Four weeks of the Spring 2011 VML Bowling league are in the books now and the standings offer up some surprises. One of last season's powerhouse teams is off to a slow start while a low team from two seasons ago has completely reversed its fortunes and has racked up big wins. The team atop the standings increases its record thanks to big output from its youngest bowler. All in all, the first month has been a roller coaster and who knows where it'll take us next.For fun, we've decided to implement a weekly poll on the site. Questions will range from the silly to the serious. You'll find them on the right hand side of the page just below our (fake) banner ads. Look for a new question each week! Just FYI, you'll need to be logged in to cast your vote. In the event that you don't have an account on the site or you've simply forgotten your login information, drop Ken a line and he'll get you set up.So, with all that said, let's get into how everyone did...The first matchup of the week pitted No Pinheads against surging Tonganoxie Doglift. Needing some redemption after last week's 0-4 performance, the Pinheads seemed poised to earn it back after winning Game #1 with Aubrey Moren's 474 series leading the way...but soon found themselves lost in Tonganoxie. Behind Doglift's Shane Pfaffly hoisting a 460 series, the team avenged their Game #1 loss and walked away with a 3-1 victory. While neither team moved at all in the standings, 4th place Tonganoxie cut the gap between themselves and third place immensely. No Pinheads continues to look for answers in 6th place.Talk about an impressive start. With the second best record in the league now, Eat Split and DI continues to add to their win record – this week at the hands of opponents Touch My Vlad. With AJ Hofmann putting up the best series for Eat – a 401 – the team easily took Game #1 and scraped by with a 2-pin victory in Game #2. Game #3, however, was all Vlad as Chris Able kept his team from getting swept, compliments of his 388 series. Eat Split and DI moves up to 2nd place with a 10-6 record while Vlad remains in 8th at 4-12.The Clash of the Titans took place down on Lanes 17 & 18 where the first and (former) second place teams faced off for the first time this season. With a personal best 649 series from this week's #1 Power Ranked bowler Ian Goetz, the reigning league champs S*I*C*K added four more wins to their record and extend their lead over the league to five games. Istanbowl Turkey, led this week by Angela Bradford's 540 series, simply couldn't muster the firepower necessary to derail the camouflage-clad keglers. Istanbowl falls to third with their 9-7 record.The final matchup of the evening included a cast of subbing characters. With their anchor out soon for surgery, the bowlers of Dolls and Balls tried out a few familiar faces on the lanes but it was teammate Kelly Andeson who pushed the team to a 3-1 matchup win with her Most Valuable Bowler performance. While Ryan Doll led the team with his 537 series, it was Kelly that sparked the team to the victory over SucamaBOWLS Tuesday night. New sub Neil Rieger made his league debut in a big way, rolling a 567 series. Sadly for SucmaBOWLS, the output was only good enough to secure one win. Dolls and Balls remains in 5th while Sucma clings to 7th place.Six bowlers landed into The 200 Club this week. They include: Angela Bradford (210), Carl Goetz (226), Ian Goetz (222, 254), Ken M. Wilson (211, 224), Neil Rieger (202) and Seth Gunderson (223).See you next Tuesday!

THIS WEEK'S MVB Kelly Anderson Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Ian Goetz Runner Up: Seth Gunderson	#1 H2H BOWLER Seth Gunderson Runner Up: Kelly Anderson
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "Were those...elephant balls?!?" Seth Gunderson, to Ken after witnessing Scoot's wardrobe malfunction.

Typically after three weeks of bowling, averages stop going through wild swings as scores settle down. We also usually get a good glimpse at which teams mean business by their initial win records. Currently, four teams can claim winning records. While the teams in first and second place are made up of former and reigning champions, the two teams in third and fourth are off to a great start in the 2011 Spring league. This season should prove to be an interesting one if this continues.The first matchup of the night pitted two powerhouse teams against one another. Striking first, Dolls and Balls' anchor Ryan Doll used his 531 series to come away with Game #1 over opponents Istanbowl Turkey. Game #2, however, proved to be the Turkey's turning point as they routed the Balls by 85 pins. Even though Dolls and Balls took Game #3 they simply could not overcome the difference from their earlier loss and split the series 2-2. Istanbowl's Angela Bradford provided the most firepower for her Turkeys, ending the night with a 503 series. The Turkeys remain in second place with their 9-3 while the Dolls slip one spot into fifth behind their 5.5-6.5 record.One pair of lanes over, current standings leaders S*I*C*K continues to be the team to beat as they refused to oblige SucamaBOWLS. With Carl Goetz continuing to have his best season of all time – this week adding another 600 series beneath his belt, S*I*C*K added another four wins to their win record to improve to 11-1 on the season. Sub Mike Berlin provided the most fire power for SucmaBOWLS, making his league debut with a 429 series, but it simply wasn't enough to derail the competition. SucmaBOWLS drops down one notch into 7th place with a record of 3-9.The big story of the evening, however, took place down on Lanes 19 & 20. After getting off to a slow start, the members of No Pinheads looked to add some more wins to their record. Thanks to a stellar performance by opponents Eat Split and DI, they'll have to keep on looking. With this week's Most Valuable Bowler AJ Hofmann leading the charge with his 453 series, Eat Split handed the Pinheads their first four game loss since Week #11 of the Spring 2010 league. Despite Pinhead Phil Schroeder putting up a 502 series, nothing could derail Eat's monstrous night. The wins propel Eat up two spots into 3rd with a record of 7-5 while No Pinheads plummet three spots into 6th behind their 3.5-8.5 record.The final matchup of the evening almost saw Tonganoxie Doglift pulling off the third sweep of the night, falling short by the narrowest of margins. Dropping Game #1 to opponents Touch My Vlad by a single pin, Doglift promptly bounced back behind this week's #1 Power Ranked bowler Russell Madsen. Madsen's 471 series reversed his entire team's fortunes as they stormed back to end the night with a 3-1 matchup victory. Chris Able led Vlad with a 425 series in the losing effort. Making the largest leap in the standings, Tonganoxie lifts itself three spots into 4th place with their 6-6 record while Touch My Vlad remains in 8th with a record of 3-9.Only four bowlers dropped by The 200 Club this week to enjoy a cold one: Carl Goetz (224), Ian Goetz (202), Ken M. Wilson (226) and Scott Murdock (201).See you next Tuesday!

