part, I consistently struggle on that pair. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just me. The entire team had difficulty matching their averages. I managed only one game above mine, as did our lowest-average bowler, while our top scorer failed to reach his average in any of the three games. Our opponents, on the other hand, bowled to their averages and then some, earning a 5–2 victory.
One reason these lower-end lanes are unpopular in league play is that the alignment dots don’t match the rest of the house. They’re noticeably off, and I’ve yet to solve the adjustment. As a result, the night became an exercise in trial and error. My shots were close, but uncertainty about my alignment made it difficult to know when—or how—to adjust.
The Phaze II simply didn’t have it working that night. I couldn’t keep it in the pocket during practice, and several shots skidded past the breakpoint. I switched to the GB5, with its additional surface, and was relieved to have it in my locker despite not throwing it in months. It stabilized my reaction enough to keep me competitive early until I transitioned to the hybrid. While the ball changes didn’t boost my scores, they helped me stay in the pocket. Three unusual splits added to the frustration. I finished the night with games of 169, 142, and 143 for a 454 series.
We’ll likely slip a bit in the standings, but we’ll bounce back. Next week we’re assigned to lanes 19 and 20 on the upper end of the house. While several bowlers dislike that pair, I’ve fared well there and am looking forward to the opportunity.
Keep Striking!
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