Going for an 800 series is difficult enough.
Couple that with having $1,000 on the line for a strike-ball jackpot and you get an idea of what Canton’s Josh Mellott faced at Park Centre Lanes recently.
The 34-year-old right-hander had games of 284, 300 and 245 for an 829 series — his fourth career 800 and 10th 300 game — during the Spencer Towing Mixed league.
“Everything looked good in practice. I found a good medium spot,” said Mellott, who bowls in two leagues, including one at Triway Lanes. “Once I find that, I see how frar right I can get to get the right angle, and then I see how far left I can get.
“Overall, that’s the best I’ve thrown it. I should have had two 300s that night … I was throwing it that well.”
Mellott got off to a fast start with 10 strikes to open Game 1 before leaving a seven-count on his second ball in the 10th frame.
“I just got flat on the shot,” Mellott said. “After I left that I just sort of wung it at the pins from there.”
Then came 300 in Game 2 using his Roto Grip Hustle Camo. In Game 3, he had the first four strikes before leaving a 4-9 split in the fifth. He left only a pocket 9-pin the rest of the way with strikes.
“It’s kind of funny, but I told everyone I was really tired that night and I wasn’t feeling great,” said Mellott, an Avient Corp. employee who had his last 800 “about two or three years ago.”
“It ended up being one of my best sets. I think I only had two bad shots — the one that was flat in the 10th in Game 1 and that split in Game 3.”
But with his 800 clinched with a strike in the ninth frame of Game 3, there was still money to be one in the strike pot, which consists of recording strikes in designated frames throughout a three-game series.
Mellott needed three strikes to end Game 2, but he needed strikes in the ninth and first ball in the 10th in Game 3.
“I was following along so I knew what I had to do. The nerves kicked in a little and it was kind of a wish-wash strike in the ninth, but I knew I had the 800 clinched,” Mellott said.
“I think I was more nervous on that ball in the 10th than anything. I’ve had a chance a couple of other times (for the jackpot), but I always missed it by one frame. I never made it to the last ball.”
It comes despite Mellott adding he has been struggling at Park Centre.
“I haven’t been happy at all,” said Mellott, who is averaging 210 while he is 225 at Triway. “My timing has been a bit off here, and I’ve been trying to get it right. Hopefully, this will do it.”
He admitted bowling in the mixed league took just adjustment.
“In the scratch league, you have more consistent bowlers that break the lane down more so you have to stay ahead of the transition,” Mellott added. “I’ve found myself having to make moves right here which is unusual.
“It took some time to figure that out, but when I did, that’s when I got better.”
And it helped make him richer for one night.