CANTON — Cecil Forrester has said that if he ever shot a 900 series in bowling, he’s done with the game.
“It’s not something I even think about when coming in,” the 42-year-old Canton Township right-hander said. “You can’t think about it, even when things are going well. Sometimes you may think, this is the night, but …”
Forrester, who owns an 856 career high at the former Nancy O’s Bowl where he missed only three times all night, duplicated that feat in the Las Vegas Tuesday Mixed league at Eastbury Bowling Center recently.
After starting with his 37th career 300 game, the MAC Trailer Manufacturing employee started Game 2 with the first seven strikes before his run ended. But the night still produced his 12th career 800 series — an 845.
“I didn’t miss in practice and I had a real good shot all night,” Forrester said. “But I’ve had that before and it didn’t work out.
“It was just one of those nights and it didn’t matter as long as I hit my mark.”
After starting Game 2 with the first seven strikes, he left a 10-pin in the eighth frame. He missed the spare.
Then, he ran strikes until the fill ball in the 10th frame for 266 with another 10-pin.
“At least, I didn’t have to shoot that one,” said Forrester, who used a Storm Phaze 4 for his milestone series. He has since added the Phaze 5 to his arsenal.
In Game 3 he was off again, running the first seven strikes before another 10-pin in the eighth frame. This time, he converted the spare and struck out for 279.
“I’m a true believer that the only true tap in this game is the 8- or 9-pin,” Forrester said. “I left three 10-pins all night, but it had to be something I was doing.
“There wasn’t any pressure with the 300. I’ve been there before. After the first seven in Game 3 I pretty much had the 800 locked up even if I spared out.”
Forrester bowls in three leagues — all at Eastbury — with averages ranging from 214 to 237. The low average is on Thursday, when he barely arrives at the start of league play due to work commitments.
“I need to get loose like everyone else,” said Forrester, who is lucky to have any practice balls that night. “It’s Eastbury and you have an area and know where you’re throwing it.
“So I’m not trying to find a mark. I know it’s somewhere in my area that I have on a house shot. It’s not like it’s something different.”
The quest for perfection goes on — as it does for most players.
“The difference this time over Nancy O’s was the 300,” Forrester said. “I missed only three times that night and had a pair of 279s and 278.
“It was just one of those nights.”