Uniontown’s Mark Suchan recording his sixth career 800 series is a memorable event on its own. But what transpired just five days prior to his accomplishment in the Northeast Ohio Traveling league puts this accomplishment on another level.
Mark’s father, 80-year-old Tri-County Bowling Hall of Famer Tom Suchan, was moved to Timberland Ridge Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation in Fairlawn earlier this year. Tom is one of a select few to record 300 games in six decades.
“It’s not technically Alzheimer’s, but some type of dementia. He was having severe memory loss to the point where he was getting out of control at home,” Mark, the 51-year-old co-owner of Sled Dog Transportation with his wife, Jennifer, said.
“He just became too much for my stepmother to handle.”
When his father was moved and his stepmother moved out of her previous home, Mark was given his father’s old bowling equipment. It sat around his home for about six months until a couple of weeks ago untouched.
“Out of the blue, I was putting away Halloween decorations and I saw the bowling bag, so I decided to go through it,” Suchan said. “I started taking everything out of the pockets, things like towels, shoes, etc.”
In the bottom of one pocket, Suchan made a discovery.
“I came across a ring, one of the old-style 800 rings from Nov. 21, 1979, for one of his 800s,” Suchan said. “Since I was putting away the decorations, I didn’t want to take a chance on losing it so I put in on my finger and wore it around the rest of the day.”
That was on Sunday; he rolled his 803 series on games of 256, 279 and 268 the following Thursday at Eastbury Bowling Center.
He had the opportunity for his 28th career 300 game before leaving a 10-pin on his first ball in the 10th frame of Game 2 after running off six strikes in a row during Game 1. He started out strike-spare in Game 3 and then ran off eight strikes in a row to clinch the 800.
“I knew I needed the first one in the 10th frame. I wasn’t really nervous at all until that one,” said the right-hander, who bowls in 3 1/2 leagues, including an every-other week mixed one with his wife. “But I threw that first one well and smashed the pocket. After that, I looked up and it was 266 so I knew I had it. Just went up and threw the last one for count.”
He didn’t have an open frame all night.
“Bowling season has been great. It’s been my best year to date in the travel league,” said Suchan, who has his son, Taylor, on his team. “I’m averaging 229 and Taylor’s having his best year also.”
Bowling has been more successful than his racing season.
Mechanical problems and other issues plagued Mark, Taylor and Jen and their Flintstone Flyer Racing team during the summer season. The group races dwarf cars at Good’s Raceway in Deerfield.
“It was a rough season. Usually it’s not bowling season until racing is done, but this year I couldn’t wait for racing to be over,” Suchan said.
One more bit of Karma. The night Suchan rolled his 27th and last 300 game at Stonehedge Family Fun Center in Akron in 2020, his dad was there to see it.
“It was the only 300 of mine that he had ever seen,” Suchan said, “and it also was the last time he was ever in a bowling center. He fell that night and we later learned that had been happening at home also. He also had trouble finding his way to and from Stonehedge.”
But the memory of the ring and 800 will go on.
“I don’t know if you can call it Karma or what,” Suchan said. “He was my first coach.”
ONDECKER’S ROLL CONTINUES
Don Ondecker, a 62-year-old Clinton right-hander, had said he never wanted October to end after recording two of his six career 800 series at Park Center and Spins Bowl Akron, respectively.
He may want to move his timetable up a little bit.
On Nov. 9, Ondecker had games of 256, 279 and 278 for an 813 series again in the Hannan Electric league at Park Centre to give him three 800s in less than two months.