Hall of famers win at Sam’s Town

Steve Addy

Friday, May 12, 2000 | 10:08 a.m.

Put two women's bowling hall of famers on the same team and you have a potent combination.

When they have extra inspiration, well, the rest of the field is fighting for second place.

As if scripted, that was the result of the PWBA Las Vegas Track Doubles tournament Thursday at Sam's Town, as longtime stars Robin Romeo Mossontte and Jeanne Norton Naccarato rolled to an easy win in their first event as partners.

With their 231-207 victory over Aussies Maxine Nable and Carol Gianotti-Block in the stepladder finals, Mossontte and Naccarato claimed the $21,000 first prize and capped a week in which they led virtually all the way.

It was an emotional week, too. Aside from finally being able to play doubles together after a friendship of 20 years, the two 42-year-olds played the event in memory of their fathers.

Ray Romeo, Mossontte's father, died in March after fighting a brain tumor for nearly a year. He had never missed a women's tournament at Sam's Town, and an empty chair with his name upon it was placed in the family gallery. Naccarato's father, Bob Norton, died two years ago this week.

"Emotionally, I feel like this (win) was supposed to happen," Mossontte said. "There were so many signs during the week that it would. We have both been through so much together. We had so much incentive to win."

Naccarato said, "I was so animated all week. I lived and died with every shot Robin threw, and I'm sure she lived and died with my shots. We both played really well."

Mossontte and Naccarato weren't allowed to play together before this week because of PWBA rules prohibiting champions within the previous five years from being on the same team. Mossontte had not won since 1995 at New Orleans, Naccarato since 1993 at Yuba City, Calif., so the two became eligible to be partners this season.

With both living up to their Professional Women's Bowling Hall of Fame careers (Mossontte was inducted in 1996, Naccarato in 1999), they were an unbeatable team. They averaged 225 for 17 games, bowling alternating frames, and had an easy time in the championship. Mossontte had four strikes, but the clincher was Naccarato's in the eighth frame for a 192-148 lead.

Thursday's matches were taped for telecast on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. Monday.

Steve Addy is a Las Vegas Sun sports writer. Reach him at 259-4087 or by e-mail at addy@lasvegassun.com.