It's on. Despite all the sickness and injuries and disappearing team members, our league came back to form in a big way this week. This week was our league's strongest showing since April 19 and the second-strongest performance we've seen so far in 2016. We had more 200+ game tonight (14) than we've seen in any week so far this season. The season is now halfway over, and while last season's champions remain in the lead, a challenger is finally emerging who is chipping away at their lead.

On lanes 7 & 8, a clearly steroid-taking Vote JV HoF 2016 clobbered Stephen Hawking's Fight Club. Led by Carl Goetz and his 711 series, his 7th career 700+ series, Vote JV secured 3 wins against Stephen Hawking. Michael Gordon led Fight Club with a 541 series but could only land a 1-win punch back. Vote JV HoF 2016 remains in 1st place, while Stephen Hawking's Fight Club drops 1 spot to 3rd.

On lanes 9 & 10: Holy Sandbaggers, Batman! found themselves alphabetically walloped by W.A.Q.P.T.G.B.T.E!. Led by Phil Schroeder and his 534 series, Holy Sandbaggers, Batman! was unable to muster any wins this week. Meanwhile, led by Landon Cline's 596 series (and assisted by #1 power ranked performance by Sean Simmons), W.A.Q.P.T.G.B.T.E! earned a clean sweep. Holy Sandbaggers, Batman! drops 1 spot in the standings to 4th place, while W.A.Q.P.T.G.B.T.E! jumps 2 spots to 2nd and comes within a single sweep of overtaking first place.

On lanes 11 & 12: O'Dell Lawn Service aerated and verti-cut the soil of Terra Bowl. Led by Aaron Barber and his 591 series, O'Dell Lawn Service mowed down 3 wins against Terra Bowl. Meanwhile, led by Ben Spencer's 413 series, Terra Bowl could only secure 1 win. But don't go thinking Terra Bowl didn't put up much of a fight, as in addition to Ben Spencer's strong showing, Dennis Cummings rolled 93 pins over average in game 2 to secure a new personal best game and series and seal the deal on his team's one win of the evening. O'Dell Lawn Service remains in 5th place, while Terra Bowl drops 1 spot to 7th.

Finally, down on lanes 13 & 14: In a case of the blind leading the blind, a half-blind Split It & Hit It gave Ray & Stevie a performance they didn't see coming. Technically led by Dennis Blake and his 538 series, Split It & Hit It secured a clean sweep largely due to the Most Valuable Bowler antics of Michael Smith. Split It & Hit It climbs 1 spot in the standings to 6th place, while Ray & Stevie remains in 8th. Heading into next week, Dennis and Michael vow to experiment with various soaps and deodorants to try to figure out why people keep leaving their team and no one will bowl with them. They are so sad and lonely.

This week in Tournament of Champions, Carl Goetz led Division 1 to extend his grasp on second-place. Jeremy Gregory topped Division 2 to sneak into second place himself. Division 3 saw no one progress in any way whatsoever, while Ben Spencer won Division 4 and, though not yet placing, enters a tie for third place.

Bowlers entering The 200 Club this week include: Aaron Barber (216,202), Carl Goetz (236,232,243), Jeremy Gregory (206), John Boren (231), Jonathan Vigliaturo (212), Landon Cline (222,223), Matt O'Dell (212), Sean Simmons (200,201), and Seth Gunderson (236)

See you next week!

THIS WEEK'S MVB Michael Smith Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Sean Simmons Runner Up: Carl Goetz	#1 H2H BOWLER Carl Goetz Runner Up: Sean Simmons
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "At least I don't have to order my women from foreign countries." -- AJ "Why not? That's what I did." -- Matt Matt O'Dell, dishing out relationship advice that works.