Dorin-Ballard makes history in PBA regional tournament
For a bowler who has accomplished so much in her career, Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of North Richland Hills, Texas, was still left stunned at what she achieved Sunday.
Competing in a Professional Bowlers Association regional event, Dorin-Ballard, who serves as spokesperson for the United States Bowling Congress High School program, threw back-to-back 300 games in the first round of match play, becoming the first woman to toss consecutive 300s in PBA history.
"After I got done with the second 300, I just stood there and said 'I can't believe I just did that,'" said Dorin-Ballard, who has 23 perfect games but had never thrown two back-to-back. "That's not something you do every day. I was thinking about it again today and looked at Del (her husband and fellow pro bowler) and said 'I still can't believe I did that.' It was really exciting."
Dorin-Ballard accomplished the feat in the PBA Southwest Region Classic Products Fort Worth Open. She advanced through qualifying and the semifinals before defeating Addison Thornton of Shreveport, La., 3-2 (204-237, 300-194, 300-221, 176-253, 214-147) in the round of 16.
She then went on to lose to Chris Johnson of Garland, Texas, 2-1 (268-189, 237-269, 246-214) in the round of eight.
Dorin-Ballard is one of several women who have made the jump to the PBA after the Professional Women's Bowling Association went defunct in 2003. Women were allowed to join the PBA beginning in 2004 and on Aug. 21 Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., made history by becoming the first woman to win a regional event.
Dorin-Ballard, who recently joined the Storm pro staff, has bowled in many regional events since the PBA allowed women to join, and the more she competes, the stronger she has gotten on the patterns the PBA uses.
"I've gotten better at making quicker moves on all the patterns and the one used this weekend has definitely been more conducive to the way I bowl," said Dorin-Ballard, who often competes in the same regional events as her husband Del. "The more you bowl on these patterns and bowl against the exempt players the more you learn."
In March 2004, the Ballard family welcomed a new addition when Alyssa was born. And even though taking care of Alyssa can be a full-time job, Dorin-Ballard has arranged her schedule to be able to compete in regionals and other tournaments that are close to home.
However, when the PBA Tour kicks into full swing it will be difficult for her to compete in Pro Tour Qualifiers on a weekly basis. In fact, she's not planning to compete in this year's USBC Masters simply because she can't take a whole week off.
"I love bowling in the PBA regionals because they are a lot closer, and it's not so long of a drive," Dorin-Ballard said. "I don't really know if I can take a week off to go and bowl the Masters. I am going to bowl the U.S. Open because it's in New Jersey and my mom lives close by and can baby sit."
Dorin-Ballard, who said she has been fortunate to find a babysitter who is a bowling fan and doesn't mind traveling to the regional events to take care of Alyssa, has found success in past regional events since joining the PBA.
Not long after getting her card, Dorin-Ballard made the final four in the PBA Regional Players Championship in 2004. She also won 20 titles on the PWBA Tour.
But not bowling every week like she did on the PWBA Tour has taken its toll on Dorin-Ballard and she's still trying to get back to the level she was at several years ago.
"I've really been practicing hard over the past few weeks - almost like I did when I bowled on the PWBA Tour," she said. "I got a little lazy with my mental game and also with my hand. I've really been practicing hard the last month and Del's been working with me on some things with my hand. It's helped and I think it's starting to show."
Next up for Dorin-Ballard is a weekend scratch tournament in the Dallas area before heading down to Austin, Texas, for the PBA Southwest Region Young & Pratt Austin Open at Dart Bowl on Oct. 7-9.
Competing in a Professional Bowlers Association regional event, Dorin-Ballard, who serves as spokesperson for the United States Bowling Congress High School program, threw back-to-back 300 games in the first round of match play, becoming the first woman to toss consecutive 300s in PBA history.
"After I got done with the second 300, I just stood there and said 'I can't believe I just did that,'" said Dorin-Ballard, who has 23 perfect games but had never thrown two back-to-back. "That's not something you do every day. I was thinking about it again today and looked at Del (her husband and fellow pro bowler) and said 'I still can't believe I did that.' It was really exciting."
Dorin-Ballard accomplished the feat in the PBA Southwest Region Classic Products Fort Worth Open. She advanced through qualifying and the semifinals before defeating Addison Thornton of Shreveport, La., 3-2 (204-237, 300-194, 300-221, 176-253, 214-147) in the round of 16.
She then went on to lose to Chris Johnson of Garland, Texas, 2-1 (268-189, 237-269, 246-214) in the round of eight.
Dorin-Ballard is one of several women who have made the jump to the PBA after the Professional Women's Bowling Association went defunct in 2003. Women were allowed to join the PBA beginning in 2004 and on Aug. 21 Liz Johnson of Cheektowaga, N.Y., made history by becoming the first woman to win a regional event.
Dorin-Ballard, who recently joined the Storm pro staff, has bowled in many regional events since the PBA allowed women to join, and the more she competes, the stronger she has gotten on the patterns the PBA uses.
"I've gotten better at making quicker moves on all the patterns and the one used this weekend has definitely been more conducive to the way I bowl," said Dorin-Ballard, who often competes in the same regional events as her husband Del. "The more you bowl on these patterns and bowl against the exempt players the more you learn."
In March 2004, the Ballard family welcomed a new addition when Alyssa was born. And even though taking care of Alyssa can be a full-time job, Dorin-Ballard has arranged her schedule to be able to compete in regionals and other tournaments that are close to home.
However, when the PBA Tour kicks into full swing it will be difficult for her to compete in Pro Tour Qualifiers on a weekly basis. In fact, she's not planning to compete in this year's USBC Masters simply because she can't take a whole week off.
"I love bowling in the PBA regionals because they are a lot closer, and it's not so long of a drive," Dorin-Ballard said. "I don't really know if I can take a week off to go and bowl the Masters. I am going to bowl the U.S. Open because it's in New Jersey and my mom lives close by and can baby sit."
Dorin-Ballard, who said she has been fortunate to find a babysitter who is a bowling fan and doesn't mind traveling to the regional events to take care of Alyssa, has found success in past regional events since joining the PBA.
Not long after getting her card, Dorin-Ballard made the final four in the PBA Regional Players Championship in 2004. She also won 20 titles on the PWBA Tour.
But not bowling every week like she did on the PWBA Tour has taken its toll on Dorin-Ballard and she's still trying to get back to the level she was at several years ago.
"I've really been practicing hard over the past few weeks - almost like I did when I bowled on the PWBA Tour," she said. "I got a little lazy with my mental game and also with my hand. I've really been practicing hard the last month and Del's been working with me on some things with my hand. It's helped and I think it's starting to show."
Next up for Dorin-Ballard is a weekend scratch tournament in the Dallas area before heading down to Austin, Texas, for the PBA Southwest Region Young & Pratt Austin Open at Dart Bowl on Oct. 7-9.