But I must tell you about the neat ballpark at the home of the Lansing Lugnuts. It was a minature Toledo Mudhens AAA field, built below street level with all the trappings of the bigs except for size. This team, their rally cry is Go Nuts, is a Class A Toronto Blue Jay farm team.
It fit for my son Robb and I because we are baseball nuts. We did 7 games in 7 days in Florida in March. Back to bowls.
Suffice to say at this time that there was dominance and squeakers, something old and something new. Finally for one and almost for another, surprises to consider and bad fortune out of the blue.
Ontario are now ready to board the team ship and set sail for Nova Scotia. It's a good crew, full of vim and vigour. Raise the canvas, set the course and let's see where this new journey will take us.
GOLD MEDAL GAMES
It was a downhill run for Kevin Jones to win the gold. The highest count against him was 10 in his four games and once he got rolling it was quick and decisive. Everything pointed to a dandy battle between Jones and Mervyn Horn in the Championship game Sunday but the opposition was immaterial to Kevin as he raced to a 9-1 lead, watched Horn work his way back to 11-8 then closed the door with a final run straight to 21. Besides a hot opponent, Mervyn also was affected by a medical condition that eventually led him to withdraw from further play.
Helen Wright had to be nudged to enter the Districts and look at her now. A gold crown as bright as Helen's smile after she surprised herself but not her supporters. As mentioned earlier, her 2nd round 8-19 comeback to defeat Katherine Smith 21-20 was the defining moment followed by consistent play to claim her title. Susan Karlins was the talk of Saturday with a strong effort including wins over two former Ontario Singles reps to the Canadians in Elaine Stevenson and number one pick Shirley Ko. But day two is anew and the red bowls were Wright spoiling Karlins effort to make a spectacular return to the Ontario competitive bowls scene.
This is Susan's first year of Provincial eligibility after returning to Ontario last year ( after January 1st ). She spent 7 years of that abscence working in Houston, Texas. Sandy remembered that when we played in the Provincial Mix Pairs in Simcoe in 1994, Susan played with Les Abro out of Willowdale. I marvel at people who can tell you the opponents, the score, the important shots of every game they have played. I can't remember who I played last month. I think I am undefeated in the last 15 years - except for July of this year.
Women - D7 SUSAN KARLINS 11 vs D11 HELEN WRIGHT 21
Men - D2 KEVIN JONES 21 vs D12 MERVYN HORN 8
Silver Medal Games
D14 ANNA PANTON 21 vs D9 KELLY MCKERIHEN 20
D10 BOB BATES 21 vs ROB RIENZO 6
Anna Panton's strength is her weight adjustment. It invariably keeps her near the jack and if her opponent doesn't match this consistency, it is game,set,medal. Kelly McKerihen was ready and able. Just off a 21-20 win over Susan Karlins, the battle for silver sparkled. The trend was set early. Anna would take the lead and Kelly would battle back. Anna up 12-7 , laying shot and Kelly takes out the shot bowl to lie three. Two close measures go to Anna as she moves toward the victory, 20-12. McKerihen the young won't concede as she wants to win it for her nana Jackie who has watched every bowl in the long day. The trend continues 14-20, 17-20 and another 3 with a superb last bowl takeout of the shot bowl. Tied at 20, both playing well, a fitting ending. Anna is 10 feet past the jack with her 1st bowl and then adjusts to draw the eventual winner 6 " behind and to the right. Kelly just missed the jack on her second as she put 3 in a row a yard behind. The 4th was wide. Two winners in this game but one called Anna is going to Halifax.
Twenty years of bowls and Bob Bates can remove the 'close' label and replace it with a Canadian National appearance. He simply goes quietly and competently about his business. No fanfare, no fuss just bowls that draw their way to the jack doing the talking and it was loud and clear that he is a worthy medalist. Oh, he had his moments. Leading Mike Bester 19-11 in the 1st round, he suddenly found himself down 19-20, a trick that Mike is known to do. But Bob escaped his closest game of the weekend by taking the jack to the ditch for two and the win. Relegated to the 'B' side by a lost to Merv Horn, Bob won a close match over Alan Steffen 21-17, then waltzed to the medal in his final two games.
Women Round 5 'B' Semi-Finals
D12 Gloria Cheung 10
D14 Anna Panton 21
D9 Kelly McKerihen 21
D7 Susan Karlins 20
Men Round 5 'B' Semi-Finals
D10 Bob Bates 21
D5 Dave Burrows 9
D12 Mervyn Horn ( Withdrew - Medical )
D16 Rob Rienzo
Women Round 4 'B'
D12 Gloria Cheung 21
D15 Pauline Hill 16
D14 Anna Panton 21
D6 Katherine Smith 6
D10 Shirley Ko 17
D9 Kelly McKerihen 21
Men Round 4 'B'
D10 Bob Bates 21
D14 Alan Steffen 17
D5 Dave Burrows 21
D9 Eldon McFadyen 14
D16 Rob Rienzo 21
D6 Herb Nesbitt 12
Round 3 'A' Semi-Finals
D10 Shirley Ko 10
D7 Susan Karlins 21
D15 Pauline Hill 14
D11 Helen Wright 21
'Where have you been Norma Jean.' Susan Karlins is on site and on target.
Helen Wright seems to always be in the chase for a medal no matter the event.
Round 3 'B'
D12 Gloria Cheung 21
D13 Elaine Stevenson 17
D14 Anna Panton 21
D5 Julia Farrell 15
D6 Katherine Smith 21
D8 Helen Kelley 5
D9 Kelly McKerihen 21
D1 Erin Roth 16
Gloria and Anna winding their way back to the top the long way. Kelly McKerihen wins the battle of the 20's (years). Katherine Smith has not been on my radar but she is blipping good.
