At the mid-point of April – with the Finals five weeks off – the VML Bowling League witnessed quite a shakeup in the league standings. While the team at the top of the standings continues to hold onto that coveted spot, there was quite a shakeup amongst the rest of the league. All it took was a nod from a doctor clearing a long-time bowling powerhouse to return to the lanes after arm surgery to bring about one of the largest single-week climbs of any team this season. We're still accepting votes to name the four inaugural enshrinees into the GutterAlley Hall of Fame so, if you haven't already, please swing by and cast your vote(s) today. Thank you!So, shall we light this candle? Oh yes we shall.The last time these two teams faced off in Week #3, it was Eat Split and DI that walked away with the clean sweep over opponents No Pinheads. Such was not this case this time around. With Aubrey Moren leading the way with a 509 series, it was the Pinheads' turn to savor the sweet taste of victory with a 4-0 win over Eat Split and DI. Jake Parrott heaved the top series for Eat in the loss, ending his evening with a 418. While the victories keep the Pinheads in 5th place, they have narrowed the gap between themselves and the top half of the league standings. Eat Split and DI slips one spot into 4th place, enjoying a half game lead over No Pinheads.The second match-up of the evening between Touch My Vlad and Tonganoxie Doglift had to wait until Saturday when Vlad completed their post-bowling. The end result? The men of Tonganoxie came away with a 3-1 matchup victory...narrowly missing the sweep by a single pin in Game #2. Led by one of this season's top new recruits – and the Rookie of the Season as far as this writer is concerned – Tonganoxie's Russell Madsen led his team with a 453 series while continuing to raise his average. If not for Emily Podhajsky rolling her second highest game all season in Game #2, Vlad would have found themselves blanked. Chris Able put up the top series for Touch My Vlad, ending with a 456. While Vlad remains in 8th, Tonganoxie Doglift climbs one spot into 6th place with their three wins.Let's face it. Last week, S*I*C*K's best performer Carl Goetz had an off week. His performance this Tuesday night made that a faint memory. Earning Most Valuable Bowler honors with his 638 series, Goetz propelled his team to a 4-0 win in a closely fought battle against opponents SucmaBOWLS. Sucma's Orion Kinkaid kept him team in contention each game, ending his evening with a team-high 452 series. The victories keep S*I*C*K in first place by a margin of 5.5 games while SucmaBOWLS falls into 7th place pending the outcome of the post-bowling matchup.Welcome back, Ryan Doll. After having been out after surgery on his bowling arm, Doll got to return to the lanes and "roll for real" and led his Dolls and Balls team in the process into a 4-0 beat down over former 2nd place team Istanbowl Turkey...overtaking 2nd place themselves. Doll's performance also netted him the nod as this week's #1 Power Rankedbowler. Shorthanded Istanbowl was led by this week by Scott "Scooter J" Murdock and his 484 series in the quadruple loss. By the slight margin of half a game, Dolls and Balls ascends two spots into 2nd while Istanbowl Turkey falls into 3rd place. Only one bowler made it into The 200 Club this week. That's right, it was this week's MVB Carl Goetz (203, 237).In the predictions for next week, our favorite soothsayer Murdock the Kinda Good at Times has S*I*C*K defeating Istanbowl Turkey 3-1 and Dolls and Balls taking three from SucmaBOWLS. He's remaining silent about the outcomes of the rest of the league due to the post-bowling scores still being out. Is Murdock the Kinda Good at Times' crystal bowling ball foreseeing the truth about the future? We'll all find out next week.See you next Tuesday!

THIS WEEK'S MVB Carl Goetz Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Ryan Doll Runner Up: Chris Able	#1 H2H BOWLER Ryan Doll Runner Up: Carl Goetz
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "I even blew on it a little bit. DAMMIT, Gutter Quote!" Ken M. Wilson, after watching a pin tap – but not knock down – the lone remaining pin after what he thought should have been a strike.