GutterAlley.com » Bowler Profile

Ben Spencer

Career High Game:

265

MVBs:

Spring 2018 Season
Average	Game	Series
152	196	531

Career High Series:

664

#1 Power Rankings:

Titles Won:

#1 Head-to-Head:

Debut:

Fall 2016

Achievements:

Seasons:

-11

ToC Champ:

1 (0 2nd)

Ben was a member of the 5th place team Splitbowl Countries.

This season he has been the Most Valuable Bowler 0 times and earned 0 #1 Power Ranked bowler and 0 #1 Head-to-Head bowler nods(s).

his latest scores put him in the # position for the week. Overall, he is cumulatively the # Power Ranked bowler in the league this season out of a field of 24 bowlers.

Box scores for Spring 2018

	Opponent	Lanes	G1	G2	G3	Series	Hdcp.	Avg.

Week 1	WITNESS!!!	3&4	134	175	117	426	565	142

Week 2	PBR Me, ASAP	7&8	190	106	152	448	587	145

Week 3	Three Strikes and a...	9&10	(145)	(145)	(145)	435	567	145

Week 4	Holy Sandbaggers,...	5&6	157	174	140	471	603	149

Week 5	Mary Janes Last Frame	9&10	156	151	150	457	579	150

Week 6	HOF Sandwich	3&4	175	153	149	477	597	151

Week 7	Sit Down, Be Humbowl	7&8	144	111	163	418	535	149

Week 8	WITNESS!!!	3&4	179	163	134	476	598	151

Week 9	WITNESS!!!	9&10	127	117	145	389	506	148

Week 10	PBR Me, ASAP	3&4	120	161	190	471	595	149

Week 11	Three Strikes and a...	5&6	122	133	147	402	524	147

Week 12	Holy Sandbaggers,...	7&8	161	159	177	497	624	149

Week 13	Mary Janes Last Frame	5&6	180	166	138	484	606	150

Week 14	HOF Sandwich	9&10	171	150	159	480	600	151

Week 15	Sit Down, Be Humbowl	7&8	131	164	157	452	569	151

Week 16	Mary Janes Last Frame	5&6	196	169	166	531	648	152


TOTALS			2488	2397	2429	7314	9303	152

Ben Spencer made his league debut in the Fall 2016 season.

Having rolled 642 games over the course of -11 seasons in his GutterAlley career, Spencer carries a lifetime average of 163.

To date, Ben's highest game shot in league was a 265 bowled in Game #2 during Week #14 of the Spring 2023 session and his highest series in league was the 664 he rolled in Week #4 during the Spring 2020 season.

He has been named the Most Valuable Bowler 9 time(s) and the runner-up 11 time(s).

Ben has bowled for:
  -Fall 2024: Squid Row   (Avg: 178)   (My profile for this team)
  -Spring 2024: Squid Row   (Avg: 171)   (My profile for this team)
  -Fall 2023: Balderdash   (Avg: 165)   (My profile for this team)
  -Spring 2023: Balderdash   (Avg: 173)   (My profile for this team)
  -Fall 2022: Balderdash   (Avg: 173)   (My profile for this team)
  -Spring 2022: Going, Going, BALD!   (Avg: 167)   (My profile for this team)
  -Fall 2021: Going Going Bald   (Avg: 180)   (My profile for this team)
  -Midsummer 2021: Team 2   (Avg: 152)   (My profile for this team)
  -Spring 2021: Raining Chimps   (Avg: 166)   (My profile for this team)
  -Fall 2020: LETITSNOW   (Avg: 180)   (My profile for this team)
  -Spring 2020: Pin Is King 3   (Avg: 179)   (My profile for this team)
  -Fall 2019: Pin Is King 2   (Avg: 173)   (My profile for this team)
  -Spring 2019: Extreme Outliers   (Avg: 163)   (My profile for this team)
  -Fall 2018: Red Strikes Matter   (Avg: 157)   (My profile for this team)
  -Spring 2018: Splitbowl Countries   (Avg: 152)   (My profile for this team)
  -Fall 2017: Less Terra Bowl   (Avg: 141)   (My profile for this team)
  -Spring 2017: Terra Bowler   (Avg: 145)   (My profile for this team)
  -Fall 2016: Terra Bowl   (Avg: 130)   (My profile for this team)

Ben has unlocked the following Spring 2018 achievements...

Your highest game during the season, increments of 25.	Your highest series during the season, increments of 25.			Your current position in the league standings.

Victory! Your team swept another team.	Losers! Your team was swept.	Your team managed to win a game by a single pin.		Defeated a team scratch, no handicap necessary!
	Your team's longest winning streak this season.	Your team's longest losing streak this season.		Bested Sweep the Leg, Johnny's Fall 2009 scores!

Your name appears on a Top 25 list!
		Huge incremental drops in-between game scores!		Bowled below your average all 3 games in a single week.

			You're all paid up for the season!

