School Belles originated as teacher's loop

One glance at a School Belles score sheet and it's easy to identify the league theme: Erasers. Class Rebels. Hookie Players. Teacher's Pets. Pi Makers. The Rulers. Mighty Math. Class Clowns. The Dunces. Cheerleaders. Bad Apples. Cleft Notes. Student Bowlers.
Those are some of the team names in the 15-team league that dates back to the early 1960s.
"It's a teachers' league," Nancy Welch said of the School Belles, originally those from the Austintown school system. "It started as a league for teachers and school personnel, first just in Austintown, then other systems. They always met on Monday nights and always at Wedgewood."
Zeisler, Welch veterans
Mel Zeisler is the member with the most league longevity, followed by Welch.
Welch said she started subbing as a bowler in 1973, then became a regular later on. She used to work as a secretary in the office at the original Fitch High School, a building that now houses the middle school.
"That's where we went for all 12 grades," said Welch, who was actually born in the township.
"I was born in Austintown, not in a hospital," she stressed.
She took time out to raise a family, then returned to the all-women's league.
"It's been a good league, a fun league, but, now, I don't think too many teachers are still involved. I'm there to get out for a night."
In 1984, Welch organized a team. Now her four-woman Erasers team includes a sister, Barb Phillips; a daughter, Lisa Hunter and a niece, Denise Zimmermann.
"We all have names that pertain to school," Nancy Welch said. "Everybody has to have a school-related name. We came up with our own. We took Erasers."
As a member of the Powder Puffs, a Tuesday afternoon league at Wedgewood, Nancy Welch was YWBA secretary of year for the 1993-94 season.
Wolcott does well
Congratulations to Jim Wolcott of Mineral Ridge, who did well in the Denny's PBA-Pepsi Championship at AMF Riviera Lanes in Fairlawn last week.
In the Round of 32 in match play, Wolcott beat David Traber of Hebron, Ill., 4-2 (267-211, 278-194, 165-227, 224-218, 215-246, 236-227).
In the Round of 16, Joe Ciccone of Buffalo beat Wolcott, 4-2 (148-236, 212-232, 208-207, 202-163, 172-161, 245-173). Wolcott earned $3,500.
Ciccone's earlier round was against Doug Kent of Newark, N.Y.
Chip Helminiak had 299-844 and Adam Barta fired 300, both in Shooting Gallery at Holiday.
Jason Fitzgerald's 803 led Tri-County Classic at Holiday on Feb. 14. It was the first 800 series for Fitzgerald, who bowls for the Youngstown Casket team. His games were 279, 246 and 278.
Shirley Carson's 258-701 was tops for women in G.E. Mixed at Wedgewood on Feb. 13.
Carnahan has second 300
Jason Carnahan had his second 300 game of the season in UAW 1112-Lucianno's Restaurant Men on Feb. 8.
Marla Chicase had 279-(738)-983, Jennifer Gossett rolled 279-(741)-975 and Teri Haefke had 280-(734)-964 to pace Wedgewood Ladies Trio on Feb. 21.
Eleven-year-old Marissa Simon had 272-568 to lead 10-12 Junior Optimists at Bell-Wick during week 22 of 34.
Wing And A Prayer won Prime Timers' third quarter at A-Plus Family Bowl with members Mike Saborse, Pete Saborse, John Nuzzo and Ken Signor. Mike Saborse, league secretary, said that his team's bowlers release the ball "on a wing and a prayer" and hope they get good results.
Kelley-Robb Funeral Home is the third-quarter winner of the Robb Division of the Kelley-Robb Classic at Bell-Wick.
Mac's Roofing of Joe Vaught, Tom Bobonick, Bob McCormick, John Mshar Jr., John Mshar Sr., Rick Havrilla and Dan Paris won Triple A's third quarter at A-Plus.
Update on Fairchild's daughters
A-Plus proprietor Nancy Fairchild passed along an update on her daughters Erin and Cecelia, both graduates of Boardman High School.
Erin graduated from YSU in accounting and is working for Comprehensive Logistics. Cecelia is a freshman at YSU where she's on the women's bowling team.
The following item was extracted from the On This Date section on March 2: 1991 -- Del Ballard Jr. throws the most famous gutter ball in PBA Tour history in the finals of the Fair Lanes Open. Ballard, needing just seven pins on his last roll to beat Pete Weber, gets none as his ball falls into the gutter. Weber wins 213-207, claiming the $30,000 first prize, while Ballard takes $15,500.
bassetti@vindy.com