Ray Conner
Sports Editor

Gabriella Mayfield, a 17- year-old Squirrel Valley resident keeps knocking down the bowling pins.

It has been a busy time for Mayfield as she has competed in National Bowling Tournaments all around the country.

Gabriella Mayfield of Squirrel Valley competed in the Junior National Bowling Tournament in Indianapolis, Ind. recently where she finished 18th in the All Events category.

The most recent tournament was in Indianapolis, Ind. at the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Junior Gold Championships.

Mayfield, bowling in the Youth Open Division , jumped out of the gate in 56th place out of 521 bowlers after six games of qualifying. She rolled an 1136 series (189.17 average), including two 200 games (213, 203) and two 190 games (196, 192).

She would slip to 272nd place after 12 games rolling a series of 956 (174.33 average) with a high game of 215.

She finished the qualifying round in 298th place with a series of 954 (159 average) and a total in the 18 games of 3046 pins (169.22 average).

Her score of 3046 pins placed her 53rd in Team USA Qualifying.

Mayfield who will soon turn 18 in November also placed 12th in the doubles event with her partner, Ashley Dunn, of Palmdale, Calif.

Mayfield competed with Dunn in the Junior/Adult competition. As a team they would finish 37th with a series of 698.

Competing in the USBC/BTM Junior Gold Survival Tournament, Mayfield rolled a 993 (165.5 average) over six games with a high of 181. Her score was good enough to place her in 46th position.

Bowling in the Teen Masters National Tournament in Reno, Nev., Mayfield finished in the 12th spot.

In Indianapolis, Dunn, 13, made make it to the championship roll-off in the Girls 14 and under Division.

In the title match, Dunn defeated Chevelle Holstein of Sparks, Nev., 3-1 (191-171, 224-158, 135-199, 195-146) earning her a $1,000 scholarship.

"I'm very excited," Dunn said. I got more confident as the week went on and that helped me. In the last match I had to switch my ball on the long pattern and move left on the short pattern and those moves got me to the pocket and get more carry."

The final tournament Mayfield would bowl in was the Firecracker Shootout in Ventura, Calif. She would finish the tournament in the 8th spot.

Being a senior this year, Mayfield will have one more shot at all these tournaments before turning her attention to possibly bowling at the college level.

If her perseverance and tenacity on the lanes is any indication, some day soon we may see the name Mayfield up on the score board bowling in the Professional Women’s Bowling Association and making her “mark” in the world of women’s bowling. She will “strike” her way through the competition and “spare” no details as she has a bright future on the lanes.