Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Dodge breaks through to capture first PBA regional title Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 14:51:51 EST Message-ID: \SE D;SPORTS;BOWLING \HD Dodge breaks through to capture first PBA regional title \BY Bob Cosgrove \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES The wait is over for Richard Dodge. The quiet, slender right-hander from Woodbridge, who last month was inducted into the Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association Hall of Fame, defeated top seed Aaron White of Cleveland, Tenn., 237-206 in Kingsport, Tenn., on Sunday to win his first Professional Bowlers Association regional title. "It's an incredible feeling," said Dodge, 28, who has competed frequently in PBA Southern Regional tournaments the past two years, with fourth place his best previous finish. "I kept getting closer and closer, but I began to wonder if I was ever going to win." Dodge averaged 214 during Saturday's qualifying to place third heading into Sunday's 16-game match-play competition. He won 9 1/2 matches and was the leader entering the position-round contest. However, he lost to White and dropped to third place for the championship round. Oddly, the loss worked to his advantage. While practicing on the warmup pair, his roommate, fellow pro Jim Lewis of Waldorf, suggested that Dodge change balls and his line of attack - a drastic 15-board move to the right that put his shot near the gutter. "All of the credit goes to Jim," Dodge said. "Too many times, I haven't made changes because I was stubborn and thought I could make something still work. Jim kind of kicked me in the rear and told me that I had to switch my ball and line. He was right." Dodge cashed for the seventh time in 12 events this year, taking home $2,500 and a trophy, but both mattered little. "It's the banner that means the most," he said, referring to the colored strip that will bear his name and appear on bowling center masking units along with those of other Southern Regional champions at future tournaments. A Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Dodge said his banner will have yellow letters on a black background. The PBA's weekend regional program is ideal for Dodge, who is employed full-time by the American Fire Equipment Company in Woodbridge. He'll go to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for a tournament this weekend and to Georgia on Nov. 21. Beginning in January, he'll try to make every stop on the Southern Regional schedule. If all goes well, he'll consider dedicating at least one full year to the PBA National Tour. Done deal - American Bowling Congress and Women's International Bowling Congress officials recently met in Reno, Nev., for the official signing of the contract for that city's National Bowling Stadium. The organizations agreed to bring their championship tournaments to the stadium once every three years. The 1995 ABC tournament will open the facility and kick off the congress's 100th anniversary celebration. The first WIBC event in Reno will be in 1997. ABC on Prodigy - The ABC is now using the Prodigy computer network to answer questions and provide information through the Sports Club menu. ABC can be reached through its identification number: CJMJ43A. ABC will monitor the message board daily. However, it will not become involved in debates on opinions or statements that are not pertinent to the organization's operation. Recent topics discussed by ABC on Prodigy include gambling and bowling, particularly the legality of 50/50 raffles during league play. ABC now joins WIBC, the Young American Bowling Alliance, and the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America on the Prodigy network. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM