The Washington times., 1935-11-25
Prize Money
Nest-Eggfor
Marriage
BY GINO SINH

0bk1ET hLIElpuGS 10 lGS LlldAlJ OGsACA
through the m d um of The
Washington Times Mems Dixie
Sweepstakes last Saturday.
The Dixie has assumed the
role of Cupid.
The winner, Joe Freschi, angu-
lar duckpin and diamond luml-
nary, expects to use his win
nings as a nest-egg with which
to start married life with his
childhood sweetheart, A audrey
Costello.
Blonde Audrey, herself bowler
of no mean ability, has been
Joe's leading rooter for many
years on the duckpin drives,
diamond and gridiron.
Staunchest Rooter
During the years when there
was a likelihood of major
league career for lanky Joe,
Audrey rooted for him and en-
couraged him. When, two years
ago, Joe found his arm going
bad and with it his chance in the
big leagues, he obtained a position
with the NRA and he and his girl
friend looked forward to the day
when they could marry.
And that is where the Dixie
stepped in and set off the Wed
ding March" With a $3.50 nest
egg, Joe and Audrey expect to say
''I do" shortly. Just when, though,
hasn't yet been decided. It'll be
in six or seven months" says
Audrey.
BY his not unexpected triumph
In the Dixie Stakes Joe has
taken a long stride toward the an
nual goal of all duckpin bowlers,
the No. / N. D. P. B. C. ranking
position. All Joe's rivals for that
position, including the No. l and
2 men, Nick Tronsky and Astor
Clarke, were in Saturdays event.
Joe's victory surprised few of his
friends, who have been watching
him burn up the drives in the
Southern Inter-City League. Only
three weeks ago he ripped off a
725 set, and is now third in the
league with 126-10. Joe has a 1913
average in the Recreation League,
and around 11o in the District,
Temple Major and Rosslyn In
dependent Leagues.
Born In Washington
Freschi was born at Fourteenth
and Ohio Avenue Mort Invest
(where the Commerce Building
now stands on August l, 1908.
His parents hailed from Piacenza,
in northern Emilia, Italy.
Joe attended Strong John
Thompson School, while he was
making quite name for himself
on the local sandlotS. His sterling
pitching for T. T. Keane when
that club won the city title in
1927 attracted the attention of
N. Y. Yankee scouts, and he was
farmed out to Scottsdale, of the
Middle Atlantic League, and
ChamberSburg, of the Blue Ridge
League. A sore arm kept him out
his next year, and he never quite
regained his best pitching form.
However. on local sandlots he was
still supreme, though lately, play
ing with the NRA team, he has
given up pitching for the outfield,
which permits him to take ad-
vantage of his terrific batting
power. He also played with Tile
Settlers. Lofflers, w. o. W., Smith
fields and Blue Flames, and is
now a mainstay of the NRA nine.
Freschi took a fling at local
semi-pro football as halfback with
the Mercurys several years ago,
but bad head injury forced him
to- give it up.
Started In 1927
It wasn't until 1927 that Joe
turned serious interest to bowling.
He made his first stellar appear
ance with 339 set in a series of
matches between italian teams in
1928, promoted by the writer.
Joe'S first season in a league
was with Pension Park Market in
the Petworth League, carrying a
10 average. He also graced the
lineup Of the Rinaldi Italians
against the Rialto Jews in the
first local international" match.
Since then the lanky youth has
been forging steadily forward. In
1882 he won the Italian Sweep
stakes. The year before that he
had placed fourth in the Md-Va.
sweeps, five pins behind the win
ner, after leading at ten games.
In 1893 Freschi annexed the
Washington City singles with 4O8
and last year, though winning no
titles, he averaged 122-55 in the
National Capital League, 1920 in
the Nautical League and 121-73 in
the Mems Federal loop, besides
a 119 average in special events.
It gave him goth National rank
ing. Two years ago Joe lost out in
o city-wide elimination to Whip
Ltchfield in the final round after
defeating Paul Harrison and Bill
Clamnitt