A listing (from most current to furthest back) of any write-up posts in which Ben has been mentioned:

Week 11 RoboRecap (Nov 5th, 2024) - A sparsely-attended eleventh week of Fall 2024 saw one team climb in the standings, while two teams slipped. One bowler set a new personal best series. Seth Gunderson snagged this week's high game with a 212, and high series was earned by Ben Spencer with a 577. Scooter is too depressed and horrified to do a proper writeup this week, and if he did it would just be a rehash of the November 9, 2016 recap. So read on here for the current stats, then go read that one to see some cute pictures to get your mind off current events.
Split Happens (Oct 15th, 2024) - We are now halfway through the Fall 2024 season, and an electrifying eighth week brought no changes to the standings—but the drama on the lanes was palpable! Tension ran high as two matches ended in split results, and one battle saw a staggering number of actual splits, keeping bowlers on edge. JoAnne Barber delivered this week’s top game (152) and series (409) for the women, while Ben Spencer dominated for the men with a high game of 228 and a commanding 614 series. The excitement didn't stop there—read on for all the details and check out your bingo results too!
Debatably Good Bowling (Sep 10th, 2024) - The third week of Fall 2024 rolled in with anticipation, as one team soared to new heights and another tumbled down the standings. JoAnne Barber made waves with this week’s high game (126) and series (347) for the woman, while Matthew Taylor took center stage for the men with a high game (238) and series (614). Meanwhile, the Tournament of Champions divisions are locked and loaded, ready to bring head-to-head showdowns next week! Let’s dive into the play-by-play drama of this week's matchups.
It was a Dark and Stormy Frame (Aug 27th, 2024) - The Fall 2024 season has kicked off with a thunderous start, as six determined teams enter the 16-week battle for the elusive, imaginary championship trophy. With a massive electrical storm outside and electrical issues of our own inside killing the scoreboards just 30 minutes into bowling, the atmosphere was charged as one bowler shattered their personal best game. Meanwhile JoAnne Barber stormed the lanes to claim this week's high game (113) and series (335) for the woman, while Aaron Barber unleashed a whirlwind performance, taking the men's high game (200) and series (561). And Bingo was dominated this week by Seth and Buck. Dive into the drama as the pins fell like a flash flood and Lane 1 issues slowed things down like the Royals lightning delay!
Fall 2024 Bowling Preview! (Aug 13th, 2024) - Welcome to the Fall 2024 bowling season! We start bowling 2 weeks from tonight, on August 27, same location and same time as usual. There is still time to submit roster changes, but for the time being all six teams seem to be the same as last time with two exceptions: Ray Scott is sitting this season out, and Nick Kinney is replacing Michael Gordon. Please get team names and any other roster changes to us by this weekend, and if anyone else wants to bowl who did not bowl last season, let Scoot or AJ know ASAP so we can find you a spot! (Reminder: Scoot is out of town most of next week so please try to finalize things by this weekend.)
Spring 2024 Recap (Jun 1st, 2024) - Here is your Spring 2024 Recap, where you can find out who won all the individual awards plus lots more! Our next season will begin on August 27 2024!
Season #50 is Nearly Over! (Apr 30th, 2024) - We're closing in on the conclusion of our 50th bowling season, with only two weeks left to go (and only one that counts). While the standings remained as sturdy as a stubborn 10-pin that refused to fall despite rocking to the limits of the laws of physics, the battle on the lanes was anything but predictable. Except, predictably, JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (159) and series (422) for the women. Not as predictable, Seth Gunderson earned this week's high game (258) and series (633) for the men that some might eye with a bit of an asterisk due to being pre-bowled but it was all on the up and up. Meanwhile, Tournament of Champions is officially down to its final eight bowlers, who each win extra cash and will face each other next week competing for two even bigger cash prizes! Oh, and lest we forget, somebody (not Seth) achieved a new personal best game and series. Read on to find out who!
Squidlocked! (Apr 23rd, 2024) - The 14th week of bowling rolled in with all the intensity of a well-oiled lane oiling machine, and while the standings seemed stagnant, the post-bowling scores revealed seismic shifts beneath the surface. Cue the fanfare and confetti, because on this auspicious occasion, Squid Row has officially clinched the championship! Can we also get a round of applause for JoAnne Barber, who dazzled the woman with a high game of 137 and a series of 366? And let's not forget the gents, with Dustin Schmeltz nabbing the high game at 247 and Matthew Taylor securing the high series with a whopping 623! Now, onto the dramatic recount of the lanes!
Spring into the Gutter (Mar 19th, 2024) - As the equinox brought us the change in seasons, it also brought us one small change in the standings. The ninth week of Spring 2024 blossomed, with one team soaring to new heights and another plummeting into the depths of despair. JoAnne Barber, Ben Spencer, and Matthew Taylor stood as titans -- JoAnne claiming high game (138) and series (396) for the woman, while Ben's 242 was the men's high game and Matthew took men's high series with his 642. And this week's Bingo game saw the most Bingos of any week so far!
Fists Fly to First as the Spring 2024 Season Gets Underway (Jan 23rd, 2024) - Alright my little chickadeess, get ready to roll into the thrilling world of the Spring 2024 bowling season! This 16-week spectacle has kicked off with six teams vying for the elusive due to being non-existent championship trophy. In usual fashion JoAnne Barber led the women with a high game (167) and series (427), while AJ Hofmann handily beat all the men with a high game (211) and series (593). Let's dive into the rest of the heart-pounding action of the first league night!
Fall 2023 Recap (Jan 20th, 2024) - Here is your Fall 2023 Recap, where you can find out who won all the individual awards plus lots more! Our next season will begin on January 23, 2024!
Induction Junction, What's Your Function? (Nov 28th, 2023) - The fourteenth week of the Fall 2023 bowling league unfolded with a symphony of strikes & spares, a surprise ceremony, and a bit of shakeup in the standings. As the pins fell and the competition intensified, the scene was set for a rollercoaster of emotions on the lanes. As usual JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (188) and series (476) for the women (though the scores themselves were quite a bit higher than the usual), while Nick Kinney earned this week's high game (277) and series (674) for the men.
