Journal Times staff

It's often said that behind every good man is a good woman.

Delbert Richards will vouch for that.

Richards said the constant support and encouragement of his wife, Patricia, was one of the major reasons he emerged as the champion in the Senior Division of The Journal Times Match Game Bowling Championship Friday at Castle Lanes.

"My wife, all day, kept telling me I could do it," Richards said. "I tend to doubt myself, but she's always behind me."

There was little doubt Richards was going to win the title. Richards busted out of the blocks in the final eight-game block and served noticed he wasn't about to be denied by rolling two big-time games.

Richards opened with a 247 and followed with a 248. He was never seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Richards finished with a 4,143 total, easily in front of runner-up Mike Welter, who had a 4,037 total - including a 300 game. Rick Birdsall, a last-minute fill-in for the injured Jim Thurmann Jr., finished third at 4,025 after impressively rolling six games of 235 or better.

Tim Ruelle wound up in fourth place at 3,986, and Jim Wengel was fifth at 3,984.

For Richards, winning the tournament was more than a thrill.

"It's a great honor," Richards said. "I bowled with a lot of great bowlers in this tournament from all around the Racine area, like Tim Ruelle. He's a Hall of Famer.

"It was just a great tournament."

Richards certainly had a great tournament. He led from the get-go in this 16-game match play event and was a model of consistency in the final round.

The 50-year-old Richards, an officer for the Racine Corrections Institute, won six of his eight matches, picking up an additional 180 pins.

But despite having a nice cushion, Richards, who was competing in the event for the first time, acknowledged he wasn't about to take anything for granted.

"I had a nice little lead going into tonight, but I was still nervous almost the whole night," Richards said. "I told myself to stay steady and stay focused."

His nerves didn't vanish until only two games remained. That's when he rolled a 246, making it virtually impossible for anyone to catch him.

Said Richards: "After that game, that's when I started feeling it. That's when I really knew I had a chance to win this."

While Richards collected a check for $150 and a plaque for his winning efforts, Birdsall gained a measure of satisfaction for his clutch performance as a fill-in for Thurmann.

Birdsall didn't know he was going to bowl until tournament director Pat McNally called him about a hour before the final round. Suffice to say, Birdsall answered the call.

Birdsall had an eight-block total of 1,952, a total surpassed only by Welter, who had a 1,976 total.

What's more, Birdsall, who had been 10 pins shy of making the finals, won seven of his eight matches for an additional 210 pins.

"I was actually going to work the tournament; Pat (McNally) is a dear friend of mine," Birdsall said. "But Pat called and said bring your bowling ball; you're going to be bowling instead of working.

"I hit the pocket a lot tonight. The ball carried really well. I was happy, but I really hope Jim is OK."