A Night of Firsts

September 21st was a night of firsts for the Hog Palace as they took on the team of Fargo Glass & Paint.

It started off as a regular night. By the time they turned the lanes on for warm ups, there were only a total of three players at the bowling alley. Those three consisted of one regular, Jason, and two substitutes, Matt and Josh. By 6:25, the three were starting to get a little worried, knowing the David and Donnie were working late and Mike had asked Josh to bowl for him. A little after 6:30, an intoxicated Barry showed up late with his bowling face on.

Three weeks in and the team is already bowling with players short, even with the addition of two new substitutes. Things are shaping up to be a long, bleak year.

The three-game series started off rough for the Hog Palace. The first game had two of the four players not even hit the 100 mark. Jason won his first of two poker hands with a pair of Kings. Thinking that he couldn't possibly win a hand with any worse of a hand, he picked up the second round of poker with an Ace high. Earlier in the game, Matt had picked up a pair of Jokers after bowling a strike and managed to get a three-of-a-kind after a spare. However, you need five cards to play. Ace high wins.

Along with all of the poker blunders, Barry sure was having an off night. Barry, a consistent bowler in the 150 range, was having troubles breaking the illusive 100 mark. Three games - 84/94/75. Only three pins above the all-time low record of 72, which is currently held by Jasen. However, two of those games Barry bowled were low enough to be placed on the current Low Game of the Year Record Board.

The high series of the night went to the rookie, Josh. Josh has showed his prowess on the lanes before, although never in a league setting. His average is probably in the 100-110 range, but he pulled out all of the stops in the second and third games to beat the rest of the players on the team and pick up a few wins and a turkey in the process. Josh beating the rest of the team in the series score may never happen again. Congratulations to the rookie.

Finally, the Hog Palace found them in a position that has been foreign to them in recent years. The team was ranked number six in the league standings, a spot the only surpassed once the previous year. If they able to sustain that position or drop in dramatic fashion has yet to be seen.

Maybe this season isn't looking so bleak after all.