On the lanes
A legend is born after Grzesiak ‘calls’ his trio of perfect games And, another legend is born. Probably as impressive as Babe Ruth pointing to the outfield stands with his bat for everyone to see where he was going to hit his home run and then actually hitting right there, is Steve Grzesiak telling Jimmy Matis that he was going to throw three 300 perfect games this season – and then actually doing it.
That is correct. This past Tuesday night, at Fairbank, “The Cousin” rolled games of 300, 226, and 210 for a nice 736 series and his third 300 game this season. He said he would do it, and he did.
You probably recall that I mentioned before that Steve shot 300, 200,and 214 for a 714 series on Oct. 6, and then a month later on Nov. 3, he rolled 300, 178, and 186 for 664 and perfect game No. 2. Now, another month later, he has gotten No. 3.
Congratulation Steve, and I have three things to tell you.
First, after this, everybody is going to start calling you “Cousin.”
Second, since all of these 300s were in the first game, you might want to start doing energy drinks at the bowling alley. Who knows what you series you would roll.
And third, Wheaties just called me and wanted your phone number. They are interested in putting your face on the box.
Excellent bowling, and I can hardly wait until Tuesday night, Jan. 5, 2010, when you roll perfect game No. 4.
ERIC SPRINGER
After quite a bit of hard work and practice, on Nov. 23, during the Monday Night Dogg’s Trio League at Manor, Springer finally shot games of 257, 224, and 243 for his first-ever 700 series. It was a nice 724. We all love it when someone who works hard at the game finally hits a milestone like that.
The frightening part of this story is how quickly those cheers turned into boos when young Mr. Springer came out to the Trio league the very next week and rolled the most horrifying series of his life when he shot 153, 193, and 147 for an anemic 493. Actually, we all kind of loved it when he did that, too. He got the good-natured ribbing because we have all had nights like that.
But, I am glad to report that he was not to be undone, because less than an hour after that nightmare series, Springer tossed 247, 233, and a whopping 279 for an awesome series of 759. The young man had never had a 700 series, and then he unleashed two of them in a week’s time.
Congratulations, Eric. That is great bowling. Although, I kind of liked the 493.
TOM RENNIGER
I am happy to report that the “T-Dog” got zeroed in this past Monday night in his Moonlighter’s League at Manor and rolled his highest game of a long bowling history when he tossed a 290.
I used to roll ’em down the lane with Tom many years ago in the Moonlighters, and I recall him telling me about his 289 game from years past. In that one, he had the first 10, but couldn’t carry No. 11. In this case, he started with a spare and then tossed eleven-in-a-row for that big score, and I can verify that getting that last strike to complete the 290 is just as pressure packed as anything he experienced in the 289 game.
This is obviously Tom’s year because he has found the range all season and is now averaging close to 200, which is nearly 20 pins better than ever before.
Excellent game and season, Tom. Keep it up.
TIDBITS
– Sept. 5 was National Bowling Day. More than 1,000 centers took part and 741,821 games were bowled. That is a new world record. Did you happen to roll a game that Saturday?
– According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, last season 51,000 high school students competed at 4,857 schools that offered high school bowling teams. That is a 2.6 percent increase over the previous year. The schools in our area, though, are slow to come around to the fact that bowling is a great high school sport where everyone plays-no one sits.
BOWLING NEWS
Uniontown resident Gary George writes a weekly bowling column for the Herald-Standard. If you have any bowling news, contact George, a member of the Professional Bowlers Association since 1997, via email at probowler48@aol.com or fax at 724-438-7290. Information is welcome from all area bowling establishments.