Epic of the Underdog: Triumphs in Bowling (Nov 14th, 2023) - In the twelfth week of Fall, a bowling saga unfolds, Two teams ascended, while two in rankings doled. A bowler, with prowess, set a personal best high, As the alleys witnessed battles, fierce and nigh.
Night of the Living Balls (Oct 31st, 2023) - In the eerie, dimly lit bowling alley, the tenth week of Fall 2023 unfolded like a Halloween horror story. The standings remained frozen, as if cursed by some malevolent force, refusing to budge from their haunted positions. JoAnne Barber, a cursed mummy whose name is whispered in fearful tones, emerged from the shadows to claim the witches' high game (114) and series (331) for the week. But it was Undead Ben Spencer, a mysterious figure with a sinister aura, who clawed his way to the warlocks' high game (205) and series (543), as if under a dark spell. Their accomplishments, while impressive, were shrouded in an unsettling air.
LVB: Lane 2 Pinsetter. MVB: Ron. (Sep 26th, 2023) - The fifth week saw one team climb in the standings, while one team slipped but remains above water. One bowler set a new personal best series, and one rolled new personal high game. As many speculated might happen, JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (150) and series (373) for the woman. As for the men, Dustin Schmeltz continued to make his case for Sub of the Season when he snagged this week's high game with a 230, and high series was earned by Matthew Taylor with a 637. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Bowling Starts August 29! (Aug 28th, 2023) -
Spring 2023 Recap (Jul 24th, 2023) -
The Standings are Too Close for Comfort (Apr 25th, 2023) - By BowlingBot & ChatGPT
St. John's bowling alley was bursting with energy on the fourteenth week of Spring 2023 league. JoAnne Barber dominated the women once again, easily claiming the high game (160) and series (432) for the women. The question on everyone's mind was, why can't any other woman in the league challenge her? Rumors swirled that JoAnne had made a deal with the bowling gods, or perhaps she had been secretly training with a legendary bowling master in the mountains. Meanwhile, Ben Spencer was a force to be reckoned with, earning both the high game (265) and series (640) for the men. It was a night of incredible performances, and by the time the dust settled the top four teams are now all within one win of each other in the standings, setting the stage for an intense final stretch of the season.
Scrambling the Standings (Apr 11th, 2023) - By BowlingBot & ChatGPT
Get your carnival tickets and barf bags ready, because the twelfth week of the Spring 2023 season delivered a complete scrambling of the standings by way of a small handful sensational strikes, a moderate smattering of spares, and splits galore! Three teams took a leap up the leaderboard, while two others stumbled their way down. Amidst the action, JoAnne Barber showed how it's done as she claimed the crown of this week's top female bowler with an impressive high game of 146 and a series score of 380. Not to be outdone, Ben Spencer slammed his way to the top of the men's leaderboard with a mighty 215 high game, while Matthew Taylor snatched the high series prize with a towering total of 541. Don't miss a single detail of the riveting results that follow!
Week 10 RoboRecap - Powered by ChatGPT! (Mar 28th, 2023) - Bowling enthusiasts, listen up! The tenth week of Spring 2023 brought with it thrilling highs and gut-wrenching lows as the teams battled it out on the lanes. One team was on the rise, while another stumbled, their fate hanging in the balance. But amidst the tension, there were shining moments of individual brilliance. JoAnne Barber stepped up to claim this week's high game and series for the women, with an impressive 139 and 392 respectively. And for the men, it was Nick Kinney who shone, snatching the high game of the week with a blistering 246. But that's not all - the coveted high series honor was shared by Ben Spencer and Nick Kinney, who tied with a jaw-dropping 596! But as always, the devil is in the details. Who was the team that climbed the standings, and who was the unlucky one that slipped? Which players went above and beyond to secure victories for their teams, and who faltered at the crucial moment? Stay tuned, fellow bowlers - the next chapter in this epic saga is just waiting to unfold!
Time to Go to Sweep (Mar 21st, 2023) - The ninth week of Spring 2023 saw three sets of sweeps, resulting in three teams climbing in the standings while two teams slipped. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (171) and series (478) for the woman, while John Boren earned this week's high game (203) and series (580) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details! BUT, TAKE NOTICE! Out of laziness, curiosity, and a need to spend my time working on other matters, this week's recap has been (mostly) ghost-written by ChatGPT. So... sit back and enjoy the ride!
Dolphins About to Surface? (Mar 14th, 2023) - We are now halfway through the Spring 2023 season and one thing has become clear in recent weeks: Sun Dolphins have figured something out and are on the cusp of finding out what it's like to not be in last place. One Dolphin in particular set a new personal best series. JoAnne Barber continues to reign supreme among the woman. As for the men, Matthew Taylor snagged this week's high game with a 222, and high series was earned by Carl Goetz with a 551. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Fall 2022 Recap (Dec 30th, 2022) -
Week 8 RoboRecap (Oct 11th, 2022) - We are now halfway through the Fall 2022 season, and a stagnated eighth week resulted in absolutely no movement in the standings. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (146) and series (388) for the women, while Matthew Taylor earned this week's high game (220) and series (581) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Longest. Night. Ever. (Sep 6th, 2022) - The third week of Fall 2022 welcomed the remainder of our not-yet-rolled bowlers, all except of course for Ol' Bustedlegs Clayton whom we are unlikely to see before November at the earliest. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (164) and series (394) for the women. As for the men, Seth Gunderson snagged this week's high game with a 215, and high series was earned by AJ Hofmann with a 562. And the Tournament of Champions divisions are now set, ready for one-on-one action to begin next week! Read on for all the rest of the details!
Fall 2022 Teams Set (Aug 3rd, 2022) -
A Tale of Two Standings (Apr 5th, 2022) - It was the best of teams, it was the worst of teams, it was the age of strikes, it was the age of gutterballs, it was the epoch of skill, it was the epoch of dumb luck, it was the season of Wins, it was the season of Losses, it was the spring of spares, it was the winter of despairs, we knocked down every pin before us, we had no pins fall down before us, we were all going direct to first place, we were all going direct to dead last -- in short, the second half of the current season has polarized three teams each around two diametrically opposed goals.
