It's October and the 2020 league bowling season is underway with a new look as bowlers compete in the COVID-19 arena.

Mike Luongo, who now makes his home in Florida, is still a sales consultant for the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Company and pens our weekly bowling tip noted in a recent conversation, “It will be an interesting bowling season and hopefully in a short time the centers that survive this mess will be able to run at full capacity.”

Bill Gleim, owner and manager of the 14-lane Hancock Fox Bowling Center noted that his center is open “and we will be adhering to all the guidelines set forth by New York State including wearing a mask at all times even while bowling.”

Gleim said lane separations and limited capacity will obviously affect the smaller centers a great deal more than the larges houses, and we've opened our floor plan up as much so that we are able to allow for social distancing."

“Reservations will be required for open bowling to allow for ample time to sanitize between groups and control the number of people allowed in the bowling center,” Gleim added.

Other changes in the bowling world are that centers will have to limit the number of kids for birthday parties as Gleim commented, “This is unfortunate as we are a popular place when it comes to throwing parties for the kids, and we usually let them have the run of the place as there is nothing better than a bowling alley filled with a bunch of 9 and 10-year old's having a great time on a Saturday afternoon.”

Gleim said he thinks, “The hardest part for the serious bowler will be the masks....once you get above the recreational aspect and into the competitive side of bowling, it becomes more of a sport and wearing a mask while on the approach and during delivery will be awkward and ridiculously unnecessary.”

Kiamesha Lanes Tuesday Mixed Firefighters league secretary, Trasey Barres, noted that Kiamesha Lanes' ownership has installed plastic lane dividers which extend just up to the score podium and that the league is bowling on alternating lanes and all bowlers are wearing face masks.

Because of state regulations regarding capacity in most leagues are now limited to around 10 teams. No spectators will be allowed in bowling centers at this time.

Fury Make History

The Phoenix Fury overcame a critical error by anchor Liz Johnson to defeat the Silver Lake Atom Splitters and become the first women's team to win a match in PBA League history.

Phoenix won the Carter Division quarterfinals matchup, 2-1, at Bowlero Centreville despite Johnson's shocking miss of the 3-6 spare in the final frame of Game 2. A spare would have given her team the victory immediately.

Instead, the match went to a sudden-death rolloff in the best-of-three points match where the Fury won in the second round when Maria Jose Rodriguez struck after Chris Via left a 10 pin.

The match took place Sunday evening of last week.

The Fury was defeated and eliminated from competition Monday night.

Ed's Outlook

WSOB to resume this week

On March 11, Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus and his team's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder was postponed.

That moment sparked a cascading series of events in the sports world that happened very quickly. While that was going on, the 2020 PBA World Series of Bowling was chugging along in Las Vegas.

It quickly became clear the event would not be able to fully conclude and eventually three of the events were postponed. The final rounds of the Cheetah, Chameleon and Scorpion events were to be rescheduled, while only the PBA World Championship was finished.

The plan to complete those events is now set as the WSOB will officially conclude following the PBA League in Centreville, Virginia this week.

The Round of 16 and Round of 8 for the Cheetah and Chameleon took place last night while those rounds for the Scorpion will be contested Oct. 2. The Round of 16 and Round of 8 for each event will be broadcast live exclusively on FloBowling.

The televised finals for each event will be broadcast on FS1 (United States) and FloBowling (international). The Cheetah finals will air Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m., the Chameleon finals on Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. and the Scorpion finals on Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. All times are Eastern.

Bowling Tip

By Mike Luongo

Bowlers: This week's tip is for any bowler who ends up out of balance at the foul line when delivering a bowling ball.

If you find yourself unable to finish your delivery in a strong balanced position, it may be a result of your follow through.

It is important that when you follow through on your delivery, you do not reach out with your arm, but UP with your follow through.

The reason?

If you reach out, the weight of the ball will pull your upper body forward and may cause you to lose your balance. If you reach up, you can stay planted in a strong, solid position to deliver your bowling ball with accuracy and leverage.

