Hello bowling fans! This is Jim Ephlin, at the Rushville Bowl, where all the action is.

Our Friday night jackpot bowling game called Russian Roulette took the lanes for the first time last week. Playing to a crowd of 48, the game was well received with new games, new formats and different rewards from last year’s game.

The biggest change might be that we are playing 9-pin no-tap on the last game. This makes it easier to win “dollar shots” as you only have to knock down 9 pins. You must still throw a “real” strike to hit Jackpot Shots, Fishbowls or Bigger Dollar Shots. If a player bowls a no-tap 300, they receive $10 worth of tickets for the game of their choice next time they bowl.

The new game we are playing is called “Blackjack” and just like the real version, 21 is the key. If we call your ticket, you throw three first ball shots and must knock down exactly 21 pins to win the pot. Last week, Lou Howard and Jeff Boteler both busted with 23 before Brian Crabtree went 6 - 9 - 6 for a perfect Blackjack. Brian won $70 for his $1 investment.

We still track attendance and this year we give you a ticket for every time you bowl for the final night $300 cash give away. Last year, if you came to nine games you got one chance, 15 games you got two and if you came to all 22 you got three tickets. Our game plays Friday nights at 9:30 p.m. and this week we are offering a door prize. If you bowl Russian Roulette and we draw your ticket we will pay for your next two league sessions or your next two Roulette games.

The Rushville Bowl high school girls and boys teams traveled to Richmond to bowl the Red Devils on their home lanes. The girls, who have high expectations with so many experienced bowlers on the team lost 18-2. I don’t have a report of scores, but heard we threw fairly good first shots but spare shooting was non existent.

The boys came out shooting team games of 893 and 979 for a 187.2 average for the 10 games. That was good enough to go 10-10 against Richmond for a tie, but Richmond won the tie-breaker with a higher total score for the two games.

Mike Tompkins led the Lions with 215 and 225. Josh Neth rolled 192 and 235 and Dustin Ripberger contributed 176 and 213.

Rushville Bowl will host the Mid-Indiana high school bowling matches at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Bowler of the Week rosters continue to swell with the addition of two more men and women. Keshia Bockover rolled 165, 213 and 157 in the Wednesday Coffee bowl while Sally Smith went 210, 171 and 176 in the Sunday NASCAR League.

The men were able to keep the string of 700`s alive with myself going 755 and Mike Lafuse shooting 715. Mike rolled 220, 217 and 278 and I had 232, 278 and 245.

Make sure you catch the P.B.A. show this Sunday on ESPN as they roll out one of the many special formats to commemorate their 50th year anniversary. This week they let the pro bowlers shoot on a typical house pattern and scores are expected to go through the roof. At the time of this article, Patrick Allen led the 14-game qualifier with a 264 average per game.