I was saddened by the news of Hazel "Becky" Weyand's death in a tragic fire recently. Becky was an employee at Family Bowlaway, and I had the pleasure of being a co-worker of hers in the early 1990s.

If there was one person you could count on, it was Becky. As the manager of the center at the time, there was no one I could count on to do a great job with the patrons more than Becky. I also saw first hand her involvement in the Girl Scouts, and I could tell she cared a great deal for the groups.

Becky also was active in bowling leagues at the center and was a fixture at the snack counter during the junior leagues.

While talking with Kevin Caparosa, the co-proprietor of the center, last Saturday, it was his saddened look that really brought it home to me how much Becky meant to the center.

It is Saturday mornings when I will miss her the most. Becky was the first person I would talk to while getting a cup of coffee, and it is those conversations about her sons, Doug and Skip, and other bowling issues that I will miss the most.

Eppinger does it againBobby Eppinger of the Fox's Pizza Den League already has an 800 series to his credit this season. After last week's play, you can make it two.Eppinger recorded a 298 game en route to an 846 series. Others bowling well in the league include Carl Ealy, 234-663 and Don Anderson, 234-663.n In the Automotive League, Ed Kellerman topped all bowlers with a 269 game and a 717 series. Kevin Richardson, 247-714 and Jeff Suchonic, 252-669 also bowled well.

Tip of the WeekHave you ever rolled what you thought was the perfect strike ball only to have a single pin remain? What are your thought processes after making what you thought was a pretty good shot?For most people, disbelief is followed by a feeling of anger.If this is your situation, take a deep breath and try these steps:• First, your thoughts should turn to making the spare. There is nothing good gained from missing an easy spare simply because you felt you were robbed.• Next, think about why you left a single pin in the first place. Did you hit your mark? Was your ball speed faster or slower?If you miss your mark even by half a board or if you tossed the ball slower or faster than necessary, you can change the entry angle of the ball into the pocket, which, in turn, causes the pins to fall differently.

Allen back on topAfter not making a single television appearance in the first half of the Professional Bowlers Association season, Patrick Allen returned in a big way, capturing the H&R Block Classic at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.Allen switched bowling ball companies during the tour's two-week break, practiced with equipment from the new company and proceeded to tie a tour record, going 14-0 in match play to win the event.Allen, who earned $25,000 for the win, defeated Pete Weber 233-204 in the semi-finals before knocking off Walter Ray Williams in the final by a 255-247 margin Williams beat Jason Couch 215-200 in the other semifinal.The PBA heads to Medford, Ore., for the Earl Anthony Classic. ESPN will televise the finals at 1 p.m. Sunday.