Make those lanes longer, tougher

The anti-bowler strikes again!
There's been a suggestion to rectify bowling's high-score syndrome.
I dare not say it too loud because the financial cost would be devastating to those already in business.
It would require extensive renovation to an existing facility. The suggestion is to lengthen the current 60-foot distance of a lane bed.
With sport bowling not completely satisfying the effort to slow the proliferation of high scores, the new challenge would have an immediate impact and return the sport to respectability.
Longer lanes -- whether five, 10, 30 or more feet -- would surely increase the degree of difficulty and make shots harder.
The length of lanes could vary and their side-by-side arrangement -- from short on the ends to long in the middle -- could give an arrow shape to the rear of the building. Do such drastic measures have to be taken?
New handicap
Why not? Basketball may have to do the same with the height of its rims, baseball the distance of its fences and hockey the thickness of its ice. Apply a similar meaningful handicap to bowling.
Since there's no hint of equipment evolution reversal, the only alternative is lane length.
Changing the number of frames from 10 to 11 or more or tampering with the pins won't cut it.
The only objection to longer lanes might be from environmentalists who would protest greater use of maple and pine.
Lengthen the lanes before it's too late! The anti-bowler is waiting.
Men of March
Jim Wolcott and Bob Haynie had 300s -- their fifth and second 300s of the season -- in Austintown Township-UAW 1112 Men's League at Wedgewood on March 31, when, powered by a 298 game, Rich Skelton's 803 was high.
AT-UAW's Albellas Pizza had a high team actual series score of 3,764.
Bob Eisenbraun Jr. had 300, Tom Parker 299 and Ron Jones 298 in Max Belchyk Classic at Holiday on April 8 while Dave Cramer had a perfect game in Spiech Classic at Bell-Wick on April 12. Eisenbraun's 300 was his third in Belchyk, fifth this season and tenth overall.
Rich Huebner and Rob Brienik had 300s in Bob's Service at Wedgewood.
The Triple A League got 700s from Rick Havrilla (794), Clint Fairchild Jr. (765), Doug Ennett (740) and Jennifer Mellott (718) during Week 31 action at A-Plus Family Bowl. Ennett's top single was 290.
Jim Diver had 290-771 in Hivelys Sportsman at Amron on April 5 and Kevin Mulholland's first 700 of 737 came in Hubbard Businessmen's League at Bell-Wick on April 14. The 2003-2004 season is Mulholland's first in an adult league after bowling for Fitch High School. Mulholland is a member of the Youngstown Microfilm team with his father, Dave.
Jenn Mellott's 752 for three and 1018 for four led Wedgewood Ladies Trio on April 13, while Teri Haefke and Nancy Goodman shared top game of 289. Other WLT 700s were by Haefke (759), Goodman (772) and Marla Chicase (704).
Sciarra Siding of Bobbi Sciarra, Patty Schuley and Linda Plume won WLT's third quarter before a roll-off that included first-quarter winner Patterson Eyecare, second-quarter winner Nemenz Save-A-Lot and wildcard entry Molnar Concessions.
American Dream Inc. defeated Krazee Karls Karpet Koral for Don's Auto/A Plus/Storm's 2003-2004 championship at A-Plus Family Bowl. ADI won two games and had a margin of just 14 in total pins.
American Dream team members are Dante Perruzzi, Tony Black, Dan Pangio, Ron Pangio, Denny Greathouse, Frank Palocyi and Mark Wesolowsky Sr.
Just Us 2 of Roseanne Winner and Diane Schuller won Wedgewood Hi-Lo Ladies while Grandamas of Norma Baker and Dee Sturtz was the runner-up team.
Bethel beat Zion Youngstown for the Lutheran Men's crown at Camelot. In semifinal matches, Zion eliminated Prince of Peace #1 and Bethel beat Christ.
Also at Camelot, Queens' second-half winner was Pizza Joe's.
John Mshar's 288-759 topped Jrs./Majors bowlers at Wedgewood while Ken Sedlacko's 276-709 paced the Majors 13-18 in Junior Optimist at Bell-Wick on April 10.
League champions
The following Saturday league teams were crowned champions at Wedgewood: The Carnies of Matt Fedorsin, Kevin Albright, Steven Drogowski, Dan Brenamen and Anthony Levar in Jrs. B; King Pins of Tony Gallo, Brian Skelton, Jeff Podolsky, Kevin Rupert and Alex Kotch in Jrs. C-II; the Bulldogs of D.J. Learn, Zachary Lyons, Zarek Bell, Kyle Sharisky and Jeff Manna in Jrs. C-I; Easy Riders of John Greenlund, Katherine Gonatas, Malorie Niemczura and William Gbur in Bantams and co-champs The Hulks of Michael Dina, Jeremy Honthy, Jordan Kurm and Paul Gavin and Rocket Power of Jared Gherardi, Jacob Gherardi, Tyler Napolitano and Seth Welch in Pee Wees.