Ralph Jockel, Jr. hit the jackpot, sort of speak, in the Casino League last Friday night at Sherwood Lanes.

Jockel began the evening with a 299 game, followed by scores of 259 and 269, good enough fpr an 827 series. Jockel, Jr. has one 300 game to his credit.

Low scores at USBC ChampionshipsThe scoring is relatively low at the USBC National Championships in Reno, Nevada. The championships are open to all USBC-sanctioned bowlers, and is the largest tournament participation-wise in the world.Scores of 680 (classified division), and 814 (scratch division) lead the pack, but there is a pretty good drop-down after the leaders.Here are the rest of the leading scores. Scratch doubles: 1,447; team: 3,349; all-events: 2,171. Handicap doubles: 1,207; team: 2,910; all-events: 1,842.

USBC Note: Next year the USBC championships will be held in Baton Rouge, La., from February 11 through July 9.

St. Clairsville TournamentThe annual St. Clair Lanes team tournament is under way in St. Clairsville, Ohio.The event has drawn teams from the tri-state area for many years now and continues to be an annual trek for many in Butler.I just returned from the tourney this past Saturday, and although I did not bowl particularly well, the time spent with many bowling friends was good.I want to thank Jim McCune for again organizing the trip. Openings still exist in the tournament.

Tip of the WeekIn the waning moments of the bowling season, the weather is starting to get warmer.For the final couple of weeks of your season, it is important to keep in mind the changing conditions in a bowling center.It may be a bit warmer in the building, which sometimes causes moisture on the floor that can be transferred to the approaches. Be sure to take a couple of full approach practice slides prior to practice.If you are like me, the warmth in the center can make my thumb swell quicker. Make sure that you are going to get a clean release from your thumb. Now might be the time to take some of the tape out of your thumb hole, or keep a bottle of powder nearby.

Weiss, Allen, Barnes advanceRandy Weiss, Bill Allen, and Chris Barnes all advanced this past week in the PBA Dick Weber PBA Playoffs.Weiss defeated Steve Jaros 191-179 to win the East Conference. Allen beat Jack Jurek 222-198, and Barnes beat Jason Belmonte 260-199. The championships will air this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN.In match one, all three bowlers will bowl one game, with the low score eliminated. The remaining two bowlers will bowl a best-of-two game match. If the players split the two games, the title will be decided with a one-ball roll-off. Up for grabs is a $50,000 prize.

Top scorersArmco C: Ron Henry, 248 (743), Bill Fragale, 248 (719)

Coins: Judy Kennedy, 202 (520)

City League: Ron Lehman, 248 (728), Joe Doria, 259 (706).Ron Willison is a bowling columnist for the Butler Eagle