PBA takes a holiday break

December 23, 2008 Last Updated: December 23, 2008 12:08 PM Sports

The Professional Bowlers Tour will take a break and not return until the Jan. 11 telecast from the National Bowling Stadium on ESPN at 1 p.m.

Two weeks ago. Rhino Page, last year's Rookie of the Year, defeated Wes Malott 197-189 to win the Lumber Liquidators Championship in Baltimore. Jodi Woessner captured her second PBA Women's Series crown, defeating Carolyn Dorin-Ballard 247-189.

Joe Bowler is making his approach on lane one. Jim Bowler is running out a shot on lane two and comes in contact with Joe Bowler. Joe Bowler rolls a strike. Should there be a dead ball declared or is Joe Bowler allowed to take the strike? Answer at the end of the column.

It was the final week of the 1972-73 season. Up until this point, the county all-time sanctioned high series was held by Ron Brandon, who rolled a 769 series during the 1964-65 season, the same season that Brandon set the high average mark of 210.A young man named Ray Henry was challenging Brandon's average record, but rolled some so-so triples and was off the pace. But on the final night of the Classic League at the new Sherwood Lanes, Henry rolled games of 263, 257 and 265 for a 785 series. Henry ended up with an average of 208. Steve Kosar was second in average at 199.

A frustrating leave for a right-hander is a four-pin. It's the six-pin for a lefty. It looks as though you have made a good shot, only to leave the single pin.The fact is, your bowling ball came into the pocket a little too high. If you leave one during a game, don't make an immediate move with your feet or adjustment with your shot. Chances are you just missed inside of your target.If you are sure that you are hitting your target and continue to leave the four or six, then a couple of simple adjustments may be made. The first could be shifting your feet by half a board to the left for right-handers or to the right for lefties. Keep your same target out on the lane. This should get your ball to skid a little farther down the lane before getting into the hook and roll sequence.The other adjustment would be with ball speed. Begin the ball a little higher in your starting position and keep the target the same. The extra speed also will delay the hook.

• City League: Anthony Willison 268 (738), Dan Pflueger 275 (719), Rich Marcucci 269 (704)• Travel League: Brian Marcellus 265 (960 quad), Chris Creeks 245 (932), Todd Nelson 254 (918)• Armco A: Larry Wagner 238 game, Rick Bowser 591 series• Firearms: Shane Ozella 256 (674), Skip Weyand 239 (685), Kiersten Cerminara, 184 (494)• Kelly Auto: Ron Kummer 256 (626), Dan Manning 248 (674)• Coins: Vickie Stevick 179 game, Eleanor Hackett 497 series• Armco C: Jack Elliott 280 (685), Chuck Dight 255 (682), Ben Lutz 257 game.• Buckhorn: Mike Fair 266 (698), Jim Ford 266 (671), Tony Scott 243 (650)• Automotive: Tony Pizer 246 game, Gary Swidzinski 671 series, Wayne Blank 245 (670).

Joe Bowler has the option to take the resulting pin fall or call a dead ball, enabling him to take another shot.Ron Willison is the bowling columnist for the Butler Eagle.