Eastward Lanes in Ellsworth will be a busy place on Saturday and Sunday as candlepin bowlers compete in the state championships of the Average-Plus Handicap Tourney.

Bowlers from Western and Eastern Maine have been competing since last September to earn berths in the state finals. The fields were cut to regional champions in each division after tourneys held recently.

On Saturday, beginning at noon, bowlers will compete for state titles in mixed doubles and mixed teams. Championship competition for men’s and women’s doubles and teams categories will be held on Sunday.

The following weekend, May 25-26, the state competition will conclude with rolloffs in men’s and women’s singles on Saturday, followed by the all-events championships on Sunday.

Two bowlers from the Eastward Lanes – Lisa Whitmore and Charlie Lounder – recently qualified for the all-events state rolloffs. Whitmore defeated Eleanor Webber, also of Eastward, 1,304 to 1,278 and Lounder stopped Dave Hall of Pittsfield 1,369 to 1,273. – – –

The Maine Candlepin Pro Tour and Maine Open Bowlers Association recently held a joint awards banquet and honored the past season’s champions. Those winners are listed below.

Maine Candlepin Pro Tour

Bowlers of the year – men, Chip Carson, Bangor-Brewer Bowling Lanes; Sharon Fogg, Oxford Hills bowling center; Rookies of the year – men, Bobby Rousselle, Vacationland Bowling Center; women, Wendy Ross, Depatsy Lanes. Maine Open Bowlers Association

Mixed events – doubles (Sharon Fogg-Russ Nealey, Oxford Hills), team (Charles Milan III, Sue Crawford, Chip Carson, Arlene Mayo, BB Lanes).

Men’s events – doubles (Lewis Willey-Dave Alexander, BB Lanes), singles, Al Nelson, Lucky Strike Lanes; teams (Francis Beaulieu, Larry Kelly, Don Saucier, Rob Rousselle, Dick Allen, Vacationland Bowling Center); state champion, Russ Nealey, Oxford Hills.

Women’s events – doubles (Val Joy-Sharon Fogg, Oxford Hills); singles, Judie Berry, Vacationland; teams (Doreen Robbins, Sue Peaslee, Wendy Ross, June Wooster, Mona Diffin, Depatsy Lanes); state champion, Sharon Fogg, Oxford Hills.