CANTON — After shooting the high series of his career during the 101st Stark County USBC Open Championships, Akron’s Dylan Rinella was impressed — to a point.
“It was an adventure,” the 28-year-old right-handed two-hander said of his 846 series, which included his 25th 300 game at Eastbury Bowling Center. “I think I’ve thrown it better a lot of nights, but that’s just bowling. Some nights, you have to take your hits on the chin.”
Rinella had games of 298, 248 and 300 to record the tourney’s highest three-game set. He also led his team, Roosters, to a second-place finish overall with 3,630 — 11 pins behind champion Gribble Painting III.
“I just got focused, zoned in and got lucky I guess,” said Rinella, a sales representative for Hi-Way Distributing Corp. in Barberton. “The last game, I was a little more nervous probably around the eighth frame. I knew I had a chance to shoot a big number, one I thought I could never reach.”
In Game 1, Rinella ran off the first 11 before leaving a 4-9 split on his final shot.
“I just threw it terrible. I actually threw the ball the best in the second game, but that’s bowling,” he added.
In Game 2, he started with a flat 10-pin on his first shot. He left another wrap 10-pin and a solid 9-pin for his only misses.
“I really didn’t have to move at all, except for a couple at the start,” Rinella said. “I made a move left a couple of boards in Game 2 and I flat 10. It was one of those nights where everywhere kind of worked.”
The 10th frame of the 300 in Game 3 was the adventure for Rinella.
“I posted it on my Facebook page, but people couldn’t really tell. I think I missed out by about 15 boards on the first shot, and then pulled it in five on the second shot,” Rinella said. “The last one, I finally threw a good shot. I just felt awesome to finish like that and get the 800, because it’s so rare, especially for me.”
Rinella’s teammate, left-hander Jim Fellows, had a pair of 279s en route to a 795 series and Joe Hostetler added 708. Other series for Roosters were Matt Frock with 644 and Joe Stauffer with 637.
Rinella, who averaged 230 in a Friday night league at Eastbury, used a Roto Grip Hustle Camo for his milestone. But it’s not his Eastbury ball.
“I’ve used a little bit of everything here. Every lane seems to play a little different for me and on different nights,” said Rinella, who also shot 300 during the Ohio USBC Open Tournament in Toledo in March. “The next night in team event, I think I shot around 640.”
It was a good finish to an “up-and-down” year, Rinella added.
“I think I was at my best at the start of the season. The end of the season was not so good,” Rinella added. “So it’s nice to finish things with a huge set like that.”