Flipping It Back Around (Mar 29th, 2022) - The tenth week saw the top half of the standings flip back around, with Glory Bowl dropping back to third place after spemnding the past two weeks on top. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (155) and series (406) for the women. As for the men, Carl Goetz snagged this week's high game with a 238, and high series was earned by Matthew Taylor with a 655. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Week 7 RoboRecap (Mar 8th, 2022) - The seventh week of Spring 2022 saw one team climb in the standings, while one team slipped. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (144) and series (399) for the women, while Matthew Taylor earned this week's high game (256) and series (680) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Putting Out Fires, Sweeping Up the Mess (Feb 8th, 2022) - An unusually long-lasting third week of Spring 2022 saw lots of mechanical issues and some major IT issues as both Jacob and Scoot got their activity goals for the day running around putting out fires. Throughout the chaotic night of all sweeps one team climbed in the standings, JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (151) and series (435) for the women, while Carl Goetz earned this week's high game (237) and series (633) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details
Fall 2021 Recap (Dec 23rd, 2021) - Here is your Fall 2021 Recap, where you can find out who won all the individual awards for which we were actually able to give out prizes for the first time since COVID started!
One Week Left! (Dec 14th, 2021) - The fifteenth week of Fall 2021 saw one team climb in the standings, while one team slipped. Emily Nicolet picked up this week's high game (136) and series (324) for the women, while Carl Goetz earned this week's high game (255) and series (650) for the men. Meanwhile, Tournament of Champions is officially down to its final eight bowlers, who will face each other next week competing for two cash prizes! Read on for all the rest of the details!
"December 7, 2021. A Championship which will live... in infamy" (Dec 7th, 2021) - After failing to clinch the championship last week, the guys of Going Going Bald got around to it tonight and can now rest easy during our final two weeks. More on them in a minute. This week also saw one team climb in the standings, while two teams slipped. One bowler set a new personal best series, and one rolled new personal high game. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (123) and series (358) for the women, while James Tott earned this week's high game (255) and series (631) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Week 13 RoboRecap (Nov 30th, 2021) - The thirteenth week of Fall 2021 saw one team climb in the standings, while two teams slipped. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (144) and series (372) for the women, while Carl Goetz earned this week's high game (226) and series (600) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
It's Turkey Time (Nov 23rd, 2021) - With a full third of the league absent, Week 12 saw some quick games but no changes in the standings. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (138) and series (356) for the women. As for the men, Carl Goetz snagged this week's high game with a 256, and high series was earned by Ben Spencer with a 616. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Week 11 RoboRecap (Nov 16th, 2021) - A stagnated eleventh week of Fall 2021 resulted in absolutely no movement in the standings. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (156) and series (364) for the women. As for the men, Ben Spencer snagged this week's high game with a 237, and high series was earned by Carl Goetz with a 639. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Monday Night Gutterball (Nov 1st, 2021) - Bowling on a Monday for the first time since 2001 due to the Wyandotte County elections on Tuesday night, the ninth week of Fall 2021 saw one team climb in the standings, while one team slipped. Pre-bowled James Tott earned this week's high game (246) and series (617). Though with as many eyes as were fixated on the Chiefs game, it's amazing anyone remembered to record scores at all. :)
Gaining Traction (Oct 19th, 2021) - In this seventh week of Fall 2021 the first-place team widened its already substantial lead slightly, while the second-place team continues doing all it can to remain a contender. And while we saw fewer 200s this week than in recent weeks, scores overall continue their trend toward improving. One bowler rolled a new personal best game. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (160) and series (417) for the women, while Ben Spencer earned this week's high game (231) and series (584) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
"Not a Robot" (Oct 12th, 2021) - This writeup has nothing to do with robots or "The Good Place", I just found myself unable to think of a title or cover image this week. But at least it's not a robot-written write-up, so we'll celebrate that. The sixth week saw two teams climb in the standings, while two teams slipped. Emily Nicolet landed this week's high game for the women with a 116, and women's high series was bagged by JoAnne Barber with a 325. As for the men, Ben Spencer earned this week's high game (249) and series (588). Read on for all the rest of the details!
Fall 2021 Is Here (Sep 7th, 2021) - The Fall 2021 season is now underway at our new home, with six teams entering the 16-week competition for the coveted, nonexistent championship trophy. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (141) and series (368) for the women, while James Tott earned this week's high game (223) and series (532) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Summer 2021 Recap (Aug 21st, 2021) - Here is your Summer 2021 Recap, where you can find out who won all the individual awards that we didn't collect prize money for but they still at least matter for bragging rights!
Almost done! (Aug 4th, 2021) - While the standings still to unchanged in terms of team ranks, the number of possible outcomes for next week's championships has. Team 1 & Scoot's Fault are now the only two teams with a shot at the Championship, and the only hope Scoot's Fault actually has is to either sweep or win three to force a tiebreaker game. Meanwhile, though mathematically eliminated from the Championship, Team 2 has a reasonable shot at overtaking Scoot's Fault and moving into 2nd place. And if they fail at that, Team 4 has a shot at overtaking them for third! But that's enough about next week. THIS week, JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (160) and series (433) for the women, while Dennis Walling earned this week's high game (210) and series (574) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Disjointed Outcomes (Jul 22nd, 2021) - Though nothing changed in the standings, both sets of matchups went a bit differently than expected due to outside forces knocking teams out of alignment. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (156) and series (394) for the women, while Aaron Barber earned this week's high game (220) and series (583) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Spring 2021 Recap (Jun 15th, 2021) - Here is your Spring 2021 Recap, where you can find out who won all the individual awards that we didn't collect prize money for but they still at least matter for bragging rights!
