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Local bowlers hope to make cut at PBA event in Herrin

By Geary Deniston, For the Southern

Saturday, September 13, 2008 11:47 PM CDT

HERRIN - The Professional Bowlers Association regional tour made its annual visit to the new and improved Herrin Bowl Saturday with several local bowlers hoping to make the cut for Sunday's finals of the PBA Midwest/Central Region Herrin Bowl Open.

Seventy-three bowlers hit the lanes at the Herrin Bowl on Saturday, bowling eight games in hopes of being one of the 24 bowlers left standing for Sunday's semifinals that begin at 8 a.m.

"This is a pretty tough field," Midwest Regional Manager for the PBA Rich Weber said. "We have five guys off the national tour and many more with lots of regional titles to their credit including Steve Jaros with 41 regional titles."

Bowlers from 12 different states were on hand including last year's winner and two-time PBA Midwest/Central Region Herrin Bowl champion Jeff Richgels from Madison, Wis. Richgels is looking for his 30th career regional title.

"I was having a great year until the first of June when I hurt my groin chasing my dog, so I've been struggling lately," Richgels said. "I haven't cashed my last five tournaments, so my expectations are just to make the cut."

Richgels added, "I've been here every year, so I've bowled in both the original Herrin Bowl (burned down in 2002) and this new one (rebuilt in 2003). If you didn't know it you would think it was the old place, especially with the original sign still out front and the same wonderful people still running it. The only difference are the new synthetic lanes instead of the old wood ones."

Also among the hopefuls were local favorites Joseph Labotte, Derek Jilek, James Melvin, Corey Young and Barry Hubbard.

Sunday the first five games will cut the field down to the Sweet 16. The championship round should begin sometime after 2:30 p.m.

"After the field is cut to 16 we will begin the single elimination part of this championship with the best of five games to cut it down to eight," Weber said. "In the round of eight it will be best two of three and the final four will be best game."

Labotte is from Herrin and is the son of the Herrin Bowl owners Tim and Crystal Labotte. He owns the record for all-time 300 games bowled at the new Herrin Bowl with nine.

"This will be the eighth year I've bowled this regional, but never made the cut," Labotte said. "It's time for a change, so I'm hoping to make Sunday this time. Bowling has been my passion all my life. I began bowling youth leagues when I was five. I qualified for my first tournament when I was 14."

Melvin is from West Frankfort and is making his first appearance at the PBA Midwest/Central Regional. He bowls in the men's league at the West Frankfort Bowl with his five-man team (Alfred Schach, Mike Crow, Derek Loeh, John and John Eric Prudent).

"I'm on a streak lately bowling my first two 300 games within the past two weeks," Melvin said. "I was a little nervous at first, but after practice yesterday I'm not nervous anymore. I've been bowling pretty much all my life. My uncles, Paul and James Hill, got me started when I was around five."

Jilek is a recent graduate from Herrin High School where he was a three-time state qualifier as a member of the Tiger bowling team.

"This is my first PBA event, so making the cut is very important to me," Jilek said. "I graduated in May and am now attending John A. Logan and working two jobs. I bowl in two leagues here at the Herrin Bowl and average 209 on Mondays and 210 on Thursdays."

Young is from Steeleville and turned professional last May after graduating from Missouri Baptist University.

"I bowled the entire regional season, which just finished up, and I had a decent year," Young said. "My first professional season was not great, but not bad for a first year."