JOHN BASSETTI Guthridge, Evans enjoy big games

Like mushrooms in dark, damp places, big games keep popping up.
The latest were by Mark Guthridge and Nick Evans at Holiday Bowl.
The 19-year-old Guthridge had his five days apart while Evans did his damage in a six-day span.
Guthridge fired 300-288-257 -- 845 in Max Belchyk Classic on April 1, then another 300 on April 6 in Charlie's Service/Dr. Ferkula Chiropractic, in which he finished with 768.
Also on April 1 -- no fooling -- Evans rolled 300-225-300 for 825 in MaxBelCla. Evans was a Shooting Gallery hot-shot on April 7 when he registered 300-809.
For Guthridge, good scores might be in the genes.
His grandfather is Youngstown Men's Hall of Famer Andy Chicase and his aunt is Marla Chicase.
Started at young age
Since he started at Boardman in bumperless bantams at age 3, Guthridge has had guidance from both.
"They pretty much got me into bowling and I've always been trying to catch up to them," Mark said of his family's bowling background.
Marla Chicase of Poland recently had her fifth 800. She also has 11 perfect games to her credit. Marla had the W.I.B.C.'s high average of 237 for the 2001-2002 season, which was three pins short of Jodi Musto's all-time high. The Schenectady, N.Y. woman finished with 240 in 1998-99.
Guthridge is a first-year adult league bowler since coming out of Boardman High School and Boardman's juniors system.
The 2002 Boardman graduate helped his high school team reach the state tournament in Columbus for 2001-2002.
During the summer of 2002, Mark bowled for scholarship money and placed in the junior gold national finals in Florida. He remained in juniors until last September. Now, he also subs in a few adult leagues.
Family tradition
At Holiday, Guthridge bowls with his grandfather in both leagues. Andy Chicase was recently re-elected the Zone 10 director of the Ohio State Bowling Association.
Mark's scores over the last few months have surprised him.
"Whenever I've had a big string of strikes, I expect to leave something, a 9- or 10-pin. That seems to have been the trend. They always say you shoot big numbers when you don't expect to. I never expected to do anything like I did, but it's kind of nice."
In Guthridge's words, he's officially "over the hump," but he's had help -- a new ball. Mark's 300-845 topped off his month-old introduction to his Columbia Hyde.
The right-hander is a second year student at YSU where he's majoring in computer engineering.
He's also part of YSU's bowling club.
"It's been a rough first year, but we started from scratch. It was self-funded, so, with our limited resources, we did well. It was a pretty successful year," he said of the team's sectional performance in Lexington, Ky., one step from nationals.
Guthridge's adult-league goal this season was to average 225, which he did.
Considering that the final game of Guthridge's first adult-league season concluded with a 300 in Charlie's, the 20-year-old-to-be may have no problem reaching his goal.
"I'd like to average 230 and, hopefully, bowl in more adult tournaments."
From B to Z
Chet Bolender had 825 and Jack Ziegler 299 in Dr. John's Auto Clinic at Boardman, J.D. Bossone blew away the competition with 808 in KLS Doubles at Amron on March 3 and Don Morrison, Ron Jones and Tod Draper had honor scores in Austintown Township-UAW 1112 Men at Wedgewood.
Morrison had his third 300 of the season and 813, Jones had 813, Draper a 300 and leaguemates Tony Boggs and Daryl Moses had 11-in-a-row 290s on March 24.
Marla Chicase's 805 for three and 1,041 for four led Wedgewood Ladies Trio on March 30. Teri Haefke's 289 was WLT's top game and her 768 was the second-best three-game effort.
Paul Givens followed a game-two 300 with eight strikes before finishing with 267 in Hubbard Businessmen at Bell-Wick on March 31. A second perfect game would have given Givens an even 800; instead, he had 767.
Joe Zappia had his first 300 game in Charlie's Service/Dr. Ferkula at Holiday on April 6, while Eddee McElroy was also perfect in G.E. Mixed at Wedgewood on March 22.
Brian Umstead had a Camelot Outdoorsmen 300 for the second straight week on March 31. It was Umstead's third of the season.
Jim Dodge was also perfect in Max Belchyk Classic on April 1 when Tom Parker had 299 and Jack White 298 and Rex Rager's 290 led Bell-Wick's Spiech Classic on April 5.
Young bowler rolls 256
The Poland United Methodist Mixed League's youngest bowler, Patrick Smith, had a 256 game at Boardman on March 26.
Bill Lovell's 706 topped JMS II bowlers at Holiday during the league's 29th of 30 Saturday sessions, while Jeff Perrine's 706 was Wedgewood Jrs./Majors' best on April 3.
The duo of Donna Woodward and Ron DeGenaro Jr. won Pro Shop Sunday Niters' championship at A-Plus Family Bowl.
John Mshar finished with 11 strikes in a row for a 278 game in Don's Auto/A-Plus/Storm of which the McCrudden Heating Supply team of Howie Mancini Sr., Chuck Nider, Joe Furlong, Sam Rolla, Tom Bobonick and Steve Vadjina was the fourth-quarter winner.
After winning the third 3rd, Cintas will meet G & amp; S Refrigeration and Rip's Cafe will bowl Gulu Electric in the Tri-County Classic playoffs at Holiday. G & amp; S qualified via wild card. The championship will be April 20.
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