It has been a pretty solid season for Chuck Stout Jr. on the lanes.
He has a pair of 800 series, including an 808 recently in the Spectrum Orthopaedics league at Park Centre.
But he is considering not bowling next season, and it has nothing to do with his game.
“Before the season even started I had a mental breakdown and had to go see a psychologist,” the 47-year-old Salem right-hander said. “I’m now medicated and it’s starting to help out a lot more.”
For Stout, who used to manage Christopher Columbus Lanes in Alliance for nearly 10 seasons, it got to the point that he just couldn’t be in unfamiliar surroundings or strange people.
“I just couldn’t walk into a strange place and feel comfortable. I went into the Columbus early in the season and I couldn’t stay more than 15 minutes,” Stout said. “I was just that uncomfortable. Heck, I knew most of those people.
“They are still doing tests … they think it’s some kind of neurological disorder. I just think I may have committed to bowling too early. I’ve missed more bowling this year than I ever have.”
Stout has had tests for depression, PTSD and anxiety. “I’ve had a lot of head trauma over the years,” he added.
“It has gotten to the point where I don’t want to leave my house. Even going to Circle K is a chore for me sometimes.”
But on the lanes among people he knows, Stout continues to shine. His latest 808 series included games of 275, 254 and 279.
In Game 1, he ran the front nine, the left a 10-pin and a 2-4-5-8 bucket. In Game 2, Stout left another bucket after a double to start the game and an eight-count spare in the 10th with strikes in between.
“I remember telling (teammate) Jeff (Mowls) that I needed to get the front nine in the last game because I sure wasn’t doing anything in the 10th frame,” Stout said.
And that’s exactly what he did, starting Game 3, leaving a 6-pin on his first ball in the 10th frame.
“I knew what I needed,” Stout added, getting a strike on his final ball, “and I almost missed it. But this was so important to me.”
Stout’s career 800s are in the 20s, with a high of 879 at the former College Plaza Lanes in Alliance. He also had “around” 50 300 games.
But his health, rather than his bowling, is his top priority at this point.
“I just want to make sure I get myself right,” Stout said. “Too much Red Bull over the years didn’t help.
“I’m not working right now and my wife (Nicole) is working way too much. My game just comes and goes, but this is a priority.”