LANSING, May 18, 2000 — Eazy Swarthout of Shelby Township spends much of his free time hitting balls on the softball diamond and dribbling down the basketball court, but it was a completely different kind of ball that recently caught his attention. — the balls in The Big Game drawing machine! Swarthout, an avid softball and basketball player, matched the first five numbers in the

May 9 Big Game drawing to win the $150,000 prize. That day’s winning numbers were: 1, 2, 12, 33, 37 and the Big Money Ball number was 4.

"My wife, Judy, saw the winning numbers on television," Swarthout said. "She checked our ticket and came running immediately to tell me we had matched the first five numbers!"

The 24-year-old winner said his $150,000 winning ticket was only the third Lottery ticket he has ever purchased! The lucky man bought the winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket at CVS/Pharmacy #08113, 54788 Shelby Road, in Shelby Township.

Prior to turning the winning ticket in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing, the manager at Outback Steakhouse said he first hid it in a coffee grinder and later in a sealed envelope to ensure its safety.

Swarthout said he plans to invest part of his winnings and use the rest to pay bills and make a down payment on a new car.

The Big Game is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 6,400 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Big Game drawing is Friday, May 19 with an expected jackpot of $12 million.

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