Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Well I would certainly hope not. The Scratch Draft Trios League is finally back from its long winter's nap. With visions of sugarplums fading fast and the promise of a new year at work (this will be the year you finally get that promotion), the bowlers welcomed back their distraction from the real world. (Not to imply that your trip to the in-laws wasn't the highlight of the season.)

The big question posed this past Monday night was "how should we ring in the new year?" Some suggested firing off shotguns in the parking lot, but were quickly overruled by Sherry, the general manager of the center. Others suggested turning up the air conditioning and waiting for the strike of midnight before beginning the league. In the end, though, even after the suggestion of banging pots and pans while TPing the principal's house was shot down, the league settled on celebrating the new year on the lanes.

Lo and behold, the year began just the way 2007 had ended. Ralph Garner, captain and anchor of Garner Investigative Agency, shot the big set of the night with a 984 series. Games of 235, 253, 216 and 280 helped propel Garner Investigative Agency to a 34-point night, enough to hold onto the top spot in the standings. Another familiar face, Xan Halog, skipper of The Holy Buckets, led all women on Monday. Thanks to a strong 243 finish to her night, Halog tallied an 821 four-game pinfall, also just enough to lead her team to a 34-point effort.

But the night belonged to Cimentar Corp., which fit not one but two opponents for a pair of cement bowling shoes. Thanks in large part to this author's absence, Cimentar Corp. lost only six points all night on its way to a 50-6 showing.

After pounding Team 7 26-2, Cimentar Corp. drank Coyote Brewery under the table for an additional 24 points. Leadoff kegler Mike Dunn paced the squad with an 836 series while team captain Mike Palmer pitched in with a tidy 819 set. The half century boosted Cimentar Corp. up two spots in the standings to second place and set the stage for a showdown next week with Garner Investigative Agency.

So as the freshly fallen snow settles on the summit of Mt. Diablo, it's time to gather round ye olde bowling center and ring in the new year. Pour yourself a hot cup of cocoa and settle in for another week of positional round action in the Scratch Draft Trios League. "Met my old lover in the bowling center, for auld lang syne."

HansonReal Estate.com

League

The Scratch Draft Trios bowl on Monday night at 7:30 at

Harvest Park Bowl in Brentwood

Points Won

Team 1/14/07 YTD

Garner Investigative Agency 34 149

Cimentar Corp 50 142

Team 14 25 132.5

The Holy Buckets 34 125

Team 7 14 111.5

Kinder's Meats 25 109

Team 1 39 108

The Visually Impaired 20 107

Discovery Bay Dental 28 106

HansonRealEstate.com 37 103

Coyote Brewery 27 102

Team 2 27 97.5

Team 13 20 97.5

Team 6 12 78

League High Scores

Men's Game: Aaron Pawloski 299

Women's Game: Xan Halog 268

Men's Series: Aaron Pawloski 1034

Women's Series: Xan Halog 928