Ratliff hoping to get back on the lanes

Longtime TNBA Church League member Edna Ratliff had her 87th birthday Feb. 12.
But Ratliff, who has 43 years in the league at Holiday, wasn't bowling at that time.
Edna has been recovering from a stroke she suffered before Thanksgiving.
"We circulated a get-well card with a check enclosed from the TNBA Church and Howgren Heating & amp; Cooling leagues," TNBA secretary Lillie Fleming said.
Ratliff last bowled in TNBA Church in November.
"I'm doing better," said Ratliff, whose speech and right hand were affected, although she's able to carry on a conversation quite well.
"I can't use my right hand. That's my bowling hand. That's what made it so bad. That's the only thing keeping me from bowling."
Edna also bowled in Swan's Mixed at Wedgewood on Saturdays.
Ratliff said her best average in the past was 170.
Before her stroke, the East Side woman bowled 21 games for the 2005-06 season and held a 135 average.
Ratliff has four sons -- one a doctor -- and a great-grandson, Keiwan Ratliff, who plays defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals.
"He visited after she had a stroke," Fleming said of Keiwan. "She has all of his shirts. He looks out for his great-grandmother."
Keiwan's father is Charles, who played football at Cardinal Mooney and later in Florida. His father, Charles, is Edna's oldest son.
John Ratliff is a doctor in Columbus, Elliott (Teddy) served 23 years in the military and youngest son, Michael, lives in Virginia.
Edna Ratliff was on the Tabernacle No. 1 team, one of eight in the TNBA Church now.
Fleming said the league started with 24 teams and Ratliff was one of its original members.
All of the four-person teams are named for some church.
"If there's an opening and they don't belong to that church, it [doesn't] matter," said Fleming, a 38-year member herself.
"When I go through the league book, I kind of chuckle because several bowlers are in their 70s and some in their 80s, which is good because it still brings them out. As long as they can, they'll keep going."
Fleming recalls Ratliff's resolve.
"I can remember once long ago when Edna bowled in a league with me with a cast on one foot. She's a very determined lady."
Mirto has 300
John Mirto accomplished a rare feat when he bowled a 300 in the Allied Printcraft League at Holiday.
The 300 was his first game of the night and Mirto became the seventh bowler to roll a perfect game in the league's 80-year history.
His second and third games were 179 and 149 for 628.
Teri Haefke's 759 series for three and 975 for four and Jennifer Gossett's 276 single paced Wedgewood Ladies Trio on March 7.
Ali Wess' 258-731 was tops in Hively's Ladies at Amron during week 26 of 32, when Marty Denmeade's 267-726 was best among men and women in Window World/Casper Welding, also at Amron.
Lu Clark's 240 game paced Pinettes at Holiday on Feb. 23 and, among juniors, Bryan Gabler had a 278-717 in Camelot Majors on March 4.
Women's event
AUSTINTOWN -- The 14th Youngstown Women's Bowling Association senior tournament will be March 25-26 at Wedgewood Lanes.
The event will consist of five divisions. Forms are available at area centers. Entry fee is $15. Sciarra Siding and Earl Winner Agency are co-sponsors.
Each division winner will receive a paid entry into next year's senior tournament.
Slovak event
MASURY -- The 64th Slovak Bowling Congress of America national tournament starts April 8 at Sunset Lanes in Farrell.
It will continue on weekends through May 7, with the exception of Easter.
The entry fee is $17 per event, plus $3 optional all events.
For more information, call (330) 448-8630.