CANTON — Michael Emerick had grown up bowling leagues at Eastbury Bowling Center. But it had never been particularly kind to the now 35-year-old Canton right-hander.
“I don’t usually score well (at Eastbury), so it was nice to join in on the fun for a night,” Emerick said.
The “fun” included games of 290, 248 and 288 for an 826 series during the team event of the 101st Stark County USBC Open Championships. It was a night Emerick was not scheduled to bowl.
And it didn’t help that he was going to be on lanes 9 and 10.
“I wasn’t even supposed to bowl. But Jeff (Mowls) would not leave me alone about it the night before,” said Emerick, a MSC Industrial Supply employee. “He needed someone to fill out his team, so I gave in.
“That’s a rough pair for me and I was not looking forward to bowling on it. I watched my son (Louisville High School sophomore Michael Emerick Jr.) bowl on that pair all season and struggle.”
Before starting his night, Emerick replaced tape in his Brunswick Prism Warp.
“That tape had been in there since last year. I had 300 with that ball during the city tournament and I think I’ve thrown the ball maybe six times since,” Emerick said. “It’s a weak layout, but it sets up on the front and has nothing on the back. It’s two or three years old.”
After the tape change, Emerick started his night with a solid 9-pin in the first frame and then struck out for his 290. In Game 2, he left four 10-pins, covering them all.
“I knew I was off to a good start. In the second game after I left that first 10-pin, I knew I was in trouble and had to move quickly,” Emerick said. “I decided to just stay with that ball and move.
“The best series I had all year was 746 so I’ve been nowhere close to 800. But after the first four or five the last game, I felt I had a legit shot at this.”
The big shot came in the eighth frame when Emerick’s shot “went through the face and caved in the 4-6-7-10 (split).”
“I just turned around laughing and said, ‘that’s the one I’ve been waiting for,’ ” Emerick said, smiling.
After a solid shot in the ninth and a swisher strike on his first ball in the 10th, Emerick left a 2-8 on his final shot for 288.
“I probably should have taken out a piece of tape for the last two shots. I kind of forced it and it hung up on my thumb and I missed right,” said Emerick, whose whole family was there to witness the milestone.
It marked Emerick’s eighth 800 overall to go with nine 300 games, his first coming during high school sectional play as a member of Timken High School’s team. His high series is 846, thrown during the COVID-19 year of 2019 when he had a pair of 800s.
“It just felt great,” said Emerick, whose teams failed to cash during the team event, shooting around the 3,200 mark. “A great way to finish the season.”
SANKO’S BIG YEAR CONTINUES
Also recording 800 during the team event was Perry Township right-hander Paul Sanko III, who dropped the curtain on a spectacular season.
The Sam’s Club employee recorded three 800 series and five 300s this season, capping it with 822 during the Stark County USBC event at Eastbury.
“It’s just been a phenomenal year, especially the second half,” Sanko said. “That’s the way I want to go out. I just want to thank my fellow bowlers and family for the support and love they gave me every week.”
Sanko had 269, 253 and 300 his final game. He left a pair of 10-pins in Game 1 and a 2-4-5-8 bucket was one of his leaves in Game 2.
“I really don’t know what happened on that shot. I don’t know what I did with the ball but it just didn’t feel right,” Sanko said.
But the highlight was claiming his second straight league title in the SharpShooters mixed league at Park Centre, where he bowled with brother, Brando;, their wives, Crystal and Nicole, and mother, Penny.
“We also had a chance for it on Wednesday night, but it didn’t pan out,” Brandon Sanko said.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Paul Sanko said. “Family.”