IN THE SEMIFINALS earlier Monday,Babel topped Kuelbs 581 to 545 and Hogen edged Weber 552 to 542. A 4-10 split made by Hogen proved the difference in the latter match. Babel opened with a 222game and never trailed. Over 15 games, Babel averaged 184 and Hogen 182

It went down to the last ball and the last pin before Jim Hogen was declared winner of the Concorida Lanes holiday bowling tournament Tuesday night by a single pin over young Tim Babel.

Babel, who is moving Friday to Minneapolis to attend Brown In-stitute, took a 33-pin lead into the third game. Then Hogen started off with four strikes to get back into the running for the $50 first place check.Open frames by Babel in the sixth and eighth frames undid his otherwise fine bowling night.

Going into the 10th frame, Babel was first and picked up 20 pins for 166 game, his lowest of the night. However, he still led Hogen by 18.

Hogen got nine pins and then spared the 10th frame. It meant he needed nine pins on his spare ball to beat Babel.For a while, it appeared two pins on his spare ball to beat Babel. For a while, it appeared two pins would stay up, leaving a tie for the championship. A bouncing pin took care of one of the two still standing and Hogen squeezed home with a one-point victory, 547 to 546series count.

“This is the fifth time in the tournament, but the first time in the finals,” said Hogen, who also is the secretary for New Ulm Bowling Association.

It also was Babel’s best showing.He is a recent graduate of the junior bowling program at Concordia Lanes.

Hogen has a 178 average in the All-Star League at Bowlomat while Babel has 164 average in Sioux League.

Babel had games of 197,183,and 166 for his 546 series while Hogen rolled 169, 178, 200 for his 547.

In the third place match, Bob Weber had 551 to Gordy Kuelbs’ 548.

A 211 middle game did it for Weber.

The tourney paid $50, $34, $26 and $20 for top four places. There were 32bowlers entered in the match elimination.

New Ulm Daily Journal

Dec. 30, 1975