Mike Luongo is a certified IBPSIA Pro Shop Operator, Master Instructor, USBC Silver Level Coach and an Advisor-Special Events assistant with the Storm and Roto Grip Bowling Ball Company. Have a question, email him at mikel@stormbowling.com

LOCAL SCORES

KIAMESHA LANES

Monday Men's

The Monday Night Men's league elected new officers for the 2020-21 season including Paul Minton as president, Allan Jones as vice president and Jim VanAken as secretary-treasurer.

The league consists of nine teams, Boys Nite Out, T 21 Tribe, Fubar, Rock Hill Liquor, Feeney's Weenie's, Americare, Keller Williams, Ellenville Gang and Studio X.

Individual scores for the second week of bowling includes Nick Daroci 231, Jason Jones Jr. 237, Joe Smith 233, Jason Jones Sr. 610, Paul Minton 258, 671, Russell Bivins 233, 622, Dan VanAken a nice second game score of 300 and a 711 series, Bill VanAken 231, 609, Jim VanAken 265, 666, Dave Graham 236, 622, Bob Feeney Sr. 603, Pedro Agapito III a 235, 663, Tom Belgiovene 279, 628, Jonathan Wilhelm Jr. 266, 655, Jaryl Scott 246, 635, Dan Ricco 237, Kevin Stackhouse 248, 631.

Tues. Mixed Firefighter

The Tuesday Mixed Firefighter league has 10 teams and elected the following officers for 2020-21, President Shane Cunningham, Vice President Jon Wilhelm, Secretary Trasey Barres and Treasurer George Kelly. Teams competing this year include Rock Hill FD #2, Beer World, Peasoneo Pizza, Claryville FD, Choo Pro Shop, White Lake FD 1, Monticello Fire Dept. 1, Monticello Aux., Liberty Elks and Rock Ridge Kennel.

Individual scoring included Kyle Giordano 231, 257, 682, Bobby Patel 231, 256, 634, Charlie Tuttle 226, Shane Cunningham 226, Jack Rustic 245, 247, 641, Dave Graham 233, 650, James VanAken 226, 626, William VanAken 230, 607, Kevin Stackhouse 276, 245, 710.

Fri. Night Mixed

Ten teams make up the Friday Mixed league for the 2020-21 season. Secretary-Treasurer is Ryan Lepke.

Individual scoring includes Pedro Agapito III with a 270, 708, Shane Cunningham 232, 633, Jason RH Rogers 230, 255, 638, Kevin Stackhouse 230, 638, Charlie Tuttle 277, 238, 697, Wendy Swan 170.

FOX BOWLING CENTER

Wednesday Independent

Andy Boice 232, 612, Brian Drumm 233, 617, Logan Emerich 233, 632, Ben Green 611, Pete Green 236, 257, 676, Rob Johnson 231, 227, 242, 700, Dan Keesler 224, 266, 708, Donnie Marino 269, 635, Mitch Persbacker 234, 266, 683, Aaron Phillips 228, Zuke Wormuth 228, 638, Scott Wormuth 237, 606.

Thursday Night 3

Ray Cornwall 222, 613, Shane Dirig 621, Dan Keesler 228, 635, Dan Wormuth 234, Scott Winans 252, Rick Mills 608, Dennis Leonard 230, Dan Keesler 235, 635.

Friday Couples

Andy Bullis 236, 644, Shawn Card 229, 610, Dale Conklin 266, 609, Melinda Conklin 195, 500, Janet Ellis 190, Brianna Meres 192, Jay Wormuth 249, 666, Jeremy Wormuth 236, 648.

PORT JERVIS LANES

Thursday Ladies

Carol Flynn 147, 175, 214, 536, Celeste Fitzpatrick 180, 154, 160, 494, Carmela Montaperto 170, 149, 136, 455, Sherri Laird 182, 123, 144, 449, Rachel Rivera 142, 179, 116, 437, Kim DeGarmo 170.

Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the sport of bowling and brings over 60 years of sports journalism experience in writing and compiling the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, bowl a 300 game or 800 series, let Ed know at 845-439-8177, email to bght75@gmail.com, or fax to 845-205-4474. View this column and Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.