What are the odds of achieving certain bowling accomplishments

For the second week in a row, my column has been inspired by a bowling feat in the Sportsman League. Last week, Richie Yates Jr. rolled a huge 795 series, sparking this writer to consider who might be the best bowler in Tiffin. This week, another member of the Monday night league did something I have never done. Tom Wilkinson recorded a triplicate. Ever the model of consistency, he rolled three consecutive 217 games for a nice 651 series. So what are the odds of bowling a triplicate? I suppose they could be calculated by finding out how many have been recorded compared to how many games have been bowled. My guess is that the accomplishment is not that common and certainly not easy. Most bowlers don’t even think about a triplicate until they shoot the same score in the first two games. If you have an average in the 190’s and shoot two straight 125 games, I doubt if the thought lasts long. The best-case scenario is to need a strike on the last ball of Game 3 to get your triplicate. The easiest thing would be to need a gutter ball, but that brings ethics into play. You are supposed to try your best on each and every shot. I recall a bowler needing to throw off on her last ball to get her triplicate. She was bowling on the same team with her mother and when Mom found out she was considering throwing the ball in the channel, well, if looks could kill She did not get her triplicate. Who’s going to argue with Mom! Another difficult accomplishment in bowling is to record an all spare game. You must make sure you don’t throw a strike, but it’s also important to leave something you can pick up. Again, no one considers this achievement until you are late in the game and realize that you have one going. I had one chance at an all spare game (and if you have never seen me bowl, the rarity of the occasion is because I normally throw a whole bunch of strikes) going into the 10th frame. I decided to try for a strike because I didn’t want to intentionally miss the head pin and leave a difficult conversion. So I buried my first ball only to leave a solid ten pin. Disappointment quickly turned into a smile. It didn’t last long though. I missed the spare by a mile! Here are a few other interesting situations: What are the odds of leaving a baby split – the 3-10 for right handers – while bowling? Actually this seems to happen quite often. So what are the odds of converting this spare? You can actually make it two ways. You can throw the ball to the left of the three pin and slide that pin into the 10. A more conventional way is to fit the ball between the two pins having the ball take out both of them. Again, the odds are pretty good that one can convert it. What are the odds of throwing the ball between the two pins and missing both of them completely? I’ve see that happen. There is two full feet between the base of those pins thought it doesn’t look like it from the foul line. You must throw a big hook to do this, but it can be done. It is so much fun to see the face of the bowler who does this. What are the odds of leaving a sour apple? For those of you who may not know, the sour apple is the 5-7-10 split. Actually one must throw a pretty good ball to leave it. There will be no drive on the ball causing it to deflect and miss the five pin, but if the other two are still standing, that’s pretty much a bad break. The odds of converting this difficult spare? I’ve never seen it made as it rarely is left. I have talked to some people who have seen it converted. The odds of covering it must be very high. I would also like to know the odds of leaving three of the four back row pins. I doubt if one could do this even if they tried, but it has been done. I saw a lady in the city tournament a few years ago do just that as the 7-8-10 pins stood proudly. All the women bowling laughed at the mess, including the bowler who left it. Their laughter turned to amazement when the lady fit the ball neatly between the 7 and 8 pins. The 8 toppled sideways and bounced once before hitting the 10 and knocking it over. It was both odds defying and fun to watch. Finally I would like to know the odds of being able to shoot the most unlikely score in bowling. That of course would be a 292 game. To shoot that score one would have to throw the first eleven strikes and then get a two count. I’m not sure which would be tougher. Throwing 11 straight strikes or getting just two pins on your last ball. Apparently, it has been done, but the odds of doing it must be astronomical. What do you say, Vegas? Got some numbers for me? Alley Cats: Wendy Krupp 511, Donna Schriner 491, Kathy Breidenbach 487, Kate Reser 474 and Robyn Wight 466. Imperial-Majorette: Steve Steinmetz, Jr. 597, Steve Steinmetz, Sr. 596, Linda Brookes 449, Phyllis Hyde 435 and Deb Nominee 431. Wednesday Morning: Aaron Sherman 738, Dave Jones 647, Tim Sturgill 639, Tyson Shope 631, Ken Lofton 628, Harry Smith 594, Beth Jones 554, Deb Phillips 467 and Dianne Smith 465. 55 Plus: Jerry Gillig 565, Bob Cleveland 547, Jim Ruess 543, Rick Hanna 534, Paul Gosche 526, Dave Everhart 522, Bill Mizen 500, Bob Reinhart 487, Jim Ferstler 480, Jim Donaldson 473, Ron Mellott 454 and John Ferstler 420. Allen Eiry: Harry Smith 370, Bob Reinhart 334, Ed Wise 318, Denny Emerine 315, Larry Cobb 299, Linda Reinhart 295, Jerry VanBuskirk 291, Jim Donaldson 287, Joanne Elchert 281 and Ken Jones 276. Sportsman: Tom Wilkinson 651 (217 triplicate sweet!), Mark Huffman 607, Rich Yates, Jr. 607, Jerry Meyer 602, Tony Selhorst 599, Lance Davis 596 and Jim Mason 592. Al Stephenson is The A-T bowling columnist. Read his blog at: www.advertiser-tribune.com