Round 2 'A'
D10 Shirley Ko 21
D14 Anna Panton 8
D13 Elaine Stevenson 15
D7 Susan Karlins 21
D1 Erin Roth 7
D15 Pauline Hill 21
D6 Katherine Smith 20
D11 Helen Wright 21
Round 2- Shirley Ko won the Provincial Singles title in 2005, Anna Panton in 2006. Is an alternating pattern being established? Susan Karlins returns and wins. Pauline Hill a decisive win against the current Ontario Under 25 champion, Erin Roth.
It's never over til it's over, Yankee Yogi Berra would say. This is especially true in the game of Singles. Katherine Smith led Helen Wright 19-8 in their 2nd round match. Helen now plays for gold after completing her comeback with a 21-20 victory.
Round 2 'B'
D12 Gloria Cheung 21
D16 Leone Braby 16
D2 Freda Gersok 4
D5 Julia Farrell 21
D8 Helen Kelley 21
D3 Tilly Mannen 16
D9 Kelly McKerihen 21
D4 Kay Johns 13
Men
Round 3 'A' Semi-Finals
D2 Kevin Jones 21
D6 Herb Nesbitt 10
D12 Mervyn Horn 21
D10 Bob Bates 15
A final of former champions. Both methodical in their game, experienced competitors and a match you will want to settle down and watch.
Round 3 'B'
D15 Steven Miller 12
D14 Alan Steffen 21
D7 Steve Brancier 11
D5 Dave Burrows 21
D4 Juergen Fessler 16
D9 Eldon McFadyen 21
D8 Mike Bester 18
D16 Rob Rienzo 21
Alan Steffen has one goal in mind and he has been hot of late. Dave Burrows never stops smiling as he kindly sends you to the sidelines.
Don't you smile yourself when you see Eldon and Rob keep on keeping on. Both will be modest in their success but determined to maintain the run.
Round 2 'A'
D2 Kevin Jones 21
D5 Dave Burrows 9
D6 Herb Nesbitt 21
D14 Alan Steffen 12
D16 Rob Rienzo 12
D12 Mervyn Horn 21
D9 Eldon McFadyen 12
D10 Bob Bates 21
Men 'B'
Round 2
D13 Raj Rajalingam 19
D15 Steve Miller 21
D7 Steve Brancier 21
D1 Martin Henly 9
D3 Paul Davidson 10
D4 Juergen Fessler 21
D11 Vince Donohoe 4
D8 Mike Bester 21
Kevin Jones continuing his strong play after winning Player of the Week at WOBA. Herb Nesbitt and Mervyn Horn were rated near the front but Bob Bates is a surprise, not.
Fessler and Bester shifted gears as expected with Brancier keeping the local fans happy.
Round 1
D12 Gloria Cheung 13
D10 Shirley Ko 21
D14 Anna Panton 21
D16 Leone Braby 16
D13 Elaine Stevenson 21
D2 Freda Gersok 15
D5 Julia Farrell 8
D7 Susan Karlins 21
D1 Erin Roth 21
D8 Helen Kelley 6
D3 Tilly Mannen 5
D15 Pauline Hill 21
D6 Katherine Smith 21
D9 Kelly McKerihen 18
D11 Helen Wright 21
D4 Kay Johns 5
Gloria Cheung and Shirley Ko is one to keep an eye on. Two of the top picks facing each other in the first round. I am a supporter of seeding and I believe it can be accomplished fairly. [ That's a bold statement. It is the exact reason why the open draw is used - that it cannot be done fairly.]
After Round 1: The biggest surprise had to be National Team member Kelly McKerihen losing to Katherine Smith 18-21.
Top seed Shirley Ko held her position with a solid win over Gloria Cheung. But no time for relaxing as Shirley gets another highly ranked player in Anna Panton.
Men
D13 Raj Rajalingam 6
D2 Kevin Jones 21
D5 Dave Burrows 21
D15 Steven Miller 16
D6 Herb Nesbitt 21
D7 Steve Brancier 5
D1 Martin Henly 8
D14 Alan Steffen 21
D3 Paul Davidson 19
D16 Rob Rienzo 21
D4 Jurgen Fessler 8
D12 Mervyn Horn 21
D9 Eldon McFadyen 21
D11 Vince Donohoe 12
D10 Bob Bates 21
D8 Mike Bester 20
After Round 1 -Not surprises per se but might not have been expected. Bob Bates edged Mike Bester 21-20. I saw Bob sneak up on a lot of players in the Provincial Singles in Kingston in 2005. And Rob Rienzo was schooled in bowls playing against the likes of Jones, Covell and Townsend in London.
Games on my radar. Herb Nesbitt and Steve Brancier in Steve's home District. Steve was lights out in his final game District win over James MacGowan. Herb an experienced successful Provincial competitor.
Mervyn Horn is a past winner and an accomplished singles player. Jurgen literally travels the world to play quality bowls - Australia, the U.K., USA.
Looking at the lower rated players. Martin Henly plays with a bowling arm and is consistent and accurate.
Eldon McFadyen has played for 30 years and believe me he has tucked away plenty of skill over time.
Watched Bob Bates do very well in past Provincial Singles.
Vince Donohoe is back playing and practicing after a long lay-off. The brother of the late BCB President and champion bowler Laura Dewald, Vince is fulfilling a promise to Laura to return to the game she loved.
Raj Rajalingam is moving from cricket to bowls. His athleticism comes in this package.
Steven Miller is my personal mystery man but my pipeline tells me I will know him much better after the weekend.
Rob Rienzo played out of London Fairmont when working in the city. He knocked off some big names at that time. He is dedicated to being a complete player.
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