round match play

Hi, My 1st match in Latham was against Mike Scroggins. Mike is a very accomplished regional player to go with his lone National title. I decided to play the lanes similar to the way I had bowled most of the tournament, hooking the ball from 12 to 2. Mike started with a shot threw the beak and a spare. I started with a bucket which I made and then a strike. Mike had a strike and then a 7 pin. I doubled and then a 10 pin. Mike threw 2 strikes with the 2nd one being right through the nose. I came back with a strike and a rip 7-10. Mike went a pinch high and left a 6-7 in the pocket. He missed the spare and came back with a strike. I left a 10 pin and then struck. Mike added 2 more strikes. I had a light strike in the 9th and then struck the first shot in the 10th before leaving a 10 pin. Mike needed a strike to win the game and left a solid 7 pin. I won the game 216-215.

I started the 2nd game with a solid 10 pin. Mike started with a double. I added another solid 10 pin and a strike. Mike went high leaving the 4-6-7-10 which he knocked down 2 more pins. Mike came right back with a solid 9 pin. I had a solid 4 and a strike. Mike had a solid 7 pin followed by a strike. I had another solid 4 pin and another strike. Mike added 2 more strikes. I had a 10 pin and a strike. Mike left a 6 pin but struck out in the 10th to lock up the game. I left a solid 7 pin to shoot 199 to Mike's 220.

In the 3rd game Mike started with a strike. I decided to move out and play a more direct line up around 8. I struck and then left the 2-4-5 which I spared. Mike went high and left the 4-6. He came back with a strike. I left a solid 10 and then after moving a board right on the left lane I got a strike. Mike added 2 more strikes. We both added strikes up until the 10th frame when I left a solid 10 followed by another 10 pin. Mike struck out to win the game 268-247. In the 8th frame Mike got a nice break by tripping the 6-7-10 for a strike.

We both started the 4th game with 5 baggers. Mike tripped the 6-7-10 in the 4th frame in the middle of his string. He left a 7 pin in the 6th frame. I left a weak 10 in the 6th frame when I didn't lift the ball very well. I struck in the 7th frame. Mike left a solid 10 pin and then struck. In the 8th frame I threw the ball bad and left the 3-6-10. On the spare attempt I missed a bit left of where I wanted and chopped the 3 off of the 6 and 10. This gave Mike the upper hand. He added a strike in the 9th frame and needed a mark with count to lock up the win. Mike left a solid 7 pin in the 10th frame and then missed it. I was very surprised. I needed 2 strikes to win the game and remain in the match. I threw the ball great and left a solid 8 pin. I was not happy. Since the game and match was over I didn't give much of an effort at the spare and missed it. I felt like I bowled a very good match and I was beat. Mike bowled well, but I think I hit the pocket more times than him. For some reason I couldn't carry the first 2 games and then a couple of inopportune shots cost me in the last 2.

MS 9/ X9/ X X81 X X X9/X 215
WR 6/ X X9/ X819/ X XX9/ 216

WR 9/9/ X9/ X9/ X9/ X9/X 199
MS X X629/9/ X X X9/XXX 220

MS X81 X X X X X X XXXX 268
WR X7/9/ X X X X X X9/9 247

WR X X X X X9/ X71 X9- 213
MS X X X X X9/9/ X X9- 235

I had 25 strikes in 43 shots. (I had no strikes where I missed the pocket, but I did have a couple of strikes which were really light) I missed the pocket 3 times.
My strike % on pocket hits was 25 of 40 or 63%.
I had 3 opens. 1 split (a rip 7-10), the chopped 3-6-10 and the 8 pin when the match was done.

Mike had 33 strikes in 45 shots. (he tripped the 6-7-10 at least 2 times plus one strike when he went through the nose) He missed the pocket 6 times. (3 of those were strikes)
His strike % on pocket hits was 30 of 39 or 76%.
He had 4 opens. 3 splits (one in the pocket - the 6-7, the 4-6-7-10, and the 4-6). He missed the 7 pin in the 10th frame of the last game which would have locked up the match.

I realize that there are many factors to bowling. But for some reason a little luck is needed and I haven't been getting much since my incredible run last fall. Hopefully I can get some breaks in the next few tournaments to turn this winter tour around. Walter Ray