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We're goin' to Vegas!

In 1997, we, the crew from Skipolini's Pizza Garden in Antioch, decided to put together a bowling team for the '97-'98 season. Our name was "Skipolini's Pizza" (original, huh?), and the team members were Tony Paredes, Jeff Lyons, Christine Houdashelt, and myself, Michael Marks. We joined the Employees and Friends league at Brunswick Delta Bowl. There were 20 teams in the league, and the season was divided into 2 halves. The winner of each half, along with a 3rd wild card team, was granted a berth in the West Coast Nationals in Las Vegas. We were tied for first going into the last week of the first half! On the last day of the first half, the position round was held, which constisted of the first place team playing the second place team, and so on down the line. In the first game, I bowled a 222, and in the second game, I scored 224! We took 2 out of 3 games from the team with whom we were tied for first (They eventually won the second half), to secure ourselves a free trip to Vegas, and a birth in the tourney there. We really stomped them!

In Vegas, we had to change a team member, due to Jeff dropping out for personal reasons. We added Roger Case to our roster. We continued to bowl well. In practice, Tony bowled two 269's in a row!! As for the tournament, there were 278 teams entered. With Tony and I bowling strong, (I had a 234 and a 198 in the first two games) and Christine bowling way above her average, we were trouncing the competition. We knew we had at least a top 20 performance. Later that night, they held a banquet where they were to announce the top 20. They started with 20th place, and counted down to 1. We came in 6th place out of 278! The team took home $1400 for our efforts. The rest of the vacation was great, too! Here's some pictures.

Me, Christine, Tony and Roger.

This is us right before the tournament.

Goofing off.

Here's me clowning around at the MGM theme park.

The Awards Banquet.

Christine and I are happy, but Tony's looking rather upset. Must have been that gutter ball in the 10th frame.

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