Community Sports
February 16, 2010 - Daily Press
By Ed Richards

Chris Bolosan hasn't forgotten the numbers.

"A few hundredeths of a point," the 2002 Woodside High School graduate says.

That minuscule amount kept him from making the 2007-08 Hampton Roads USBC Bowling Association men's all-star team in his first year competing in the adult leagues.

That near-miss was tough to take, but he persevered. And during the 2008-09 season, the Newport News resident not only made the five-member all-star team, but he also emerged No. 1.

It wasn't by a few hundredths of a point, either. Bolosan posted the highest composite average of 228.81 to earn the top spot by an impressive margin. Closest to him came 16-time all-star T.J. McKinney with a 225.87 average, followed by Brian Franklin, 222.17; Tim Beckwith, 220.76; and Carey Schultz, 220.61.

"It felt pretty good leading the all-star team because there are lots of good bowlers in this area like T.J. and Brandon Smith," Bolosan said.

He and other members of the team will be honored at the "Bowlers Night Out" awards banquet March 27 in Newport News.

To be eligible for the team, association members had to bowl at least 150 games in two centers with at least 75 games in each house.

Without question, the 2008-09 season was Bolosan's best. He rolled in four leagues on the Peninsula, compiling a career-high average of 232 at Sparetimes.

When asked if he had set his sights on the all-star team from the start, the 25-year-old Bolosan said: "Not really. I just like to compete."

To make the year even better, Bolosan also earned a spot on the Norfolk USBC Bowling Association all-star team, finishing second with a 223.28 average.

Before moving up to the men's leagues, he made the youth all-star team six times.

While not bowling, the 2008 Old Dominion University graduate spends a lot of time drilling balls while working in the pro shops at Sparetimes and Classic Lanes.

Franklin made the elite team for the eighth time. It was Beckwith's third selection and Schultz's second.

For the seniors division — ages 55-and-older— Greg Tschupp of Suffolk headed the local all-star team with a composite average of 217.55.

He was joined by Randy Proctor with a 213.01 average; Fred Mullins, 212.21; Michael Thomasson, 210.06; and Chalbert Burchett, 206.76.

For eligibility, seniors had to bowl at least 132 games in two centers with at least 66 games in each house.

"It was a good year," the 57-year-old Tschupp said. "It's the first time I tried to make it."

To become eligible, he made it a point to bowl in more than one house. That's something he hadn't done in several years after moving from Newport News to Suffolk.

He amassed averages of 219 at Century Lanes and 216 at Sparetimes.

It was Mullins' fifth time on the seniors' team, Burchett's fourth, Proctor's third, and Thomasson's first.

Community Sports
JAN 19th, 2010 - Daily Press
By Ed Richards
Allison West of Hampton had to wait a long time, but she finally rolled a perfect game.

The 300 came Friday night in the New Dimensions League at AMF York.

"I've been bowling for about 20 years, but I never thought it would actually happen," West said Sunday night about bowling the 300.

The closest she'd come to a perfect game was a 268 at Classic Lanes about five years ago.

West, 29, finished with a 651 series after opening with games of 181 and 170.

"My first two games were way off," she said. "I haven't been bowling like I used to, so I've gone back to the basics and have been trying to re-train myself."

West, carrying a 177 average at Classic, has a career-high series of 717. ...

Art Reynolds of Hampton, one of the top senior bowlers on the Peninsula, made another impressive showing Wednesday at Sparetimes. The 57-year-old rolled games of 249, 300, and 223 for a 772 series in the Seniors League.

It fell short of his career-high series — an 803 in 2004. In that same year, Reynolds also rolled a pair of 300s.

Among his recent honors are making the 2007-08 Hampton Roads USBC senior all-star team.

Community Sports
December 15, 2009 - Daily Press
By Ed Richards
After more than 30 years in bowling, Renee Brubaker finally achieved an elusive feat. She rolled her first 300 game.

The Hampton USBC Women's Bowling Association Hall of Famer had come close to a 300 in the past with games of 296, 298 and 299 but couldn't complete the dream game. In the Monday Majors League last week at Sparetimes, she did.

It came on a night when the 52-year-old Yorktown resident wasn't sure she'd even be able to bowl. That's after slamming her middle finger in a desk drawer at work a few days earlier.

"It was very, very sore but I taped it up," she said.

And on she went, opening with a 218 game.

Then came the perfect game, which almost eluded her again.

"My last ball was ugly. I tugged it big-time and went Brooklyn, but I got just enough to carry the pins," she said. "Before throwing the last ball, I was very nervous, and after throwing it I thought I'd messed up again."

But luck was on her side this time.

"I couldn't believe it. It was a big relief. I'd basically given up on bowling a 300. I said, nah, I'm too old to ever get it now."

Brubaker, a member of the local women's all-star team for a record 18 consecutive years before falling short during the 2007-08 season, closed out her memorable night with a 192 for a 710 series. ...

At Century Lanes, Joe Satterfield and Josh Garner stirred some excitement. Satterfield shot games of 264, 234 and 300 for a 798 series in the Friday night Satellite League and Garner connected for a 237-248-300—785 series on Dec. 6 in the Warriors League. It was Satterfield's second 300 in the past year. He bowled his first one Aug. 27 in the same league. ... At AMF York, Dennis Gouveia zoned in for a 300 in the His and Hers League Nov. 30 and Frank Fregulia came through with a perfect game on Nov. 30 in the Anheuser-Busch League.

Community Sports
December 8, 2009 - Daily Press
By Ed Richards
Chris Bolosan of Newport News, off to a so-so start this bowling season, stepped up his game last Tuesday with his seventh career 800 series.

Bolosan, 25, began the night in the Sparetimes Trios League with 10 consecutive strikes before leaving the 9-pin on his 11th ball and settling for a spare and a 289 game.

He kept bowling over the pins with games of 267 and 262 for an 818 series. His highest series, an 833, came last March at Sparetimes.

After the 289 and 267 games, Bolosan said he wasn't even thinking about topping his all-time series high.

"I knew I had a chance but I was just out there bowling and trying to help my team," he said.

Bolosan, carrying a 220 average in the Trios League, didn't have much to get excited about this season before last week.

"I've only been bowling OK," he said, "but I'm hoping to get into a late run."

In January, he got on a remarkable roll at Sparetimes for what is believed to be a first on the Peninsula — bowling back-to-back 800 series (822 and 812) on the same night with a 300 game topping each of those series.

Daily Press Nov 10th - by Ed Richards
Mike Butts of Hampton has been mowing down the pins with regularity this season at Sparetimes. He'd shot series of 764, 779 and 791 but couldn't strike for the big one — an 800.

His fortunes changed last Tuesday. He shot games of 279, 279, and 269 for a sizzling 827 set in the Tuesday Trio League.

"I'd only been one or two shots away from an 800," he said Sunday night.

It was his sixth career 800 set, but his first since an 812 at Hidenwood in January 2008. His career high is 833, which came five years ago at Sparetimes. Butts, 36, said he's probably having his best year on the lanes since he started bowling 31 years ago. At Sparetimes, he's especially been on a tear in the Trio League, where he's carrying close to a 239 average.

He also bowls in an early-shift league Tuesdays at Sparetimes, averaging around 228 in the Langley Mixed League.

Two weeks ago at Sparetimes, he came close to bowling his eighth perfect game, but had to settle for a 299 after leaving the 7-pin on his final ball.

Others having an exceptional night at Sparetimes last Tuesday were Mike Holtam and Kenny Martin. Both shot 300 games.