After two years away, Ball returns to lanes

Melanie Ball GRAND RAPIDS - After two years away from her State championship title, Melanie Ball, was not thinking about bowling at a competitive level again, except on perhaps, some adult leagues.

Now, she’s in the starting group on the Davenport University (Grand Rapids) women’s bowling team and adjusting to the collegiate game.

Ball, a junior academically, but with freshman eligibilty at Davenport, bowled through high school on four Regional championship teams and one State championship team at Sandusky High School. She went on to earn All-State recognition three times and was the Division 3 Singles State champion in 2007, her senior season. Nearly completing her first two years of college at Central Michigan, she found out that Davenport had started a women’s bowling program that was funded by the university and had scholarships available, the first for women bowlers in the state. After inquiring about an opportunity to tryout with Coach George Miller, Ball tried out last spring and was immedately offered a scholarship. Although she had plenty of friends at CMU, she was ready to get back in the sport that was, basically, taught to her from scratch from Sandusky coach Gordy Williams.

“I’m really excited about getting another chance at bowling, especially at this level,” said Ball, now 20 years old. “But’, it’s a lot different. There’s the oil patterns (sport shots) and it’s a lot more competitive.

“I’ve been a little nervous (in the college matches),” she added. “It’s not like high school (on house conditions). I was never nervous.”

The season for the Davenport Panthers got underway last fall. The women and men’s teams ( men are ranked in the Top 10 in the country) both competed in six tournaments before Christmas.

Ball had her ups and down in that stretch and was averaging just over 160 in singles, not anywhere near her final average of about 200 in high school. Circumstances, with much tougher conditions from the high school game and college, brought on a new perspective.

“My coaches now are totally different people (than I’ve had before), and I’m adjusting to what they want,” said Ball. “My coaches now want to change almost everything.”

She has gone to a heavier ball, a five-step approach, and a more controlled release. Thus, some struggles in some of the first six events.

After Christmas, Davenport went on a trip East and had tournaments in State College, Pennsylvania, and in New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia. At the Nittany Lion Classic in New Jersey, she turned in her second top 25 fin- ish of the season and averaged 185.

Since then, the team, which is mainly comprised of three second year collegiate bowlers and a few newcomers, has competed in just one tournament, in South Bend, Indiana. Ball and the Panthers will compete in the last of two tournaments in Michigan this season, this coming Saturday, February 6, in Monroe. Nortel Lanes will be hosting one of the four scheduled American Heartland Conference events.

Right now, Ball is just looking for a respectable finish to the season and then will peak ahead.

“I want to work through the summer (on my game) to be better for next year, and use this year as a learning tool. Hopefully, next year, I’m done with (the big adjustments) and I’ll just be fine-tuning my game as I go along.”

Ball also said that she is excited to see her Lady Redskins from Sandusky continuing the program’s great tradition. This year’s version is currently ranked No. 2 in Division 4 and is unbeaten in regular-season matches.

“I’m really happy they’re doing well,” she remarked. “Hopefully, some of the girls will look into college bowling. I think it would be good for them.”