Spins Bowl Akron had not been kind to Scott Vandegrift earlier this season.
After finishing second during the Ohio Masters tournament in Columbus, a career highlight, the 33-year-old Perry Township right-hander struggled to a 490 series during the Northeast Ohio Travel League at the center.
Vandegrift got a new Motiv Pride ball in August, but had yet to have it drilled up. The second time he went to Spins Bowl Akron in December, he came armed with that ball and shot 660.
He hit the center again during the traveling league two weeks ago and just about doubled his score from earlier in the season with the same ball.
Starting with 278, Vandegrift went on to shoot 802, following the opener with games of 266 and 258 for his 20th career 800 series to along with 30 300 games.
“It has really been an up-and-down season for me. I’d pretty much been struggling,” Vandegrift said. “But then the Masters happened and I didn’t expect it. I had such a good look down there that I thought I could transition it to up here. I did it for one week when I had 300 at Eastbury.
“It’s just one of those years that when I feel good, I don’t bowl good or when I feel mad, I bowl well.”
Vandegrift, who bowls in just the travel league full time but subs also at Eastbury Bowling Center, started the night with a double before “short-arming” a shot and leaving a 2-pin. He then ran strikes until the final ball in the 10th frame.
In Game 2, he again short-armed another shot, leaving a 2-10 split, covered it and then struck into the 10th frame.
In Game 3, he left a pair of “blower” 7-pins and a 4-pin.
“I really never struck out in the 10th frame, but I got to where I needed to be,” said Vandegrift, who carries a 218 average in the travel league. “When I got to the 10th in Game 3, I knew the first strike would either make or break 780s or 790s.
“I wasn’t really thinking about the 800, but I knew I was close. Once I got the second (strike)I, I knew I just had to keep it on the lane with count and I would have 800.”
Vandegrift admits his game is a work in progress.
“I went to Tony Johnson and redid all my equipment … spans, pitches, everything. I’m correcting everything,” Vandegrift said. “I’m trying to stay behind the ball and be smoother through the shot instead of ripping through the ball.”
And he was able to conquer his Spins Bowl Akron curse.
“It’s still not my favorite house,” added Vandegrift, who has five of his 800 tries in the past three years. “I just walked in there and started firing.”
And that strategy was good enough for 800.