BOWLING : Barrette Lives Up to Nickname

The bowling ball rolled by 5-foot-10 Leanne Barrette is among the most powerful in women’s play.

“When it hits the pocket, the pins go boom!” her mother, Mary, said at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley. “That’s why she’s called ‘Boomer’. “

Barrette’s resounding shots were never more audible, especially to all eight match opponents she defeated Wednesday in the U.S. Women’s Bowling Open.

After 48 of 56 games in the $1000,000 marathon event, Barrette, 23, a native of Fremont, Calif., who lives in Oklahoma City, is the runaway leader. She is more than 300 pines ahead of Sandra Jo Shiery of Coldwater, Mich., her nearest rival in the semifinal field of 24.

The top five will meet at 4:30 p.m. today in the stepladder final to be shown on ESPN.

Wendy Macpherson, Donna Adamek and Anne Marie Duggan are the Southland bowlers among those within striking distance of making the final.

Strike power in bowling is measured by the number of revolutions--or spins--the ball takes as it first skids and then gains momentum rolling to the pocket. Barrette, a right-hander said: “I’ve never tried to count revolutions, but I’ve heard that I get about 16 or 17 on my ball.”

Barrette was a ranking junior when she turned pro at 18. She has 11 titles in five years on the national tournament tour and was 1990 pro player of the year, based on voting by playing members of the Ladies Pro Bowlers Tour.