A pair of Stark County two-handed righties, both high school sophomores, reached perfection before the Stark County High School Bowling Conference season begins.
Lake’s Zachary Abbott and GlenOak’s Xzavier Gardener both shot 300 games in recent weeks.
For Abbott, who is in his second varsity season, it marked his second official 300, not including one he threw during the Dick Behra-Fred Smith Pro-Am tourney at Park Centre Lanes prior to the PBA60-50 Doubles event.
Gardener, also in his second varsity season, had his first 300 after throwing his career high of 269 the previous game.
NO. 2 FOR ABBOTT
The 15-year-old Abbott used a new Track Paragon Hybrid drilled by Frank Testa for his second official 300, which came in Game 3 of the Summit County USBC Youth Doubles tourney at AMF Riviera Lanes.
“This was on a house shot there, but I bowled in a sport shot league there all season,” said Abbott, who averaged 208 in the conference a year ago. “It was nothing I expected.”
Previously, Abbott had finished with a 560 series at Spins Bowl Akron in the singles portion of the event before having games of 253 and 242 prior to the 300.
“The new ball just feels really good in my hand. I had Frank redo my other balls to match it, putting grips in all of them,” Abbott said. “He completely redid them and remeasured.”
Abbott said the Ohio State football game on television helped distract him in Game 3.
“I tried to stay calm, but watching the game, I wasn’t as nervous,” Abbott said.
As for the upcoming high school season, Abbott sees promise for the Blue Streaks.
“We have a good team and some new freshmen that hopefully can develop for us. We’re going to be good,” Abbott said.
As for individual goals, Abbott has one thing on his mind both for Lake and himself — a state berth.
“I don’t want what happened last year to happen again,” said Abbott, who shot just 523 a year ago to miss a district individual berth.
FIRST FOR GARDENER
The 15-year-old Gardener, thought me might have missed his chance for his first 300 with a 7-10 split in the 10th frame of Game 2 during the prep league at Eastbury Bowling Center.
“It wasn’t a good shot at all,” said Gardener, who was using a Brunswick Glow in the Dark. “I never thought it was going to carry.”
But after his nine in a row in Game 2 for his all-time high, Gardener kept the streak going in Game 3 for his first 300.
“There were a lot of nerves in the 10th frame … I was shaking,” Gardener said. “But I just tried to keep my focus on something else … just trying to distract myself.”
Although he comes from a family of one-handed players, Gardener “kind of taught myself” how to bowl two-handed at a young age and has maintained that style of delivery.
“I’ve really never had anything else that close to those two games,” Gardener said. “I was just trying to have fun with it, but the nerves did kick in.”
GlenOak will have a new coaching staff this season led by Jossett Petrick, who also operates JP Family Pro Shop at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes. She drills Gardener’s equipment.
“We have some new coaches this season so we hope to improve,” Gardener said. “I’d really like to get another 300 during the season.”
SEASON KICKS OFF SATURDAY
The SCHSBC officially kicks off Nov. 19 with the annual Early Bird Kickoff tournament at 9 a.m. at Park Centre.
The field includes 18 girls and 18 boys teams, all from the conference and including a pair of junior varsity squads on both sides. For the first time in two years, fans will be permitted to view the action. There is no admission charge, and doors for fans will open at 8 a.m.
Teams in both the boys and girls fields include Carrollton, Central Catholic, Conotton Valley, East Canton, GlenOak, Green, Jackson, Lake, Lake Center Christian (varsity and junior varsity), Louisville, Marlington, Massillon, McKinley, North Canton Hoover, Perry (junior varsity only), Sandy Valley and Triway.
Teams will bowl two regular and eight Baker System games before the field is cut to the top eight on each side for the championship round. Championship round match play will include best-of-three matches the first two rounds, with the title matches being best-of-five.
The conference regular season officially begins Nov. 21.