By Brian Holtzapple
To say that Miranda Morningstar is crazy about bowling would be an understatement.
How much does she love the sport?
This might not come as a surprise to the people who know Morningstar, but less than 12 hours after the former Selinsgrove High standout and 2004 graduate rolled a 633 series in Best Bowl’s Sunday Mixed League on Feb. 14 she gave birth to her second daughter, Madison Renee.
Morningstar wasn’t due to give birth until Feb. 20, and despite the minor contractions she had the night before, the expectant mother didn’t think twice about hitting the lanes for her league match that Sunday night.
“I started having some contractions on Saturday, but I wasn’t worried about it,” said Morningstar, who bowled actively throughout both of her pregnancies. “The doctor said that (I) could continue (to bowl) right up until giving birth. He said to keep on doing what (I’ve) been doing.”
And she did.
After beginning her series with games of 222 and 184, Morningstar started experiencing some contractions during her third game, which led her to make a call to the hospital.
However, it didn’t stop her from rolling a 227 to complete her series.
“I was in pain during the last game, so (her teammates) figured I would be going soon. They were surprised I was continuing to bowl,” said Morningstar. “I went home and the contractions got worse, so I called back up to the hospital and got there around 11:45 p.m.”
Then at 8:51 a.m. on Feb. 15, Madison Renee was born. She weighed in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces and was 18 1/2 inches long.
A doctor-mandated six-week recovery period is presently underway for Morningstar, and the layoff doesn’t sit well with the new mother.
“It should be interesting when I get back (to bowling). It’ll be six weeks. That’s a long time for me to not bowl,” she said. “I love bowling. I wish I could bowl right now.”
And if Morningstar has her way, her two daughters, the oldest is Kelsey, 2, will fall in love with the game of bowling as soon as they are big enough to pick up a ball.
Bowling is in their blood, after all.
The father of Morningstar’s two daughters is Jason Herrold, who bowled at Middleburg High from 1997 to 2001, and the grandmothers are Tami Morningstar and Sandy Herrold, both active bowlers with the latter an owner of no less than seven perfect games and dozens of series 700 or higher.
“They are going to grow up to be bowlers, heck yes,” said Morningstar, who was twice named to The Daily Item All-Star team after finishing third in the state championships her junior and senior years. “I can’t wait for Kelsey to get out on the lanes.”
Kids grow up so fast these days, so I’m sure Morningstar won’t have to wait too long to see that happen.
APRIL MADNESS: With all of the hoopla surrounding the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments that start this week, along with the Division I wrestling tournament, don’t forget about the upcoming Women’s National Collegiate Bowling Championship.
The seventh annual tournament is April 8-10 at Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick, N.J.
Nebraska is the defending champion, and the favored Cornhuskers are seeking their fourth title.
WEEKLY BESTS
Men: Three weeks after Skip Bryner Jr. rolled his 17th career 300 game, he struck again.
Bryner got his fifth perfect game this year and No. 18 for his career on March 8 while bowling in Best Bowl’s Monday Night Men’s League. He finished with an 814 series.
Bryner was part of another special night on the 11th in the Thursday Night Men’s League when he and six other bowlers rolled a 700 series. Tops among them was the 715 series John Auker II had that included a 300 game.
The other bowlers to have a 700 series that night were Joe Santer, Kirk Ritter, Jeremy Wray, Dennis Laukaitis and Rodney Yarger.
Talk about a murderer’s row of bowlers.
Women: The aforementioned new grandmother, Sandy Herrold, has been tearing up the lanes the past several weeks over at Best Bowl.
Beginning on Feb. 8, Herrold had a 757 series (224-256-277) and she rolled a 749 series (256-203-290) three nights later.
Then on March 4 and 8 Herrold had a pair of 771 series, and games of 269 and 267 on the fourth. She also had a 707 on March 11.
Until next week, stay out of the gutters.
Brian Holtzapple is a correspondent who covers bowling for The Daily Item. Email comments, questions and results to keglerskorner@dailyitem.com.
