The Eleventh Frame by Scott West - Association Manager I am deeply sorry that it has been a bit over a month since I have last banged out a column.  My promotion at the Postal Service and running tournaments every weekend have precluded me from updating this space.  Let me now make amends.... LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES Hope Garrison has only been bowling for a few years, but it seems as though she is always up to the next test.   Her average has improved every season as well as her ability to come through in tournament situations.  This tournament was no exception.  She came within the Team event of replicating Ellen Smith's Grand Slam from last season (Scratch Champion in all four divisions). The team winning the Scratch (and Handicap) category is also worthy of some mention.  The winning team (Chicken Hawk and Her Peeps) hails from Cherokee and had no expectation of winning in the Scratch category.   The level of talent in the team division was the highest it has been since the DWBA/SBA merger and they would have been content to win the Handicap division. Bowling, however, is a very funny thing and having all four teammates step up and bowl some of their best sets of the season all at once is hard to beat.  My wife is a member of this team and I now have to live with the fact that she has more Scratch victories on her resume than me (1-0).   They will represent the Ladies Championship during the Tournament of Champions coming up this June on Chincoteague Island. YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES The most exciting part of this tournament during the last couple of season's is the quest for the $200 scholarships that are handed out in each of the three All Events Divisions.  This year's winners of the USBC SMART scholarships were: Division I: Kiersten Bateman (Ocean) Division II: Tabytha Croswell (Cherokee) Division III: Jeremiah McGill (Cherokee) Special congratulations go to Kiersten, who was showing all of the boys how to get it done with some phenomenal scores.  Her improvement this season has been remarkable and she is quickly getting into the conversation as one of the best girl bowlers in this area. MUST BE IN THE GENES Jeremiah was not the only member of the McGill clan to show off during the Youth Championships.  His younger brother (Logan) won the very first Roll-N-Grow Championship we have ever had.  Their father (Craig) was also our Handicap Singles winner during the Open Championships. The seven Roll-N-Grow kids bowled a two game set with the bumpers up and all of them bowled over their averages.  Presently, Cherokee is the only center certifying this division.  This is a new program that USBC has started this season to allow the bumper kids to enjoy the benefits of USBC membership. TRIPLEHEADER THIS WEEKEND! Friday evening will feature our first Bowl for the Cure benefit tournament at Cherokee.  Jerry and Lynn Cumbey have done a great job securing some lovely chinese auction items for this event.  This is a walk-in event using a glow bowl format.  Youth are invited to participate, but bear in mind that alcohol will be served. We will also be running a non-certified tournament at the same time in order to allow the entire community to get behind this great cause.  All proceeds will go toward USBC/Susan G. Komen Foundation Bowl for the Cure in order to advance breast cancer research and programs.  I invite all of you to attend. Saturday will feature the Seniors Championship and we will have a record 85 bowlers participating.  Special thanks go to Ellen Smith and Eastern Shore Lanes for the tireless promotion of this event.  I did not anticipate the need for a second squad owing to past turnouts and will be scheduling 11 bowlers on some pairs (the pairings are on the front page of the site).   Sunday will feature the Lower Shore Cup Matches (also at ESL).  The matches will start at 10 AM and will feature the best bowlers that this association has to offer.  They will be bowling scratch in three different formats (Singles, Scotch Doubles and Baker Team format) in order to win the cup and bragging rights for their home center.   Cherokee is the defending champion.  Spectators are encouraged. Entry forms are now in the centers for the MD USBC Ladies Championship (to be held at Cherokee) and the Open Championship (Country Club Lanes in Baltimore - a fine center).  Get your entries in soon in order to ensure your choice of squad times.  I am hopeful that the MD USBC Youth Championship entry forms will be in the centers soon. Until next time, fill those frames.  Most leagues are getting into their stretch runs and this is the time to make some noise in the standings.