Groupies' Burning Balls (Apr 13th, 2021) - Sorry for the extremely delayed writeup! For obvious reasons, I (Scoot) have been very distracted and not in the mood to think about bowling this past week. :( I almost left it a robo-recap, but there are a couple of people who I am sure want their recognition. The seventh week of Spring 2021 saw one team climb in the standings, while two teams slipped. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (148) and series (373) for the woman, while Matthew Taylor earned this week's high game (266) and series (714) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Musical Chairs (Mar 31st, 2021) - After some false starts and lots of lane shuffling (first due to this week accidentally not flagged as a position round in the computer, then by the fact that we had been shifted 4 lanes to the left leading to the wrong set of lanes getting reset) the Spring 2021 position round finally got underway, resulting in changes only near the middle of the standings. As always seems to be the case, JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (156) and series (421) for the woman. As for the men, Michael Gordon snagged this week's high game with a 224, and high series was earned by Aaron Barber with a 595. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Bowling. So. Very. High. (Mar 24th, 2021) - There were so many high scores rolled this week that it was easy to forget that the season is half over and next week is already the position round! One bowler set a new personal best series, and another rolled new personal high game. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (138) and series (394) for the woman. As for the men, Curtis Whiles snagged this week's high game with a new personal best 245, and high series was earned by Matthew Taylor with a 650. And that's not even all! Read on for all the rest of the details!
Week 3 RoboRecap (Mar 9th, 2021) - The third week of Spring 2021 saw one team climb in the standings, while two teams slipped. One bowler set a new personal best series. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (136) and series (387) for the women. As for the men, Michael Gordon snagged this week's high game with a 254, and high series was earned by Matthew Taylor and Michael Gordon, who tied with a 689. And the Tournament of Champions divisions are now set, ready for one-on-one action to begin next week! Read on for all the rest of the details!
Welcome (to 1st), Groupies! (Mar 2nd, 2021) - The second week of Spring 2021 saw two teams climb in the standings, with one sliding into first place by total pins. JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (129) and series (356) for the woman. As for the men, Michael Gordon snagged this week's high game with a 236, and high series was earned by Matthew Taylor with a 591. Read on for all the rest of the details!
An Extremely Late Fall 2020 Recap (Dec 31st, 2020) - This has been a really busy last several weeks so I apologize that it has take SO LONG to get this out. Here is an abbreviated Fall 2020 Recap, where you can find out who won all the individual awards that we didn't collect prize money for but they still at least matter for bragging rights.
LeTits Now Champs (Nov 4th, 2020) - The Fall 2020 season came to a close today, with absolutely no movement in the standings as LETITSNOW held on to their season-long first place lead to clinch the championship. But elsewhere in the league James Tott snagged this week's high game with a 234, and high series was earned by Dennis Walling with a 612. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Spencer For Hire (Oct 28th, 2020) - Ben Spencer is on fire, and apparently also for hire. After two weeks of some of his best bowling ever, Ben is now already fielding offers for next season. And that's no surprise after he quadfectaed this week by earning Most Valuable Bowler, #1 Power Ranked Bowler, and #1 Head-to-Head Bowler, as well as winning his division in the Tournament of Champions. Elsewhere, JoAnne Barber picked up this week's high game (168) and series (388) for the woman. As for the men, Michael Gordon snagged this week's high game with a 237, and high series was earned by Ben Spencer with a 652. Read on for all the rest of the details!
LeT it sNow Grabbable (Oct 20th, 2020) - After suffering devastating losses two weeks ago, it's now mathematically possible for Let It Snow to be knocked out of first place next week. On the other hand, it's also possible for Let ItS to clinch the championship. But we don't care about next week right now, you're hear to read about this week. In a development that should shock no one. JoAnne Barber once again picked up this week's high game (128) and series (368) for the woman. Matthew Taylor earned this week's high game (256) and series (648) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Let it snow motorboat a head (Sep 22nd, 2020) - Sure, it helps that we're down to a core set of bowlers so dedicated to bowling that they are risking their very lives to play, but for the first time in recorded league history we have now had perfect attendance two weeks in a row. In our second week JoAnne Barber once again picked up this week's high game (148) and series (356) for the woman, while Matthew Taylor earned this week's high game (257) and series (608) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
The Scootylicious Center of a Scooty-pop (Feb 11th, 2020) - The fourth week of Spring 2020 saw three sets of action involving the number three. Three teams climbed in the standings. Three bowlers set a new personal best series, and three rolled new personal high games. Meanwhile Freda Schroeder picked up this week's high game (164) and series (438) for the women. As for the men, Matthew Taylor snagged this week's high game with a 280, and high series was earned by Ben Spencer with a 664. The Tournament of Champions also kicked off tonight, beginning of 13 weeks of one-on-one bowling excitement! Read on for all the rest of the details!
