Tournament action continues this weekend as the Meridian Bowling Association 49th Annual City Tournament comes to a close. Spaces are still available in each event. You may enter Teams, Doubles and Singles up to thirty minutes before the start of each shift. Entries are accepted on a lane availability basis only. Shift times will be 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

This is the second of six straight weekends of tournament activity on the local level. Next weekend, March 18-19, will find the Southern Scratch Junior Bowling Association will be making its annual stop at Dixie Bowl with action kicking off at noon. This is a scholarship tournament open to USBC Youth bowlers who have purchased a season membership or who wish to pay a one-time participation fee of $5. There are three average divisions to participate in and local youth bowlers, even if not members of the association are encouraged to participate. The entry fee for the tournament is $40. Rules and information are available at Dixie Bowl.

As this is being written, the deadline for entries into the 46th Annual Ladies City Tournament is supposed to be this Sunday. I understand there has been some discussion about extending the deadline, but to this point I have heard nothing concrete. Check with your MWBA directors or officers for clarification. The tournament will roll March 25-26 and April 1-2.

That will be followed by the local Youth City Championships April 8-9

The deadline for entries into Ladies State Tournament is next Wednesday, March 15. Entries postmarked after this date will not be accepted. This year’s tournament will be held at Rivergate Bowl in Natchez.

In local league action, the ladies continue to soar as twenty-one women were able to crack the 200 mark last week. Taneezia Cook grabbed the high series with a 610 while Adrienne Watkins used a 245 game to climb to a 604. Sharon Wade captured the high game for the week with an impressive 257 in the Wednesday Night Mixed league. The long list of high scoring ladies also included Bettye Simmons, Debbie Jones, Martha Bates. Gg Settlemires, Jean Murphy, Diane Travis, Renee King, Beth Shannon, Nonie Embrey, Terrie Scott (who nabbed her highest game ever), Paula Wooten, Robin McNeil, Lisa Rickles, Matar McClinton, Eunice Dillard, Cathy Jones, Mona McGrane and Barbara Holden. We salute all our ladies on another excellent week of bowling.

On the guys side, Danny Otwell continued what I think is his best season ever by blowing away the competition with a rousing set of 268, 225, and 276 for a huge 769 in the Friday Night Mixed league. Tommy Watson strung his first nine strikes to nab the high game by a pin with a 277 on the same pair of lanes. Unfortunately, Tommy came up one pin short of nabbing his first 700 while Barry Woods continued his torrid pace by reeling off a 722 in the Queen City league. Milton Hudson toed the line but couldn’t cross it with his 697 while Jim Broderick Jr and Tyrone McAlpine rounded out the short list of big shooters for the men.

On the junior circuit, Colton Dooley topped the list with a 613 while Danny Shannon added a 235 game and Albert Edmonds chipped in a 226 effort. The girls were led by the shy, quiet Randi Allen and her nice 202 game.

That’s all for this week. Until next week, good luck and good bowling.