We're now a solid month into the league and the knot of four teams at the top of the league standings from last week has now been narrowed down to two. Aside from that, an incredible amount of 200+ games were thrown during Week #4 action that may be an all-time league record...and the Tournament of Champions officially got underway. Ready to hear how it all went down? Us, too.The first matchup of the night featured a tightly fought contest between Three Strikes and You're Out! and opponents Brunk Enough to Dowl. After holding on to a Game #1 victory – led this week by new ball rollin' Bob Brunker and his 522 series, Brunk Enough's Kody Karnes hoisted a career best 651 series to even the series up at a game apiece in Game #2. Game #3, as well as total pins, came down to the wire with Three Strikes sending Brunk Enough off to sober up with a 12-pin win for the game and total pins by seven. Talk about a close finish! Three Strikes takes their 3-1 output and move up a spot to 3rd while Brunk Enough to Bowl slips one spot into 7th place.Down on Lanes 43 & 44, Split It and Hit It decided to have some fun at opponents' Dragon Balls expense. After taking Game #1 by a margin of 60+, Split It – led by anchor Dennis Blake and his 513 series – seemed poised to upset the powerhouse Dragons. That's when last week's MVB Neil Rieger took over and kept that from happening. Evening the score with a Game #2 3-pin win, Rieger went on to lead the Dragons with his 553 series and took Game #3 as well. Total pins, however, went to Split It to end the night with each team adding 2-2 to their records. Both teams move up one spot in the standings with the Dragon Balls taking over 4th and Split It and Hit It climbing to 6th place.For those of you that have been in the league for a long time, it's well known that Cory Chorpenning is one of the best bowlers around. Despite making his return to the league last season, Cory truly showed up Tuesday night against opponents Murder, He Wrote to earn both Most Valuable Bowler and #1 Power Ranked bowler honors en route to a 4-0 sweep over the competition. Chorpenning's 670 series – combined with Ken M. Wilson's team- and season-leading 683 – proved to be too much for Murder, who never managed to get off the ground. The Snakes, improving to 12-4 on the season, remain in first place by a total pins margin of 1,500+. Murder's Seth Gunderson led his team with a 480 series but falls three spots down into 5th place.Let's face it, Will Strike if Provoked put up numbers tonight that Ballz Out simply couldn't compete with down on the final pair of lanes. Putting up some of their highest scores to date, Will Strike simply dominated the matchup from start to finish. Led by lead off roller Phil Schroeder and his 566 series, every single member of the team put up at least one 200+ game on their way to a 4-0 matchup victory and climbing one spot into 2nd place. The Ballz' anchor Cliff Barendsen led his team with a 509 series but failed to put a dent in Will Strike's big performance. Ballz Out remains in 8th place.Bowlers openly wondering how a certain someone managed to make it past the doorman in front of The 200 Club this week include: Aubrey Moren (224), Bob Brunker (203), Carl Goetz (228), Cory Chorpenning (202, 244, 224), Dennis "Pops" Laube (214), Freda Schroeder (211), Ian Goetz (215, 203), Ken M. Wilson (236, 236, 211), Kody Karnes (227, 227), Neil Rieger (237), Phil Schroeder (204), and Ryan Doll (214).The first week of the Tournament of Champions is off and running with the first four winners racing out ahead in their respective divisions. Ken M. Wilson (6 points) took Division #1 this week with Ryan Doll (3) right after him. Division #2 was convincingly handled by Cory Chorpenning (6) followed by Neil Rieger (3). Keeping it in the family, Division #3 starts out led by Freda Schroeder (6) with Phil Schroeder (3) on her tail. Mark DeVoe (6) takes the lead in Division #4 with Sarah West (3) chasing. The GutterAlley Hall of Fame is currently accepting nominations across the field of 59 eligible bowlers. Was Cory's outstanding performance enough to warrant you to cast a nomination? It only takes a minute and is relatively painless. We promise. See you next Tuesday!

THIS WEEK'S MVB Cory Chorpenning Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Cory Chorpenning Runner Up: Kody Karnes	#1 H2H BOWLER Cory Chorpenning Runner Up: Kody Karnes
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "Aren't you happy that we're not viewed as the biggest dicks in the league right now?" Ken M. Wilson, shaking Carl's hand, after Ian mock-congratulated Doll for shooting a 139 in Game #3.