CANTON — The Friday night Liberty Vending league turned out the high scores recently at Eastbury Bowling Center.
And the top series were shot by three bowlers at separate stages of their bowling careers.
Add to that a pair of 300 games and you get the picture as area players begin lighting up the center which will be the site of Stark County’s lone major singles tournament in February — the 31st John Klonowski Memorial Scratch Singles on Feb. 5.
The three top series — by 30-year-old Perry Township right-hander Brett McCourry, 23-year-old Alliance right-hander Kevin Schott and 49-year-old Massillon right-hander Brian Ball — were thrown by men of different ages and different styles. Add to that a pair of 300 games by right-hander Rob Weary and left-hander Aaron Gowins and you can see the type of night it was.
Here’s a closer look at the three 800s that night:
BRETT McCOURRY
Little did McCourry know that his 812 series at Eastbury would be just the start of a huge weekend for the owner-operator of McCourry Property and Lawn Care and McCourry Soap Works.
On the following Sunday, his McCourry Soap Works team of Adam Kutz, Chris Miller, Marcus Marcelli and Mike Thewes along with himself finished with a 3,814 scratch series at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes. He shot just 710 that day — and was low on the team.
But Friday, he had games of 287, 246 and 279 en route to “around the 30 mark” in career 800s with around 30 300 games.
“That night, the 800s were all spread out so the shot must have been easy for everyone,” McCourry joked. “That was my first 800 in a while. Obviously, I’ve been throwing it really well recently.”
McCourry, who was on the lower end of the larger side of Eastbury on Lanes 5 and 6, started his night with the Storm Trend 2, but had to make a ball change in Game 2.
“It was getting too squirrelly down the lane so I went to my (900 Global) Reality Check. The second game was just atrocious carry-wise after I carried the house in Game 1,” said McCourry, who spared in the first frame of Game 1 and then ran strikes until a seven-count on his final ball in the 10th frame.
He has tied his all-time high of 838 three times — at three different centers.
“I had a chance to beat it the last game, but I didn’t strike on the first ball in the 10th that third game,” said McCourry, who is averaging in the 240 range in both his regular leagues. “I’ve been throwing it well on Friday and Sunday, but (Northeast Ohio) traveling league is second shift and it’s really hard to score big. A lot of guys are down this year.”
Then came his team’s big run on Sunday.
“Kutzie was joking we could go 3,900, and by the sixth frame the last game we had a chance,” McCourry said. “Everyone just bowled well that day.”
He also was a member of the four-man team at Eastbury that shot 3,113 scratch in the Liberty Vending league last season along with his brother, Alex, Marcelli and Ball, who had his last 800 then.
BRIAN BALL
Ball, who won his second Furbay Electric Open title in May at AMF Hall of Fame, has over 150 800 series. This one came with a Purple Hammer solid he had drilled up just that day.
“I got it on the recommendation of Dave Wodka, who told me it was something special,” said Ball, who bowls in just two leagues averaging about 233 in both. “It’s smooth and controllable.”
He couldn’t remember what the exact games were for the latest 800 except to say he needed to “double in the 10th frame to make sure I got there.”
Ball was the first one to finish, watching Schott put the finishing touches on his latest milestone in the 10th frame and then waiting for McCourry’s finish. “I was trying to put the whammy on (McCourry) so I didn’t have to split the pot,”” Ball joked.
Ball said he is in that “in between” portion of his bowling career.
“I just don’t feel like I’m good enough to bowl against the kids and I’m not old enough to bowl against the old guys,” said Ball, who turns 50 in October 2023. “But I’m one of those guys who is looking forward to being considered old.
“”I’ve already signed up for 50 events after Oct. 1 and I’ve signed up for all the websites.”
Recently, he teamed with his son, Branden, to place in the top 12 at a Baker System doubles event in Washington, Pa.
“I think Branden learned some things. It was a 44-foot pattern, but it didn’t play that well. The center hooked a little bit,” Ball said.
His decision to use the Purple Hammer at Eastbury will depend on the lane. But he has made it clear he will not compete in the Klonowski.
“The typography at Eastbury is inconsistent, and that means more than the shot. From lanes one to eight, that ball is not in play, but from nine up, you have a chance,” Ball said.
“Those young kids with the big rev rates can hit there along the cliff. I just can’t throw it that hard. I match up the best when I can slow roll hook it, and it’s just not there this year. It just doesn’t play into my game. I’m going to be picking and choosing my spots.”
Ball describes his season as “consistently inconsistent.”
“I’ve been bowling OK on the weekends, but not in season yet,” Ball said.
KEVIN SCHOTT
But Eastbury’s hottest bowler has to be Schott, who now has two 800s there on different nights to go along with 814 and 792 in the Northeast Ohio Traveling league, both at Spins Bowl-Kent.
Schott, bowling on lanes 19-20 that night, had games of 269, 279 and 300 for his all-time high of 837.
“I didn’t have any idea what the others were doing. Aaron was right next to me and had 300,” said Schott, who turned right around and shot 802 the following Wednesday also at Eastbury in the Wednesday Night league.
After opening with 269, Schott left a 20-pin in the eighth frame for his 279 before running the table in Game 3 for his 11th career 300 at the time.
“There wasn’t any pressure in the 10th. I just knew what I needed for the 800 and that’s what I was worried about,” said Schott, who also shot 300 the following Wednesday. “I just think 800s are harder to get than 300s, but the 300 adds to it.”
Schott used the Roto Grip Original Ido for the Friday 800, but used the Storm Dark Code for his Wednesday effort. Three different balls for three 800s this season (he used the Storm IQ Tour Nano for his first one at Kent).
“I don’t really know what is bringing this on. I’m just throwing good shots and choosing the right equipment off practice with Storm or Roto Grip,” said Schott, who lost his 49-year-old father just two months ago. “My feet are staying slow and the target is there.”
The Friday and Wednesday 800s were on different sides of the center, with the latter being on the short side as he bowled in a substitute roll. He has just 12 games in that league.
The strange leave came in Game 3 of that latter 800 when Schott left the 2-4-5-8-10 — and converted it.
“Never seen it before. First time I leave it, and first time ever picked it up,” said Schott, who then struck out for the 800 after shooting only 237 in Game 2 following his opening 300 for No. 12.
“That night, I left a few 10-pins and smash 7-pins. I just didn’t feel as good as I did the first game, but I brought it back,” Schott said. “I put in my mind I needed a big game to get there.”
But he had it all going on Friday, and so did much of the league as the run up to the Klonowski continues.