Triple Threat (Jan 28th, 2020) - here's really nothing special about having a multi-team tie for 1st place in the second week of the season, I just couldn't think of any particular fitting title for this week. And because describing this type of tie using normal lingo (a number followed by the word "way") attracts PornBots, we'll just refer to it as a First Place Trifecta. The elements going into this scenario include Carolina Mach (again) picking up this week's high game (147) and series (389) for the women, Ben Spencer snagging this week's high game for the men with a new personal best 240, and Aaron Barber landing high series with a 603. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Fall 2019 Recap (Jan 4th, 2020) -
The End of an Era (Dec 4th, 2019) - As our 20th year of bowling came to a close and we prepare to embark on our next 20 years, the bowling alley echoed the moment by ripping out the ball returns and scoring consoles we've been kicking/using since our formation and replaced them with spiffy new ones have no idea the abuse they will soon endure. Despite the myriad of exceptions they annoying quizzed Scoot on last night, See you next Tuesday! remains the championship team so now gets to perform next week's awards presentation, which according to league rules must be done in the form of a musical every 40th season. Next week we meet at our usual time to name all the award winners and hand out prize money (in the meeting room on the Finnegan's side, through the back of the snack bar), followed by 9-pin-tap fun night. The final week saw not even one full-time VML bowler show up to bowl, and only one team move up in the standings. Freda Schroeder picked up this week's high game (168) and series (445) for the women. As for the men, Dennis Walling snagged this week's high game with a 236, and high series was earned by Ian Goetz with a 624. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Sweepage! (Nov 19th, 2019) - As the Fall 2019 season draws closer to its conclusion, a bowling session that went almost exactly as predicted saw four sets of sweeps that led to... no change in the standings except for a flip of the bottom two positions. However, three bowlers set a new personal best series, and one rolled new personal high game. Freda Schroeder landed this week's high game for the women with a 151, and women's high series was bagged by Alison Radke with a 402. As for the men, Ben Spencer snagged this week's high game with a 235, and high series was earned by Carl Goetz with a 637. Read on for all the rest of the details!
When A Ball Loves A Rack (of Pins) (Oct 29th, 2019) - The eleventh week of Fall 2019 saw the second known marriage of two league bowlers (the first being Derek Jeter and Amanda Cox-Jeter sometime back in the W Bush era). It also saw one team climb in the standings, while one team slipped. Freda Schroeder picked up this week's high game (186) and series (470) for the women. As for the men, Ian Goetz snagged this week's high game with a 223, and high series was earned by Ken M. Wilson with a 614. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Dead Wood Dick (Oct 8th, 2019) - The Fall 2019 position round is now history, and and the championship will be on us before we know it! The eighth week saw two teams climb in the standings, while two teams slipped. One bowler roll a new personal best game. Freda Schroeder picked up this week's high game (185) and series (466) for the women. As for the men, Ken M. Wilson snagged this week's high game with a 224, and high series was earned by Aaron Barber with a 639. Read on for all the rest of the details!
There's Some Goetz Brewing (Sep 25th, 2019) - A stagnated sixth week of Fall 2019 resulted in absolutely no movement in the standings. One bowler roll a new personal best game. Alison Radke picked up this week's high game (122) and series (314) for the women. As for the men, Ian Goetz snagged this week's high game with a 287, and high series was earned by Carl Goetz with a 706. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Bowling Is Dumb: A Memoir by AJ (Sep 3rd, 2019) - Intro: Normally, when Scott Murdock isn't sick and decides to use company time to do the write up, you'd get this on Wednesday. But since half the matchups are pending post-bowling scores and all awards are tentative, I (AJ), wanted to give you an early summary. I'd suggest you just ignore this post.
Week 2 RoboRecap (Aug 27th, 2019) - The second week of Fall 2019 saw three teams climb in the standings, while three teams slipped. One bowler set a new personal best series, and one rolled new personal high game. Freda Schroeder picked up this week's high game (168) and series (445) for the women. As for the men, Ian Goetz snagged this week's high game with a 236, and high series was earned by Carl Goetz with a 641. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Spring 2019 Recap (May 15th, 2019) -
All Hail the ToC Champs! (May 7th, 2019) - The Spring 2019 season draws to a close, with CICK Ass officially earning this season's championship title! But we aren't quite finished yet -- next week we will meet at our usual time to name all the award winners and hand out prize money (in the meeting room on the Finnegan's side, through the back of the snack bar), followed by 9-pin-tap fun night. The final week saw one team climb in the standings, while one team slipped. Monica Hufford picked up this week's high game (186) and series (513) for the women, while Matthew Taylor earned this week's high game (237) and series (628) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Clinched! (Apr 23rd, 2019) - Originally I was going to leave this week's as a robo-writeup due to me having another busy week, but then CICK Ass screwed that up for me by accomplishing something I had failed to notice they could do this week: they clinched the championship two weeks early! This makes the first championship for Chantal Jacot, 6 for Ian Goetz, a staggering 13 for Carl "Tits" Goetz, and an even more staggering 14 for Ken M. Wilson (sheesh!). Congratulations to all four of you!
Historic League Records Go Up In Smoke (Apr 16th, 2019) - The unlucky thirteenth week of Spring 2019 featured the rise of the Antichrist, who entered our world specifically to shatter a whole slew of league records. It also saw one team climb in the standings, while one team slipped. Two bowlers set a new personal best series, and two rolled new personal high games. Alison Radke picked up this week's high game (170) and series (424) for the women, while Satan himself AJ Hofmann earned this week's high game (279) and series (672) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
It was the best of frames, it was the worst of frames... (Apr 9th, 2019) - When we have 8 teams the Position Round slices our season cleanly in half. But when we have 12 teams the Position Round is more like the mighty guillotine, slicing off just the end while the main body remains on the slab of history. Three normal-ish weeks remain before the Championship round, but even lest time that that remains for anyone to act before the current #1 team clinches the championship outright.
