Record 803 Series Has Bowler Quaking

Jamie Nelson was understandably nervous at Valley Bowl on Dec. 6, when the strikes mounted en route to her first perfect bowling game.

She was even more nervous a short time later, however, as she put the finishing touches on a 256 game.

The reason? The 256, parlayed with the 300 and an opening 247, gave her the first sanctioned 800 series by a woman in Spokane bowling history - an 803.

It blew away the city three-game series record by 26 pins. Kathy Barach rolled a 777 in the 1986-87 season.

“I was more nervous on the 800 than the 300, definitely,” said Nelson, who strung eight strikes in the third game to put herself in position for the 800. “It was pretty exciting.”

She missed the conclusion of her 300 game. On the last ball, as the 10 pin teetered, she dropped her head in disappointment, figuring it wouldn’t fall. Then she heard a roar. “It wiggled a little bit, but I didn’t think it was going to fall,” she said. Spectators told her “another pin rolled over and knocked it down.”

Baseball/softball

The deadline has been extended because of the ice storm, so registrations are still being accepted for the Bulldog Winter Baseball/

Softball Camp Dec. 21-23 in Martin Centre at Gonzaga University.

The camp for youngsters aged 6-18 offers three daily sessions - 9 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Cost is $80 by mail ($70 with five or more in the same envelope). Info: Bulldog baseball office, (509) 328-4220, ext. 4226.

Whitworth College will hold two winter baseball camps in the school fieldhouse - Jan. 18-19 for ages 7-13 and Feb. 1-2 for those 14-18.

Camps will run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and noon-3 p.m. Sundays. Cost is $45 (without lunch), $50 (with lunch), with a price of $200 (with lunch) for a group of five. Info: Rod Taylor, camp director, (509) 466-3235 or (509) 466-3224.

Basketball

Spokane’s only 3-on-3 basketball league for girls ages 6-12 is accepting registrations at the YWCA. Deadline is Friday. Play begins Jan. 13. Volunteers also are needed.

Info: (509) 326-1190, ext. 119.

Bicycle racing

Brenda Gildehaus, 30, of Spokane won the national championship in her age group (26-30) at the American Bicycle Association’s Grand National for BMX racing last month in Oklahoma City, Okla.

In capturing the women’s cruiser class for 26- to 30-year-olds, Gildehaus defeated the defending champion.

Daughter Stevie, 5, placed sixth in her age group to clinch a top-five position nationally in season points.

Both mother and daughter won Washington district championships.

College scene

Two University of Montana volleyball players from Spokane received school postseason honors.

Freshman Shannon Blott (Lewis and Clark) was most improved. Used mostly in the back row and as a strong-side hitter substitute, she contributed 27 kills and 86 digs.

Junior Holly Horn (Shadle Park) was named the outstanding postseason player and outstanding backcourt player. She averaged 2.5 kills and a team-high 3.9 digs per game, the third-best figure in the Big Sky Conference.

Erin McGovern of Sandpoint wound up her volleyball career at the University of Michigan in fourth place in career assists with 1,538. She had 161 this year in a reserve role. She is a four-year letterwinner.

Two Washington State swimmers reached NCAA consideration times with school-record efforts in the Husky Invitational last weekend in Seattle.

Sophomore Katie Keller had NCAA consideration times in the 200 (1:53.10) and 100 (51.41) freestyle events and freshman Katie Eldridge in the 100 (1:05.10) and 200 (2:17.04) breaststroke.

Sara Gigliotti of Davenport, a graduate student at San Francisco with a 3.8 GPA in sports and fitness management, earned West Coast Conference All-Academic honors for cross country. She was a USF co-captain the last two years.

Chris Peterson of Spokane (St. George’s), a sophomore at Middlebury College in Vermont, earned conference player of the week in basketball after scoring 34 points in two wins for the 3-0 Panthers.

Football

University of Washington alums and supporters interested in joining the Huskies in San Diego for the Holiday Bowl should contact the school alumni association.

A package for $845 includes air fare, three nights accommodations, transportation to the game and a pregame function. Game tickets can be included for an additional charge. The package without air fare is $570. Travel info: (800) 289-2586. Game tickets info: (206) 543-2200.

Softball

Tryouts for girls ages 13-16 interested in playing for a fastpitch softball team that will tour Australia in August will be held today at 1 p.m. in the Spokane Falls Community College gymnasium at Fort Wright.

Info: Ron Bradstreet, (509) 926-4482.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CCS’ Rosselli national CC player of year Jenni Rosselli of Community Colleges of Spokane has been named the national community college division player of the year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She also earned first-team All-America. Rosselli, a middle hitter from Federal Way, Wash., compiled 588 kills, 253 blocks, 425 digs and 66 aces. Her two-year totals are 944 kills, 400 blocks, 615 digs and 94 aces. “Jenni Rosselli, for the past two years, has been an outstanding student-athlete for CCS,” said coach Irene Matlock. “She has been a team leader both on and off the court.” Rosselli, who will receive her honor in Cleveland on Friday, is CCS’ third All-American in five years, following Andrea Edminster (1992) and Beth Wright (1993).