LYNDORA— Mid Collins and Dorie Seth are teammates in the Sunrise Bowling League at Sherwood Lanes.

And the sun refuses to set on their enjoyment of bowling.

Collins is 91 and has been bowling since age 45. The Sunrise League bowls Tuesday mornings and she also bowls in the Oneida Valley League at Sherwood on Wednesdays.

Seth is 83 and has been bowling since age 73. She has been in the Sunrise League with Collins since she took up the sport.

"My sister got me going and she doesn't bowl anymore,"Seth said. "It's fun, so I keep going. I've got 29 great-grandchildren and 16 grandchildren. I've got to keep up somehow.

"You have to stay active. Sit around in a chair all day and you're done."

It's debatable whether or not Collins is the oldest active bowler in Butler County.

As for Collins and Seth being the oldest active bowling tandem in the county?

"That's a pretty safe bet," said Sherwood and Meridian Lanes owner Tom Fry. "Nobody has them beat."

Besides being the oldest in their league, Collins and Seth are among the most dependable. They never miss a week.

Collins averages 117 as her team's leadoff bowler. Seth is averaging 131 and follows her in the lineup.

"If I don't show up, they know there's something seriously wrong with me,"Collins said.

Collins' husband, who died in 1978, used to accompany her to the lanes.

"He never really liked it, but he knew I did,"Collins said. "This sport gets you out among the people. It's great companionship."

Collins bowled in tournaments when she was younger and remembered bowling a 221 one year to tie for high game in her league.

Seth deals with arthritis when she bowls, "but that doesn't matter," she said.

"You do the best you can. Every now and then, I have a good game. I always have a good time,"Seth added.

Besides bowling, Seth has gone on four missions with her church in recent years, including a clean-up mission in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

"Staying active keeps me young," she said.

While Fry agrees with the theory that bowling is a lifetime sport, he marvels at the weekly loyalty Collins and Seth show to their league.

"It's absolutely fabulous," he said. "When you get older, throwing that ball can be hard on your back, your elbow, shoulder — these two just keep on going.

"I'm sure they're feeling pain from time to time, but you would never know it. They're amazing. They're such upbeat people and fun to be around."

Shirley McCandless is captain of Collins' and Seth's team.

"They are sweethearts,"McCandless said. "They have a great time together and they're good for our league.

"Those two always have a good time and we can always count on them being here."

The Sunrise League has 10 teams and 38 bowlers. Collins said the Oneida Valley League used to be of similar size, but now has only 12 bowlers.

"We don't have the numbers anymore, but we've still got a league," she said.

Collins has a picture of herself bowling in the 1970s.

"I had the form then," she said, laughing. "I try to have the form now. ... Truthfully, I just aim at the pins and let it go.

"You take the good with the bad in this game. I'm just thankful God lets me come here every week. As long as He lets me, I'll keep coming," Collins added.