Let Chaos Reign (Apr 2nd, 2019) - By now every team has bowled each other once, so next week is the Spring 2019 position round. But enough about next week, you came here to read about this week. The eleventh week saw four teams climb in the standings, while four teams slipped. Freda Schroeder picked up this week's high game (175) and series (442) for the women. As for the men, Jonathan Vigliaturo and Ken M. Wilson both tied for this week's high game with a 237, and high series was earned by Aaron Barber with a 663. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Speedy Recap (Mar 26th, 2019) - With about a quarter of the league at the Weezers/Pixies concert (admit it, Phil & Freda, we all know you were there too), the rest of us got to enjoy a speedy evening that finished relatively early. Unfortunately that didn't translate into extra write-up time for Scoot, and since he's very busy today we are going to leave about 90% of this as the computer-generated writeup. The tenth week of Spring 2019 saw two teams climb in the standings, while three teams slipped. One bowler roll a new personal best game. Monica Hufford picked up this week's high game (176) and series (491) for the women. As for the men, Aaron Barber snagged this week's high game with a 234, and high series was earned by Ian Goetz with a 643. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Screwball Season Getting Screwier (Mar 19th, 2019) - This season has seen its share of weirdness -- due both to the number of teams and two both really high and really low games coming from unexpected places. This week was no exception. But next week it will get even weirder.
Big Ball Chantal (Mar 12th, 2019) - Many times throughout our history bowlers have bought a new ball and seen immediate improvement in their game. But never before have we seen this happen as dramatically as it did last night with Chantal's new ball. Overall, two teams climb in the standings, while three teams slipped. One bowler set a new personal best series, and two rolled new personal high games. Chantal Jacot picked up this week's high game (208) and series (471) for the women, while Dennis Walling earned this week's high game (245) and series (634) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
The Lava Lamp (Mar 5th, 2019) - Like the globs in a lava lamp, teams have been taking turns rising to the top only to then quickly sink back down. This week was no exception, as CICK Ass returned to the top with We Don't Give a Split bubbling up just behind, while Pin Is King and #MGAGA have cooled and sunk, perhaps to be heated back up again.
Week 6 RoboRecap (Feb 26th, 2019) - The sixth week of Spring 2019 saw five teams climb in the standings, while five teams slipped. One bowler set a new personal best series, and one rolled new personal high game. Freda Schroeder landed this week's high game for the women with a 179, and women's high series was bagged by Monica Hufford with a 447. As for the men, Matthew Taylor earned this week's high game (279) and series (747). Read on for all the rest of the details!
Better Late Than Never! (Feb 19th, 2019) - This week a record three teams post-bowled due to illness and weather. But not, finally, all the scores are in. The fifth week of Spring 2019 saw four teams climb in the standings, while four teams slipped. One bowler set a new personal best series, and one rolled new personal high game. Monica Hufford picked up this week's high game (188) and series (523) for the women, while Ian Goetz earned this week's high game (243) and series (593) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Teetering on the Brink of a 1st Place Swap (Feb 12th, 2019) - The fourth week of Spring 2019 saw four teams climb in the standings, while five teams slipped. One bowler set a new personal best series, and three rolled new personal high games. Freda Schroeder landed this week's high game for the women with a 151, and women's high series was bagged by Monica Hufford with a 404. As for the men, Nick Kinney snagged this week's high game with a 234, and high series was earned by Ian Goetz with a 615. Meanwhile, the Tournament of Champions also kicked off tonight, beginning of 13 weeks of one-on-one bowling excitement! Read on for all the rest of the details!
The Bowler Vortex (Jan 29th, 2019) - As the nation prepared to plunge into the harsh abyss of arctic doom, the second week of Spring 2019 saw five teams climb in the standings, while five teams slipped and one remained frozen in place. Two bowlers roll a new personal best game. Alison Radke landed this week's high game for the women with a 196, and women's high series was bagged by Monica Hufford with a 461. As for the men, Russell Bingham snagged this week's high game with a 236, and high series was earned by Seth Gunderson with a 620. Read on for all the rest of the details!
These Go To Eleven (Jan 23rd, 2019) - The Spring 2019 kicked off on an icy night (in which we were the only league brave enough to show up) with a record-breaking eleven teams entering the 16-week competition for the coveted, nonexistent championship trophy. Three bowlers didn't get the memo that you aren't supposed to do this the first week and set a new personal best series, and four rolled new personal high games. Monica Hufford picked up this week's high game (176) and series (468) for the women. As for the men, Jeremy Cline snagged this week's high game with a 228, and high series was earned by Conor Clarke with a 591. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Fall 2018 Recap (Dec 13th, 2018) -
Hitting A Wall (Oct 9th, 2018) - We are now halfway through the Fall 2018 season, and the league seems to have hit a brick wall. Other than a tit-for-tat between BDE and We Don't Give A Split, no teams were able to budge in the standings with just a week to go before Position Round.
The ToC Takes Off (Sep 11th, 2018) - The fourth week of Fall 2018 saw three teams climb in the standings, while one team slipped. Monica Hufford picked up this week's high game (168) and series (479) for the women, while Aaron Barber earned this week's high game (203) and series (586) for the men. Meanwhile, the Tournament of Champions also kicked off tonight, beginning of 13 weeks of one-on-one bowling excitement! Read on for all the rest of the details!
Week 2 RoboRecap (Aug 30th, 2018) - The second week of Fall 2018 saw five teams climb in the standings, while three teams slipped. Freda Schroeder picked up this week's high game (169) and series (446) for the women, while Aaron Barber earned this week's high game (243) and series (634) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
That's A Wrap (May 15th, 2018) - The Spring 2018 season draws to a close, with WITNESS!!! officially earning this season's championship title! But we aren't quite finished yet -- next week we will meet at our usual time to name all the award winners and hand out prize money (in the meeting room on the Finnegan's side, through the back of the snack bar), followed by 9-pin-tap fun night. The final week saw three teams climb in the standings, while two teams slipped. One bowler set a new personal best series. Monica Hufford picked up this week's high game (167) and series (475) for the women, while Dennis Walling earned this week's high game (235) and series (660) for the men. Read on for all the rest of the details!
