Baseball has its fall classic when the stars come out and the fans watch every pitch.
For bowlers and fans of the sport in this area, there is the annual swing of professional bowlers.
The season officially gets under way this weekend with The PBA Central/Midwest Lefeld Implement Classic at Pla-Mor Lanes in Coldwater. The professionals love coming to the area, saying on countless occasions that they love the community and the people who live in and around it.
Where most regional action is just that regional, this event generally draws bowlers that have seen on television.
This season will not be any different as the bowlers take on the Viper pattern on the synthetic lanes of Coldwater. Mike Scroggins will join fan favorites Chris Loschetter, Parker Bohn, EJ Tackett, Rhino Page, Ronnie Russell and Brian Kretzer for this event but they will not be the only touring pros in the house. Ryan Ciminelli, Chris Via, Brian Himmler, Eugene McCune, Anthony LaCaze and Brian Nicodemus, who is a bit of a hero to Wapak Special Olympic folks as is Carlton Chambers, are also scheduled to attend.
It does not end with the touring professionals however. Mr. 900 Earon Vollmar will be competing as well as a wide variety of Midwest regional professionals, including Patrick Dombrowski, who has had some good moments in our area.
The current roster of 80 names includes several of the area’s more recent high school stars led by Anthony Kennard who has already captured PBA regional honors. Toby James, Garret Stout, Blake Spangler, Justin Franzer will all compete on their home lanes as well as Crystal Boyer. Michael Davidson of Versailles in on the list.
Two women collegiate bowlers Torrie Decker and Mary Wells are slotted to compete as well.
Speaking of Scroggins, the native of Amarillo, Texas, just earned the title in a huge PBA50 event in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Area boss Bobby Jakel has advised tourney director Rick Hartings that he is doing what he can to encourage other members of that field to make the Coldwater trip.
The pro-am will be on Friday evening with qualifying rounds beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday.
