ARLINGTON, Texas – Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, has been no stranger to television since the re-launch of the Professional Women’s Bowling Association in 2015, lending her talents as a color commentator and sideline reporter to various broadcasts.

Although Dorin-Ballard has been “on the show” often, she will make her return as a competitor for the first time since 2003 as the No. 4 seed for the televised finals of the PWBA Rochester Open, which will air Tuesday at 10 p.m. Eastern on CBS Sports Network.

Dorin-Ballard will take on No. 3 seed Josie Earnest of Nashville, Tennessee, in the opening match, while Go Bowling PWBA Players Championship winner Clara Guerrero of Pflugerville, Texas, awaits the winner as the No. 2 seed. Four-time PWBA champion Shannon O’Keefe of O’Fallon, Illinois, earned the top spot for the stepladder.

The last time Dorin-Ballard appeared on TV as a competitor was the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Queens, where she was the runner-up.

But, the last time the fiery right-hander was involved in an official PWBA telecast was June 29, 2003, when she finished third at the Greater Harrisburg Open. Her final PWBA title came a week earlier at the Greater Cincinnati Open. The tour went on hiatus later in the 2003 season.

At that point in her life, Dorin-Ballard was a different person, as bowling was her livelihood. She was two years removed from earning the 2001 PWBA Player of the Year award on the strength of seven titles, which tied her with Patty Costello for the most wins in a single season. Costello accomplished the feat in 1976.

Life now is quite different for Dorin-Ballard, a 20-time PWBA Tour titlist.

She and husband, Del, welcomed their daughter, Alyssa, in 2004, and she helped Del courageously fight and overcome cancer within the last six years.

While winning a title on the new PWBA Tour still is a goal, she realizes that not winning won’t carry the same impact as it once did.

“I know some people may not understand this, but it’s just not life or death for me anymore,” Dorin-Ballard said. “Fifteen years ago, it was life or death. I was going for bowler of the year, I was breaking a record and it was my life. It was my job. But, in the last 10 years, life has thrown us a few curveballs. My husband (Del) beat cancer. So, although I still get angry when I don’t perform to the best of my ability, I’m over it in 10 minutes. It’s just so different now. But, the competitor in me still wants to be the best I can be because I don’t think you ever lose that.”

As a veteran, Dorin-Ballard is often looked at as a mentor and even a motherly figure on Tour. Those are welcomed titles for the USBC Hall of Famer because she understands the importance of giving back as well as continuing to do her part to ensure the PWBA Tour continues.

“It’s a little more overwhelming and well-received than I actually thought it would be,” Dorin-Ballard said. “I’ve had a lot of girls ask me a lot of questions. I’ve always been one of those people that believes you’re supposed to give back to the sport, and I hope I’ve continued to do that over the years. It really is in our blood, it’s our passion. But, I think it’s my job to really help set them up for what to expect in the next three or six or 10 years. They’re going to have to work really hard to help promote and get people to bowl to make sure this tour survives.”

Dorin-Ballard, or CDB, as she’s often referred to, has made nearly 100 TV appearances in her career, while Earnest will make her second television appearance (2012 USBC Queens), and first as a PWBA member. Whether it’s a classic example of David versus Goliath or a changing of the guard, Dorin-Ballard is excited and proud to be a part of it.

Make no mistakes about it, though, while she may have a different outlook on the potential outcome and has accepted her mentor role, she’s still as motivated as ever to add another title to her resume.

“Do I want to win?” Dorin-Ballard said. “It’d be ridiculous to tell you I don’t want to win. I absolutely want to win, and I won’t be happy with myself if I don’t bowl well. I’m going to try to use the same keys on TV. I’m just going to focus on what I used to do and see where that takes me. If it doesn’t work, then I need to re-focus and decide what I’m going to do the next time I get there. If it works, I’ll continue to go and see how far it takes me.”

As she laces up under the TV lights this week, she’d be more than happy to teach the next generation of PWBA stars a few first-hand lessons about resilience, grace and the timeless, simple style of one of the game’s best.

All qualifying, match play and group stepladder rounds of the 2016 PWBA Rochester Open took place July 8-9 at AMF Gates Lanes in Rochester, New York.

All rounds were streamed live on Xtra Frame, the online bowling channel of the Professional Bowlers Association.

For more information about the PWBA, visit PWBA.com. To subscribe to Xtra Frame, visit XtraFrame.tv