Quillen and Carroll team up to capture Beiny Mixed Doubles title

May 10, 2008 05:38 pm

— CC Games and Music (Karen Quillen and Chuck Carroll) came from the 3rd seed and defeated top-seeded Nittany Pub and Grill (Leonor Davis and Bruce Wheeler) 464-352 to win the 2007-08 championship of the Beiny Mixed Doubles League that competes at Thornton Hall Lanes. CC Games earned $900 while Nittany Pub received $700.
The stepladder finals began with Pick-A-Bone (Rosie O’Donnell and Jerry Garlock) edging Thornton Hall Lanes (Lee Bodien and Joe Tissler) 403-399. Pick-A-Bone received 28 pins handicap, while Thornton Hall got 42.
The game was nip and tuck throughout, with Thornton Hall only trailing by 6 (340-334) going into the 9th frame. However, splits in the 1st and 9th by Thornton Hall may have been the difference. Bodien had 158 for Thornton Hall, while Tissler managed a 199. Their 5th place finish was worth $200.
For Pick-A-Bone, O’Donnell (recovering from a foot injury) shot 166, while Garlock hit for 209. Garlock’s game included strikes in the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th.
Pick-A-Bones’ win advanced them to the 2nd match against CC Games, and CC Games prevailed 402-343. The match was even as both teams received 28 pins handicap.
CC Games opened the game with a 6-7 split, while both members of Pick-A-Bone marked. By the 4th frame, CC Games had a small 16-pin lead (146-130). Both O’Donnell and Quillen opened in the 5th, and CC Games still clung to their lead. However, Quillen threw strikes in the 6th and 7th and those by instrumental in creasing CC’s lead to 22 pins (247-225).
But, it was Carroll’s turn. After a 7th frame open, he threw three-in-a-row and filled the 11th and 12th for a final score of 201. Quillen struck in the 9th, but failed to mark in the 10th and ended with 173.
For Pick-A-Bone, it was the classic tale of “good hits, no carry.” Garlock was consistently in the pocket, but left 6 ten-pins. However, the most costly one came in the 9th when he failed to convert.
Garlock ended with a 175 and O’Donnell netted a 140. The team earned $300 for their 4th-place finish.
CC Games then advanced to the semifinal match against Sharon American Legion (Deb Rowe and Trevor Popovitch). This may have been the most exciting match of the finals as CC Games managed a 467-458 win. Once again, handicap played little if any role in the score as CC Games received 28 and Sharon Legion got 32.
Sharon Legion got off to a great start as Rowe started with a double, but opened in the 3rd for a total of 57. In the meantime, Popovitch got locked in and threw the first 6 and it appeared as though the game would be a no contest.
But, CC Games answered the challenge. Quillen had strikes in four of the five opening frames (she missed a seven pin in the 2nd) and Carroll kept pace with marks, including strikes in the 4th and 5th and were just 20 pins behind (233-213).
The teams mirrored each other in the 6th and Sharon Legion still held on to their slim lead (272-252). However, disaster struck the Legion in the 7th.
After throwing the first six, Popovitch left a 10-pin in the 7th and failed to convert. For CC Games, both Quillen and Carroll marked and the game was tied at 301.
Once again, Carroll stepped to the front. He finished the game with six-in-a-row for 246, while Quillen shot 193 for a scratch total of 439. With their handicap, they ended at 467.
In spite of Carroll’s finish, Sharon Legion was not locked out. Rowe marked out and ended with 181 and it all rested on Popovitch. He marked in the 8th and struck in the 9th and 10th. A strike in the 11th would have given them the match.
However, Popovitch was also the victim of bad luck. He threw a great shot, but left the 10-pin, ending with 245 and losing the match. Sharon Legion earned $500 for their 3rd-place finish.
The championship game featured CC Games against top-seeded Nittany Pub, and it was all CC Games as they posted a 464-352 win. Once again, the handicap was close as CC Games continued with 28 while Nittany Pub received 22.
For CC Games, Quillen led the way with a 243, while Carroll chipped in with 193. Quillen’s 243 game featured 8 strikes including five in a row (frames 7 through 11). Carroll managed strikes in the 3rd and 4th and the 8th 9th, and 10th.
For Nittany Pub, it was a reversal of fortunes. Davis who averaged 172 during the year shot 180, but Wheeler fell upon hard times. A 200 average bowler, he could only manage 150.
As evidenced by the payouts, this is one of the best money leagues in the valley. There will be vacancies for next year. Those interested should contact Thronton Hall Lanes at 724-981-8528.

Gabe D’Angelo is a local bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Writers Association who writes this weekly column for The Herald

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