Smokin' The Competition (Apr 17th, 2018) - Until last week, Mary Janes Last Frame had been suffering. They hadn't had a winning week since February 13, so it was good to see their fortunes finally turn last week. However, more noteworthy, MJ is also the only team that is consistently tripping up Witness!!!. Their 7-1 record against Witness (the only team with a winning record against the first-place team) makes one wonder how the championship might turn out if Mary Jane can rally enough in these next three weeks to reach second place in time. Dreaming aside, let's now look at things that and more grounded in reality. For instance, this wee Angela Bradford picked up this week's high game (181) and series (488) for the women, while Russell Bingham earned this week's high game (264) and series (645) for the men. Ben Spencer rolled a new personal best series. Read on for all the rest of the details!
NOT NotContra (Nov 22nd, 2017) - With only one week remaining before the final position round, only three teams are mathematically still in the hunt for this season's championship. But a chant of "NOT NotContra" has been gaining momentum, that may or may not, have started on lanes 1 and 2 tonight.
Beware Of Doug (Nov 14th, 2017) - There was some pretty freaking amazing rolling tonight. JoAnne Gordon rolled a new personal best series (405) and new high game (157). Michael Smith rolled a new personal best series (464) and tied his personal high game of 192. Ben Spencer broke his previous best game with a 199. Dennis Blake and Aubrey Moren were both on fire. Nick Kinney went insane with a 268. But nobody came close to what sub / 5th-man Doug Bonney did tonight.
Mopping It Up (Apr 12th, 2017) - Tonight was a night of almost all sweeps, and saw a formerly near-last-place team barrel its way into the top half of the standings. Meanwhile the formerly first-place team became increasingly frustrated with their inability to regain the lead and it cost them their most precious commodity.
Halfway to the Pot o' Gold (Mar 14th, 2017) - Our season is now officially half over. Three teams are sliding along the downhill side of the rainbow towards the pot of gold, while everyone else is still back on the uphill slope, weighed down with too much corned beef and green beer
Gearing Up for the Position Round (Mar 7th, 2017) - The season is already nearly halfway over, and as we move into next week's position round the only shakeup in the standings is the surprise result of Frankee's Uncles no longer rolling on lanes 1-2 next week.
Our Gutters ♥ Your Balls (Feb 14th, 2017) - While many bowlers were either absent or pre-bowled, most of the league knew what their true love is and spend Valentine's evening chucking balls down the lane.
So Shines a Good Deed in a Weary World (Jan 31st, 2017) - With so much darkness and suffering in our country and the world the last 11 days, it is nothing short of miraculous when a tiny ray of light cuts through the darkness and brings hope to a world in sorrow. So, Omaha Hambone, we thank you.
Spring 2017 Kickoff! (Jan 24th, 2017) - Our 35th season kicked off with what could very well turn out to be the most fund, least competitive season we have had in years. A dozen rookies make up more than a third of the league, so anything goes!
Same Result, with a Tiny New Twist (Dec 6th, 2016) - Congratulations to Seth and Ashlee Gunderson on the birth this morning of their first child, Spring 2038 women's high game scratch winner Frankee Belle Gunderson! (Oh also also congratulations to Seth and his team for winning the championship yet again...)
Up In The Air (Nov 29th, 2016) - All bowling scores are in, and the headline for this write-up doesn't need to change! After ruling the roost all season, Vote JV is now in a tie with the team that is trying very hard to live up to the namesake of its acronymous name. It litterally comes down to who wins next week!
Thankful For a More Interesting Championship (Nov 22nd, 2016) - In what was a very short night for everybody except the poor schmoes on the first pair of lanes, things suddenly have become potentially very interesting as we close in on the Championship round. Suddenly the team that has been running away with first place all season is finding themselves needing to fight for it. How did this happen?
Flat-ner Is Coming (Nov 15th, 2016) - After years over suffering with blurry, miscolored, distorted scoreboards, we have credible information that by next week all of the scoreboards will be replaced with modern LCD flat=panel screens. It remains to be seen if or when this will be followed with high-def signal on the TVs, or working lanes. :)
Look At Some Cute Things While Reading About Bowling (Nov 9th, 2016) - Scoot tried several times last night to get this write-up going, and even had various sets of images already loaded up to go with a theme for either way the election went. But he just couldn't bring himself to do it, and decided that what this nation needs now more than anything else is a bowling recap to help us heal. (Pictured left: Freda & Carl reconcile after some heated post-bowling election night bickering.)
No Change (Nov 1st, 2016) - You'd think that with new bowlers continuing to be introduced 11 weeks into the season, that we'd see some changes in the standings. But nope, not this week, every team stayed exactly where they were!
Ten. (Oct 25th, 2016) - You'd think we wouldn't be welcoming a new bowler into the league in Week 10, but hey, this is the Fall 2016 season so anything goes. And, in typical Fall 2016 season, the team he was going to bowl on didn't show up. But that's okay, he got to kick ass for another team instead.
Pops Tops Pins (Oct 18th, 2016) - We begin the second half with no movement in the standings, at least not so far. However the matchup between the top two teams can't be reported until the alphabet team post-bowls on Monday.
Halfway Done! (Oct 11th, 2016) - 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.
Tournament Takes Off, Ray & Stevie Take It Slow (Sep 14th, 2016) - For the first time in league history, the team rolling against the Blind (Vacancy) Team not only didn't finish early, they were actually the last to finish. Meanwhile a late addition to the league (Ben Spencer) made for a complicated first week for the Tournament of Champions, and next week will be equally complicated when another new bowler -- likely the last new bowler this season -- will join us. And, finally, find out how the Carolina Reaper may come into play this season.
Sweepage (Sep 6th, 2016) - All four matchups ended in sweeps tonight. Who did the sweeping and who wound up in the dustbin? The answers to these questions and more, in this week's episode of All My Gutterballs.