It isn’t often that a PBA tour event winner produces a human interest story. However, Tom Smallwood’s win in the PBA World Championship at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Ks., was just that. Smallwood defeated PBA player of the year Wes Malott 244-228 to claim the prize.
Smallwood, a 32-year old former unemployed assembly line worker who was laid off from his job nearly a year ago, won his first PBA title, his first major title, a $50,000 first prize and a two-year exemption to continue his PBA Tour career. His win also gave him a chance to compete in January’s PBA Tournament of Champions.
Smallwood said he used the period of unemployment to hone his game. He also said he had no desire to go on the road, but the old saying, “if you’re hungry, you gotta eat” weighed heavily on his mind.
His practice paid off. He entered the PBA Tour Trials in Detroit, where a finish in the top eight meant a full year’s exemption to bowl. When he finished third, he got his exemption and a chance to compete on the tour.
Recently, Smallwood received a phone call from General Motors that offered him a chance to return to work. He politely refused and told the caller he decided to try professional bowling and would be on TV over the weekend. His comment was met with some disbelief, but there was another person who was (is) a bowler and she confirmed his statements.
Smallwood’s victory boded well for his PBA stats. He is currently 1st in earnings with $69,100, tied for 1st with Bill O’Neil for player of the year points with 28 and 4th in tour points with 85,166.
ä Cow Ninja’s (Megan Burwell and Derick Krajci) won the 2nd session of the Bud Light Mixed Doubles that competes at Ten-Pin Alley. They edged out Good Properties (Leonor Davis and Steve Quillen) by a 1/2 point (63-62 1/2).
Going into the position round, Good Properties held a 3 1/2 point lead (55 1/2 - 52) and both teams bowled each other. However, an 11-7 point win by Cow Ninja’s was the difference. Handicap was not a factor as both teams received 13 pins per-game.
Although both teams shot well, and all bowlers were above their average, Cow Ninja’s came away with 1275 pins to 1233 for Good Properties. For Good Properties, Davis had 523 while Quillen had 671. For Cow Ninja’s, Burwell had 523 while Krajci had 710.
Team season high scores are as follows. High scratch game: (1) Good Properties (521); (2) Sons of American Legion (476); (3) Splitz Lounge (474). High handicap game: (1) Good Properties (547); (2) Sons of American Legion (520); (3) Keystone (509).
High scratch series: (1) Good Properties (1303); (2) Keystone (1272); (3-tie) Splitz Lounge and Our Gangs (1267). High handicap series: (1) Dragonfly (1421). Team members are Stephanie Lengyel and Ron Haun Sr. (2) Our Gangs (1375); (3) Sons of American Legion.
Individual men’s season highs are held by the following. High scratch game: (1) Krajci (299); (2) Steve Quillen (289); (3-tie) Ben Ferencik and Frank Negrea (279). High handicap game: (1) Negrea (311); (2) Krajci (299); (3) Steve Quillen (298). High scratch series: (1) Krajci (781); (2) Ferencik (772); (3) Steve Quillen (759). High handicap series: (1) Ferencik (808); (2) Steve Quillen (795), (3) Krajci (787).
Individual women’s season high’s go to the following. High scratch game: (1) Davis 255; (2) Karen Quillen (245); (3) Betty Marshall (243). High handicap game: (1) Davis (302); (2) Marshall (293); (3) Karen Quillen (289). High scratch series: (1) Davis (607); (2) Karen Quillen (603); (3) Marshall (600). High handicap series: (1) Lengyl (795); (2) Marshall (753); (3) Davis (748).
Krajci has high men’s average with 230. Steve Quillen is 2nd with 214 and Ferencik is 3rd with 212.
The women are led by Karen Quillen with 173. Davis is 2nd with 172.93 and Debbie Schuller is 3rd with 172.03.
