Mom’s Memory Valley Bowler Spurred On In Bid To Turn Professional

Before her death from cancer in 1994, Peggy Hainline had supported her son Jim’s desire for a professional bowling career.

Now 28, Jim is about to fulfill the dream he shared with his mother.

“When I was younger and even when I put the idea on the back burner, she was prodding me to do it,” said Hainline. “I suppose in a lot of ways she was a big influence. She’s one of the motivating reasons.”

His pastor, Darryl Stavros, was the final catalyst, convincing him to give the Professional Bowlers Association tour a try.

The first step was getting his PBA card eight months ago. Last week he attended a tour school in Orlando, Fla., where aspirants are tested on rules and given tips on such things as finances and tax implications.

In August, approaching the third anniversary of his mother’s death, Hainline and Melissa Stevens will marry. They will move to Salem, Oregon, where Hainline, the former owner of Trading Faces, a Valley sports card store, plans to open a similar business.

His wife-to-be will attend college in nearby Monmouth. It is also central to regional PBA tournaments.

“Ever since I was young this is something I wanted,” said Hainline. “From age 19 to 26, I dropped the idea. I bowled but didn’t take it seriously. Darryl kind of encouraged me to start.”

Stavros nicknamed Hainline “Cucumber” for his cool bowling demeanor while participating in a church league.

The aspiring professional said he is anything but unflappable.

“I can get pretty ‘flapped,”’ he said. “I’m pretty hard on myself.”

Bowling came naturally for Hainline, who started as an 8-year-old following his father, Bob, and mother into the sport. From age 11 he was one of the area’s top juniors. In high school, his University High team finished second in state.

Hainline has since bowled in as many as three adult leagues at a time and currently carries a 220 average.

Already a veteran of nine regional PBA tourneys, he has made the top 16 cut twice. Included was a head-to-head victory over professional legend Marshall Holman.

“That was my thrill for last year,” said Hainline.

A couple of local pro bowlers with national experience, including Valley bowling and trophy shop owner Jim Frazier, have offered advice.

Before trying the PBA tour, Frazier encouraged Hainline to compete in Las Vegas sweepers that pay well and toughen a competitor.

“The bowling tour is very tough,” said Frazier, who bowled full time between 1972 and 78. “To get experience you need to bowl a lot of tournaments. The PBA is not there to do a dance. I wanted him to bowl those tournaments, make some money and then go on to the PBA.”

But Hainline, who grew up watching the PBA tour on television, said he prefers to take his chances.

“I would watch bowling on TV and didn’t know if I should take the risk or put the time into it,” he said. “But the PBA has always been my dream.”

So even in an era of uncertainty - after 36 years ABC has dropped the tour from its program schedule, although CBS picked up nine dates - Hainline is ready for the challenge.

“I’ll miss my dad,” said Hainline, who still lives with his father at their Valley home. “He’s my best friend.”

His plans are to compete two years regionally and play in select area PBA national tour stops in the Tri Cities, Portland and Northern California.

“By the year 2000 I want to do the tour full time, if I feel I’m ready,” he said. “I don’t want to donate. I’m a competitor and want to win.”

His mother would have been proud.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo