‘Split’ rolls past Wildcatters Published April 3, 2009 By John E. Banks Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- The defending Commanders Trophy League Bowling champions, Split Happens, continued their late season resurgence with a hard-fought and well-earned 3473-3305 victory over the Wildcatters March 25 at the Tinker Bowling Center. Split Happens team captian Jonathan Goodlin said before the game that the match would be tough for his team. "We have to erase a 175-pin handicap disadvantage and we are bowling against one of the top five teams in the league," he said. "Our team is trying to establish a leadoff and anchor combination with myself in the lead and Brett Nidifer as the tail-end of the quintet," said Eric Harmon, captain of the Wildcatters. In the first game of the match, the Wildcatters capitalized early and often on their large handicap advantage. Harmon and Nidifer led the surge by combining for a total of 13 strikes through the first eight frames to put the Wildcatters up 875-824. The Split Happens quartet of Jody Dixon, Malachi Murphy, Jonathan Goodlin and Wayne Goodlin combined for 11 strikes in the 10th frame and secure the victory 1182-1100. "Our guys put it all together in the 10th to get us the win," said Jonathan Goodlin. The second game was nip and tuck. No team could pull away from the other. Once again, the win was determined by who rolled more strikes in the 10th frame. This time is was all Wildcatters. Harmon and Nidifer threw three strikes and two spares between them and garnered an 1198-1170 win. "I am glad that we bring out the best in everyone else," said Mike Wang, Split Happens. The third game was the most lopsided of the three games. Split Happens received four great games from Dixon, Murphy and the Goodlin duo enroute to an 1121-1007 win. They bowled 201, 222, 234 and 236, respectively. The win in game three also gave them the total pins win 3473-3305. "We bowled very well, just not well enough tonight against great competition," said the Wildcatters' Liza Snyder. The win moves Split Happens into fourth place at 123.0-85.0; while the loss drops the Wildcatters to fifth place at 120.0-88.0.