During the 2019-20 COVID-19 season, Mike Spitale Jr. didn’t feel it was fair to do what he asked his father not to.
“I didn’t want my dad going in and out of bowling centers during COVID,” the 60-year-old Jackson Township resident said, “and I really didn’t think it would be fair for me to do what I was asking him not to do.”
So Spitale took the year off from bowling, resuming again this season by bowling in two leagues at Park Centre.
“I was a little nervous about it. I thought it would take a while to get my timing back and to get my brain to function with what the new equipment does and the moves you have to make with it,” said Spitale, who works at Van’s Tire Pros in Akron.
“It took me about three months until I felt comfortable, but I’ve thrown the ball really well the last month and a half.”
The comeback reached its peak two weeks ago when Spitale put together games of 256, 235 and 300 for an 801 series, his eighth career 800 and 43rd 300 game. More importantly, it gave Spitale 300 games in six separate decades.
“I’ve started to feel my timing again and I bought some new equipment,” said Spitale, who added a pair of 900 Global Zens to his arsenal. “The two matched up together is just working.”
Spitale only had time to get a couple of practice balls in as he helped Park Centre employees with collecting side action money for the Tuesday night Hannum Electric league.
“I just got in a couple of practice shots, but I felt comfortable,” Spitale added.
He had seven strikes in a row during Game 1, but a couple of bad pin counts prevented him from scoring higher. Game 2 came down to carry.
“I just lost my carry that game,” Spitale said. “But Game 3 I went back to where I started in Game 1 and everything started to carry. All the shots were solid in the pocket.”
Knowing what was on the line in the 10th frame of Game 3, Spitale was not nervous.
“There weren’t any nerves. I was 501 after two games so I wasn’t thinking about 800. In the 10th, I really wasn’t thinking about anything except concentrating on my target,” said Spitale, whose last 300 came two years ago but it had been seven years since his last 800. “The 300 was the key because I wanted to keep that streak alive after all these years.”
Did he think another 800 was in his reach?
“Not really. I thought after taking the year off I was going to fall behind. But really, I’ve picked up right where I left off,” Spitale added.
He admitted updated equipment also is a confidence booster.
“You now feel with these young kids you can compete with them again. For a couple of years there, they were so much better than we were,” Spitale said. “Now, older guys are competing again with the new equipment that’s out there.”
JONES DOES IT AGAIN
J.D. Jones’ surge continues.
The Massillon right-hander who set Eastbury’s scoring record of 875 earlier, had his third 800 series of the season in the Northeast Ohio Traveling League at Spins Bowl Kent.
Jones had games of 299, 300 and 203 for 802 — the second time this season he had 299 and 300 in the same series.