The second week of Spring 2026 did not politely tiptoe into the standings; it kicked the door in, tracked lane oil across the floor, and demanded attention. Two teams rode hot streaks straight up the leaderboard, while two others watched gravity do what gravity does best. JoAnne Barber was locked in, claiming this week’s high game (121) and high series (350) for the women, while Seth Gunderson went full inferno with the men’s high game (214) and series (573). Momentum shifted, averages wobbled, friendships were briefly tested, and in the end, a single, lonely pin quietly reshaped the entire standings. Read on for the drama, the heroics, the reconciliations, and then check out this week’s bingo results.

Walk Offs
The Walk Offs did exactly what their name promises: they finished early and strutted away like an action-movie hero who knows the explosion is coming. Sweeping all three games and the series, they were visibly thrilled, feeding off each other’s momentum from the very first frame. Chris Hagan was unstoppable, pouring in a fiery 430 series that towered over his average and kept the Walk Offs comfortably ahead all night. Brian Schaben started strong, stumbled briefly in game two, then snapped back with authority. Kurt Fredrickson quietly did what he always does: stay steady. Mike Fitzgerald deserves special applause for rebounding from a rough opener and surging late, closing with a 137 that slammed the door. “That’s how you walk it off,” Hagan joked. The Walk Offs climbed a spot and left buzzing.

The Queenpins
For The Queenpins, this match was a royal tragedy in three acts. Swept clean, they felt every lost frame. Dustin Schmeltz led the team with a 501 series, but it landed below his usual standard and reflected a night where nothing quite clicked. Ryan Sisco bowled well above average and tried to rally the crown, but Lindsay Sargent struggled to find her groove, and the pins refused to show mercy. Jon Little improved as the night went on, but the damage was already done. Adding to the emotional static was the realization that long-time best friend Nathan Burrows was not merely filling in elsewhere, a revelation that caused a moment of silence and a deep exhale. “I needed a second to process that,” Schmeltz admitted later. Friendship survived, but the Queenpins dropped a spot and wore the loss heavily.

3 Pins and a Gutter
True to their name, 3 Pins and a Gutter lived dangerously all night, alternating between brilliance and frustration. Losing three out of four points left them disappointed, though not without flashes of promise. Nathan Burrows shook off a rough opening game and came roaring back, uncorking a huge 178 in game three that powered their lone win. Jeremy Varnell, the #1 Power-Ranked bowler, soared well above his average and kept the team competitive throughout. Jesse Sauerbrei struggled to find consistency, while JoAnne Barber quietly anchored the lineup with the week’s top women’s series. “We’re closer than it looks,” Burrows said. Still parked in sixth, 3 Pins and a Gutter felt the sting but showed signs of life.

Thots & Spares
Thots & Spares rolled with confidence, taking three wins and the series behind a dominant team effort. Scott Murdock, this week’s #1 Head-to-Head bowler, was electric, ripping the lanes apart with a 520 series that soared past his average and controlled the pace of the match. AJ Hofmann started strong before cooling late, while Jim Koger and Tim Deddens filled frames at exactly the right moments. Murdock also claimed prophetic bragging rights, having correctly predicted earlier that Dustin Schmeltz would not be thrilled about certain roster revelations. “I didn’t want to be right,” Murdock smirked, “but I was.” At the time, the wins alone were enough to feel great. What no one realized yet was that this match would end up changing the entire standings by the narrowest margin imaginable.

Squid Row
Squid Row inked their way to 2.5 points in a match that was equal parts impressive and agonizing. With one bowler absent, the pressure was real, and Matthew Taylor answered with a massive 563 series, capped by a huge closing game that nearly locked things down. Ben Spencer continued to justify his Most Valuable Bowler status, slicing through the lanes with calm efficiency. Dennis Walling started strong but faded, leaving a few frames that would later loom very large. Winning two games and tying the series felt solid in the moment, but hindsight has been cruel. Somewhere, anywhere, Squid Row needed just one more pin to stay in first place. One missed spare, one soft 7-pin, one frame slightly cleaner, and the story changes. Instead, they slipped to second. “That one’s going to haunt us,” one Squid admitted.

Hot-n-Ready®
Hot-n-Ready® came out scorching, then cooled just enough to leave them frustrated but competitive. Seth Gunderson was unstoppable, torching the lanes with a 573 series that included the night’s top game and blew past his already strong average. Buck Nasty started hot before fading, while Ian Estey stayed mostly steady throughout. Substitute bowler Nick Kinney stepped in admirably, finishing with a clutch closing game that helped secure their lone win. Despite earning only 1.5 points, the Ready® weren’t crushed, just annoyed. “We cooked, just not long enough,” Gunderson shrugged. Remaining in third felt fair, if unsatisfying.

And here’s where the bowling gods cackled: because Squid Row and Hot-n-Ready® tied the total series in that final match, the standings cracked open just enough for Thots & Spares to slide into first place by a single pin. One pin. Somewhere on lanes 5 or 6, a lonely piece of wood decided the league leader. The margins are razor-thin, the pressure is mounting, and if this week proved anything, it’s that every pin truly matters.

Bowlers slipping under the velvet rope in front of The 200 Club include: Matthew Taylor (204), Nick Kinney (204), and Seth Gunderson (214)

The 573 rolled by Seth Gunderson is this season's new high series for men.

NEXT WEEK:

• First, on lanes 1&2, 3rd-place Hot-n-Ready® will match wits with 6th-place 3 Pins and a Gutter (estimated hcp 172). The Ready® is expected to roll a little low, yet still manage to just barely miss sweeping the series; while Gutterly Pinned is forecast to hold steady as they just barely avoid getting swept.
• Moving to lanes 3&4, 2nd-place Squid Row will compete against 4th-place Walk Offs (hcp 150). Squids might roll a little low, yet still manage to sweep the series; while Walkers ought to hold steady as they endure a rough night.
• Finally, on lanes 5&6, 1st-place Thots & Spares will challenge 5th-place The Queenpins. Thots are predicted to have a bit of an off night, but split the series with Queenpins; while Queenpins are anticipated to drop their average a bit while they keep the series tied.

^*(Remember, the predicted results above are based on mathematical extrapolations and can be changed by all sorts of factors. If you don't like how your team's results are predicted, you and your teammates have the power to prove the math wrong!)

THIS WEEK'S MVB Ben Spencer Runner Up: (See Posting)	#1 POWER BOWLER Jeremy Varnell Runner Up: Ben Spencer	#1 H2H BOWLER Scott Murdock Runner Up: Ben Spencer
FROM THE GUTTER (GUTTER QUOTE) "No, I know that happens, but I don't think they're cousins." Scott Murdock, clarifying the relationship between Ryan and Lindsay.