The 25th season of the VML Bowling League kicked off Tuesday evening and with it came rookie debuts, renewed rivalries, and epic sandbagging. This time around, 40 bowlers will do battle across eight teams in a quest to finish in first place at the tail end of Week #16. Making their official debut in Week #1 were Ed Felix, Ellen Neidlinger, Kristie Carter, Matt Bell, Eric Lemmon, and Anita Osthoff. Welcome!In the first matchup of the evening, the members of Strange Bedfellows came out firing and gave notice that they are a team with which to be reckoned this season. Led by Ken M. Wilson and his 571 series, the Bedfellows swept opponents ACE²S 4-0 to start their title quest off in first place. The ACES, led by returning league legend Eric Lynch and his 384 series, may have dropped each game but don't find themselves in the cellar to start the Spring 2012 season, ending up in 7th place.A pair of lanes down, Splits or Swallows' very own Jason Carpio decided to not only set a 200+ average to lead the entire league but also to be named this week's #1 Power Ranked bowler. Rolling a 618 series, Carpio – along with this week's Most Valuable Bowler Teresa Deterding – led their team to a 3-1 matchup victory over opponents Bowled to Death. The Death squad was led by rookie Matt Bell, who threw a 490 series in his GutterAlley debut, but could only secure one win. The three victories establish Split into 3rd while those Bowled to Death start out their season in 6th place.Brown Belt Jones had high expectations for their initial night in the league. After winning Game #1, they squeaked by with a 5-pin victory in Game #2 before their opponents – the X-Men – fought back to even the series at two games apiece. The Belt, led by newly adorned anchor Ian Goetz and his 565 series, wind up in 5th place with their two wins. The X-Men got the most firepower out of anchor Ryan Doll and his 575 series as they use their total pins to take over 4th place. The final matchup of the evening – which continued on with bowlers finishing up shortly after midnight – ended with reigning champions and the newly renamed The Turkey Hunters earning the second sweep of the evening and snatching 2nd place due to total pins. Led by anchor Aubrey Moren and his 483 series, the Turkey Hunters overcame the 457 series of substitute anchor AJ Taylor of the comically named Ballsagna to put themselves right into the thick of things. Without a single win to their name yet, Ballsagna quickly finds themselves in the cellar in the league standings in 8th place.Bowlers beginning their season with a score to gain them admittance into The 200 Club include: Adam Messner (207), Jason Carpio (200, 203, 215), Ken M. Wilson (214), Ryan Doll (205), and Seth Gunderson (215).See you next Tuesday!

THIS WEEK'S MVB Teresa Deterding Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Jason Carpio Runner Up: Ryan Doll	#1 H2H BOWLER Jason Carpio Runner Up: Carl Goetz
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "I don't know about this 5-person format. If it's going to take this long each week, at least bring back Alison Radke so I can go get a firm hug in-between every shot." Dennis Laube, trying to find a way to pass the time.