PERRY TWP. — Amherst left-hander John Price was unable to figure out the right lane during his semifinal match against Tallmadge right-hander John Randolph.
On his first four shots during Saturday’s College Bowl Tournaments singles event at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, Price hit the pocket — but he couldn’t strike.
Given an opening after Randolph failed to covert a 2-4-5 spare in the ninth frame, Price needed to at least double in the 10th frame on his bad lane to advance to the title match against Lexington’s Jody Boyd.
“I just tried to hit the ball harder,” the 44-year-old owner-operator of Happy Grass Lawn Care in Medina said, “and I got a good break.”
In fact, Price connected for a crossover strike on his first shot and then threw a perfect shot on his second one to nip Randolph 203-202. It came after Randolph struck on his first ball in the 10th, but left a 10-pin on his second shot..
From there, Price struck on his first four shots of the title match while Boyd had just one strike through five frames as the former forged a three-peat in the College Bowl Tournaments series with a 234-189 victory.
Price has won the group’s last two singles events at Hall of Fame bracketed around a doubles win at Park Centre Lanes with partner Josh Truman in December.
“The title pair was a little looser with a little more back end,” said the No. 4-seeded Price, who earned $520 for the win. “The lanes were a little soft overall during the day. You could see that with the way the scores were through the roof.
“After the semifinal, I changed balls in practice, but it just didn’t work, so I stayed with what I was using. I’m happy with the day … after all, I’m talking to you so it must have been a good day.”
Boyd, who is tournament director for many major open tournaments in Ohio including the revived Akron Open, was making a rare stepladder finals appearance. The No. 3 seed, Boyd stopped top-seeded Joe Hostetler of Louisville 237-224 in the semifinal round after the latter left a 4-6-7 split in the eighth frame and the former struck on seven of his first eight shots..
“I don’t really bowl in enough tournaments, and the ones I do, it would be a miracle if I made the stepladders,” said Boyd, whose wife’s family owns two bowling centers. “But with these types of smaller events, you just never know.”
Boyd, who also stopped Canal Fulton’s Matt Frock 268-213 in the quarterfinals, was surprised by his lack of success on the title pair.
“I went to the line I started the day with on that pair, and in practice I struck on every ball,” Boyd said. “I threw some bad shots for sure there to start and he came out striking.
“Of course, his arm swing was probably pretty loose after what he did (during the semifinals). But it was fun, and we split anyway so it’s OK.”
After opening with four strikes, Price converted a 2-4-7 spare in the fifth before striking on his next three balls to put the game away. Boyd had a double in the sixth and seventh frames, but finished with just three strikes overall.
Price opened the championship round with a 255-248 win over Massillon’s Brian Ball before the nail-biter in the semifinals.
During the doubles event, Price was bothered by a right calf injury. He continues to be bothered by a thigh injury.
“I aggravate it every time I bowl anymore,” Price said. “Today, it was a little tender. It’s something I’m just going to have to deal with for now.”
But it will be OK as long as the wins continue.
NOTES: The tournament drew the group’s second-best field of its existence with 46 players … The cut for the championship round was at 954 total pinfall, an average of 238.5 for the four-game qualifier, with the cut to cash at 920 (230.0). … En route to leading qualifying, Hostetler shot 826 over his first three games, adding a 279 his final game for 1,105 overall. … Allen Yergin, who had the tournament’s high game of 288, won a two-frame rolloff with J.D. Jones for the eighth and final championship round slot 60-59. Yergin was beaten by Hostetler 226-202 during the quarterfinal round. … Louisville’s Kara Thomas was the lone woman in the field, finishing 14th and missing a cash spot by 12 pins. … The next College Bowl Tournaments event with be a 50-50 doubles (one player under age 50 and the other over age 50) Feb. 12 at Park Centre.
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
Quarterfinals (all losers received $140): Joe Hostetler d. Allan Yergin 226-202; John Randolph d. Ray Cook 258-239; Jody Boyd d. Matt Frock 268-213; John Price d. Brian Ball 255-248.
Semifinals (losers received $220): Price d. Randolph 203-202; Boyd d. Hostetler 237-224.
Championship (winner received $520; loser received $320): Price d. Boyd 234-189.
Other cashers
9, (tie) J.D. Jones 954, $80 (lost two-frame rolloff for eighth spot); 10, Branden Ball 951, $80; 11, Dave McLaughlin 948, $80; 12, Frank Testa 932, $60; 13, Jason Gribble 920, $60.