Akron’s Brian Reichard made the decision to turn from reactive resin to urethane bowling balls a couple of years ago.
“I just got tired of the wet-dry conditions I was bowling on,” the 43-year-old right-hander said. “It always seemed like I was in between with resin. Now, I just have to make little moves to get to where I can go right and straight up.”
In late December, Reichard’s move to his Purple Hammer paid off with his third career 800 series in the Pizza Oven Classic league at Park Centre.
Reichard had games of 268, 279 and 280 for an 822, his high career series to go along with 16 300 games.
“I really didn’t have any indication it was going to be a night like that,” the Cleveland Clinic Akron General employee said. “But I have to say that it was the most locked in I think I’ve ever been.
“I really can’t put my finger on why it was like that, but I was just more focused.”
Reichard made his only move of the night in Game 1 after leaving a 4-pin in the second frame. “I’m usually around the seventh or eighth board and I was there that night.”
“I made a slight move on the approach left which is all I ever do since I went to urethane,” added Reichard who averages 230 in two Park Centre leagues.
He then ran strikes until his second ball in the 10th frame when he left a 10-pin.
The surge continued in Game 2 as he ran off the first nine strikes before another 4-pin on his first ball in the 10th denied him a shot at 300.
That quest ended early in Game 3 with a 10-pin in the second frame. But he then ran off the sheet to complete his 800 quest and a clean night.
“The nerves really weren’t that bad at all. I was locked in,” Reichard said. “I knew the key was getting the first one in the 10th. Once I got that, I knew I was good to go.
“Every ball was there or close that night. Of course, you have to have a couple of breaks along the way. The lanes just set up well for me.”
But getting his first 800 in nine years was a big deal.
“I finally kind of got that monkey off my back. It’s been a long time and it just feels great.”
FIRST 300 AS ADULT
Canton resident Stewart Hudson recorded his first career 300 as an adult player during the Tycor Roofling league at Eastbury recently,
The 20-year-old Hudson is a college sophomore at Kent State University studying finance.