Gabe D’Angelo is a local bowler and member of the Professional Bowler Writers Association who writes this weekly column for The Herald
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Bowling: Smallwood's PBA win is an inspirational story
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PIAA Track: Hickory's Bell, Lubarski, Regginello grab gold
SHIPPENSBURG — There’s a big difference between being seeded 1st and finishing 1st — Matt Bell can attest to that.
After settling for silver last year, the Hickory High senior put the shot 59 feet, 6 3/4 inches Friday afternoon to garner gold at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
WM to play for D-10 baseball title; GC, Sharon, Sharpsville lose
Four area baseball teams were in action on Friday in the District 10 semifinals as the squads battled to compete for District 10 championships on Monday.
West Middlesex rolled past error-prone Linesville, 8-0, in Class A action at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.
In Class AA, both Sharon and Sharpsville suffered 2-1 losses. The Tigers fell to Saegertown at Ainsworth Field in Erie while the Blue Devils lost to Titusville at SRU.
In Class AAA, the Grove City Eagles were denied the chance to defend their D-10 crown after suffering a 6-3 loss to Warren at SRU. -
Farrell volleyball falls in D-10 semifinals
The Farrell High boys volleyball team suffered a 2-0 (25-15, 25-12) loss to Saegertown on Thursday night in the District 10 semifinals at Meadville Area High’s “House of Thrills.”
“This was the first year we made it out of the first day (pool play) of the playoffs,” said Steelers’ coach Dan Dragicevic. “I’d like to cite my seniors (Eric Demus, Anthony Perkins, Jaylen Chambers and Lawrence Hughes). -
Locals ready to go for gold at Shippensburg
Now that Mercer County is on the map, it’s incumbent upon the area aggregation to chart a course for the ultimate destination — Seth Grove Stadium’s medals stand — during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Led by West Middlesex High sprinter Clay Allen, many Mercer Countians are seeded at or near the top of their respective events for the annual 2-day marathon at Shippensburg University, which commences 9 a.m. Friday. It will continue beginning 9 a.m. Saturday. -
D-10 Playoffs: Local teams go 6-for-6
ä Grove City 1, Harbor Creek 0 — At Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park, what the Grove City Eagles couldn’t accomplish themselves, the Harbor Creek Huskies unwittingly did for them.
Unable to plate runs themselves, Torin Smith scored the Eagles’ only run when teammate Tyler Devine’s seeming inning-ending pop-up to left field was dropped by Harbor Creek’s Chris Merritt in the bottom of the 7th inning of Tuesday’s tourney opener. -
Great year for WM track; local qualifiers listed
It’s been a big year for the Big Reds.
Though there’s no official documentation, the 2011-12 academic year may be the most successful in West Middlesex High’s athletic annals. -
SPORTVIEW: Local names Kroko, Lutz, Kareklas in news elsewhere
IT’S ALWAYS GOOD to hear of former area people who have gone on to athletic success in other areas, or the family of former area residents. Following are a few of those stories:
ä Bob and Betty Kroko of Sharon are avid followers of professional baseball. No, not necessarily the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cleveland Indians like many local fans.
The Krokos keep a close eye on the Austria Major League! -
Petty an all-around great athlete in track and gymnastics
When Mercer County’s contingent convenes at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships this weekend, it will be well represented
Clay Allen, Matt Bell, John Yohman, Johnathan Jacoway, Jeremy Jansco, Nico Zahniser, DeShawn Coleman, Dan Jaskowak, et all, should haul home some hardware. But with all due respect, the aforementioned young men may or may not be best athletes in the area’s aggregation that will assemble this weekend at Shippensburg University. -
Lubarski, Richards, Petty, Allen shine at D-10 Track Championships; Hickory girls, WM boys team champs
Hickory High’s high-jump state champion Lauren Lubarski suffered a severe blow to open her competion at the annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships Saturday at Hickory HIgh Stadium.
She failed to qualify for state in the event she had won the previous year. -
Baseball, softball D-10 playoff pairings
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