By Sammy B. Tyrrell
Aren’t they gorgeous?! Picture perfect even. Haven’t you heard…? Well, you’re looking at the Verdugo Hills ladies. And these ladies are NOT to be underestimated. Yes, they are beautiful, yes, they are hardworking, and yes, they are the 68-69 season bowling champions but, they have a BIG secret…
The “Pin Gal” were a force to be reckoned with. A scrappy women's bowling team from a small town, they weren’t the most polished, but they had something that kept them going… heart. And I mean tons of it.
Led by their captain, Lisa, a no-nonsense woman with a fiery spirit, the team had come a long way. They weren’t just playing for fun anymore; they were playing for something bigger. The regional championships were just around the corner, and this was their year. They could feel it. But there was one problem: money. They needed a lot of it, and they needed it fast.
The team built on the backs of five women, each of them with a different story, but they all shared one common goal—winning a dang championship. There was Jenny, the sarcastic bartender who could throw strikes blindfolded, Melanie, the quiet accountant with a hidden bowling obsession, Rachel, the outspoken mother of two who always wore a lucky pair of socks, and Amanda, the team’s newest member, who was learning the ropes but had an undeniable talent for throwing spares.
They'd saved as much as they could, but the cost of travel, accommodation, and the registration fees were more than they could handle on their own. Lisa's eyes narrowed as she counted what they had managed to pull together, then flipped her gaze over to the others. She knew what they had to do.
“You know,” Lisa started, drumming her fingers on the kitchen table, “we could get the money we need... the quick way.”
Rachel’s eyebrows shot up. “You mean—”
“A heist,” Lisa cut her off. “We break into the liquor store, grab some cash, and get out. Simple as that.”
Melanie shook her head. “Lisa, you’re not serious. We’re talking about a robbery here.”
“No, no,” Lisa said, holding up a hand. “We’re not stealing liquor. Just the cash. They keep a ton of money there after hours. They’ll never even know it’s gone. Honestly, we’re doing them a favor.”
The other women exchanged uneasy glances, but the desperation in Lisa’s eyes was hard to ignore. Jenny finally spoke, her voice dripping with skepticism.
“Alright, I’m in,” she said, smirking. “But this better be worth it. I’m not going to jail over a trip to some bowling alley.”
Rachel sighed. “I can’t believe we’re actually talking about this. But, fine. What do we have to lose?”
And so, it was decided. That night, they’d pull “the job.” And yes, they all talked about it just like that… because these “Pin Gals” were hardcore criminals now…. don’t get it twisted.
They met in the parking lot of the bowling alley, dressed in black hoodies and jeans, looking like they were about to start a rock band rather than commit a crime. Lisa had mapped out the plan, and everyone had their role to play. They would hit the liquor store during its late-night hours when the shop was mostly empty, and the store owner, a gruff man named Earl, would be out back smoking his cigars.
When the time came, their nerves were shot, but there was no turning back now.
Lisa led the way, and the rest of the team followed her, moving like shadows. They reached the back of the liquor store, where the air was thick with the scent of cigar smoke. Amanda was already on lookout, watching for any sign of trouble. Melanie, with her precise accounting skills, was the one to disable security, while Jenny, always cool under pressure, slipped inside with Lisa.
They moved quickly, gathering the cash from the register, slipping it into their bags. Their hearts were pounding, but they knew they had to finish what they started.
“Five minutes,” Lisa whispered, keeping her voice steady.
They were halfway done when the door creaked. The sound froze them in their tracks.
“What was that?” Rachel asked.
Lisa’s heart skipped a beat. Earl had come back inside earlier than expected. He was near the back entrance.
“Shit,” Jenny whispered. “We’re not done yet.”
Lisa’s mind raced. "We need a distraction."
Without hesitation, Rachel pulled out a small smoke bomb from her jacket. “Fire in the hole!” she shouted, throwing it near the aisles of liquor bottles. The store erupted into a cloud of smoke, sending Earl into a frenzy as he rushed to the front.
With the store owner distracted, the team quickly made their way to the back exit and disappeared into the night, bags of cash in tow. They drove off into the darkness, each woman breathing a little faster than normal, but with the thrill of a successful mission humming in their veins. They didn’t speak until they were safely back at the alley, looking at the cash they had “borrowed.”
“Well,” Lisa said, eyes gleaming, “this is it. We’re going to the championships.”
The women laughed, exhausted but exhilarated. What had started as a desperate, ridiculous idea had turned into something far more daring than any of them had ever imagined.
The next day, they used the money to book their flights and reserve their hotel suite… which may have been just a bit nicer than they were used to. They even had enough left over to buy custom shirts with a fierce logo: a bowling ball crushing a liquor bottle. It was their symbol of rebellion, determination, and, ultimately, victory.
When they arrived at the championships, they were ready—physically, mentally, and financially. They took their places on the lanes, the crowd cheering them on, their hearts full of love for the game and their heads full of ambition.
And when they won, no one could deny it: the “Pin Gals” weren’t just a team. They were legends.
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