THIS WEEK'S MVB AJ Hofmann Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Russell Madsen Runner Up: Lawrence Prak	#1 H2H BOWLER Ian Goetz Runner Up: Russell Madsen
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "I haven't seen a longstanding regime fall like that since, well, me." Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, after reading on Twitter that No Pinheads got swept.

Each and every season of the VML Bowling league, Week #2 seems to be the wildest. Averages set in the initial week are put to the test as each and every bowler must do his or her best to stay on pace from their initial output. While a few historically remain basically the same, the vast majority radically raises or lowers their average. This season was no exception. And while the same two teams from last week remain tied atop the league standings, this is shaping up to be an interesting season.The first matchup of the night found Tonganoxie Doglift going up against opponents SucmaBOWLS. After taking Game #1 behind lead off bowler Orion Kinkaid and his 460 series, the bowlers of Sucma fell victim to this week's Most Valuable Bowler – Lawrence Prak. Prak, with his triplethreat of above-average games, combined with fellow Doglift Russell Madsen's team leading 399 series, led the charge en route to a 3-1 comeback victory. While the wins keep Tonganoxie in 7th place, a mere half a game separates them from moving into third. SucmaBOWLS fall one spot to sixth place also with a record of 3-5.After a perfect start to their season in Week #1, Istanbowl Turkey seemed like a different team against Eat Split and DI in Game #1. With lead off bowler Teresa Deterding hoisting the largest numbers for Eat – a 399 – and a personal best game from fellow teammate Aaron Chandler, Eat Split and DI looked poised to cause the upset of the night. Unfortunately for them, Turkey's Angela Bradford stormed back with a 476 series to reverse her team's fortunes to the tune of a 3-1 series victory. Improving to 7-1 on the season, Istanbowl Turkey remains in 2nd place due to total pins. Eat Split and DI drop down into 5th place with their 3-5 record.The team making the most noise in the standings this week was Dolls and Balls. They could have REALLY made some noise if not for an epic Game #3 from opponents Touch My Vlad. After having tucked away wins in Games #1 and #2 behind anchor Ryan Doll and his 569 series, Dolls and Balls looked to be well on their way to a winning record when Vlad's Chris Able and crew (including a gigantic above-average game from newcomer Jeremy Stockbridge) knocked the wind out of them. Besting their opponents by nearly 80 pins (Able ended his night with a 400 series), Vlad managed to not only take Game #3 but won by enough of a margin to secure a total pins victory by a margin of three effectively splitting the series at two games apiece. The two wins push Dolls and Balls to a record of 3.5-4.5 and climbing two spots into 4th place while Vlad remains in eighth with a record of 2-6.Former NBA head coach Rudy Tomjanovich once said "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion." S*I*C*K's powerhouse Carl Goetz – and this week's #1 Power Ranked bowler – proved why his team is the hell bent on repeating as champions this season. Rolling an incredible 683 series, Goetz paved the way for a 3-1 matchup win over last season's rivals No Pinheads. After taking Game #1 with ease, Game #2 was a 10th frame battle ending with Goetz's 267 game pushing his team to a slim 6-pin victory. Game #3 saw the emergence of the Pinhead's lead off bowler Aubrey Moren, whose 542 series secured their lone victory of the night. The Pinhead's record of 3.5-4.5, along with total pins, keeps them in 3rd place while S*I*C*K remains atop the league standings with their 7-1 record.Four bowlers managed to shovel games in the 200 range this week and gain admittance into The 200 Club. They include: Carl Goetz (207, 267 and 209), Ian Goetz (200), Ken M. Wilson (202) and Ryan Doll (201).See you next Tuesday!

THIS WEEK'S MVB Lawrence Prak Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Carl Goetz Runner Up: Ryan Doll	#1 H2H BOWLER Carl Goetz Runner Up: Ryan Doll
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "Oh, it was a total suck off." Scott Murdock, trying to articulate his team's matchup Tuesday evening to Ken.