match 3

My 3rd match in the Battle at Little Creek was against Brian LeClair. The lanes seemed to be playing a bit tighter for me compared to the first two rounds. I used the same ball playing about the 6th board at the arrows. Brian was playing left of the 2nd arrow going out to about 3 or 4.

I went high in the 1st frame leaving the 6-7-10 which I almost picked up. Brian started with a double. I came back with a strike and then a solid 10. Brian left solid 10's in the 3rd and 4th frames. I doubled in the 4th and 5th. Brian left a solid 4-9 which he missed in the 5th. He then struck in the 6th. I struck in the 5th and then left a 6-7-10. I went for the spare and just missed the 6 pin. Brian added 2 more strikes. I left a 4 pin and then struck. Brian struck in the 9th and 10th to lock up the game. I left a couple of 4 pins to shoot 191 to Brian's 230.

In the 2nd game Brian started with a solid 10. I went a bit high leaving the 4-7 and struck in the 2nd. Brian doubled. I came back with a weak 10 and a solid 10. Brian added 2 more strikes. I struck and then left a 4-7-10 on a shot which I thought I threw pretty decent. Brian added another strike before leaving a 10 pin. I decided that I didn't really like my reaction so I tried a few different balls and moved in and hooked it. I left a 2 pin and a weak 10. Brian struck and left the 3-6-10 which he made. I left a light 7 pin and then struck out in the 10th frame playing around 9 at the arrows going out to about 2 or 3. Brian struck and then left the 6-10 to shoot 239 to my 195.

In the 3rd game I started with a strike. Brian started with a strike and a solid 9. I added 2 more strikes. Brian struck and then left the 4-6-7-10. I came back with a solid 9 and then struck. Brian doubled. I struck and the left a solid 10. Brian left a solid 10 and struck. I struck and then left a light 4 pin. Brian struck in the 9th and the 1st shot in the 10th before leaving a weak 10 to shoot 214. I needed count to win the game and went light for a strike followed by a solid 10 to shoot 228.

Brian started the 4th game with a strike. I started with a 4-6-7 when I moved a pinch right (after going light in the 10th) and tugged the ball. I struck in the 2nd. Brian added 2 more strikes. We both struck until the 8th frame when I left a weak 10. Brian struck on his next 2 shots to basically win the game and match. I struck in the 9th and 10th before leaving a 4-9 to shoot 245. Brian left a rip 7-10 to shoot 266. Brian bowled a very good match. I didn't quite have the same reaction that I had the first two rounds. It seemed that when I was going up the lane in the first two games the ball would hook to hard if I got it a pinch right. I knew that Brian had great reaction because he was hitting flush almost every shot, so I tried to hook the ball and get closer to where he was playing. I had a little bit better reaction, but it wasn't enough.

WR 72 X9/ X X X719/ X9/9 191
BL X X9/9/8- X X X XX8- 230

BL 9/ X X X X X9/ X7/X8/ 239
WR 8/ X9/9/ X729/9/9/XXX 195

WR X X X9/ X X9/ X9/X9/ 228
BL X9/ X62 X X9/ X XX9/ 214

BL X X X X X X X X X81 266
WR 72 X X X X X X9/ XX81 245

I had 25 strikes in 45 shots (No strikes when missing the pocket)
I missed the pocket 6 times (only once when I was trying to get lined up differently).
My strike % on pocket hits was 25 of 39 or 64% which is the lowest of the 3 rounds I bowled here.
I had 4 opens which were all splits (6-7-10, 6-7-10, 4-7-10 & 4-6-7).

Brian 30 strikes in 43 shots (No strikes when missing the pocket)
He missed the pocket 4 times (Once in the 2nd shot of the 10th frame in the 1st game when he threw the ball down the middle).
His strike % on pocket hits was 30 of 39 or 77%.
He had 3 opens. All 3 of them were splits (4-9, 4-6-7-10 & 7-10) 2 of which were pocket shots. Brian hit the pocket very well and could easily have had 50 to 100 pins more for his total pins, but he got tapped a bit even though his carry was better than mine. I had more off flush strikes (I think) to go along with my more taps. Oh well.

Walter Ray