NEW PHILADELPHIA — To say Kevin Hanenkrat’s time is limited would be an understatement.
The 48-year-old Kimbolton right-hander is owner-operator of Now & Then Guns-n-Stuff and NTGS Customs, a computer programmer, Newcomerstown High School’s head bowling coach, a member of a group attempting to revitalize Main Street in Newcomerstown and a softball coach.
But coach Hanenkrat becomes just another bowler a couple of nights a week — but one with some impressive credentials.
In the Hetrick Truck Two-Man league at Wabash Lanes, Hanenkrat has broken the 800 barrier twice in the past two months, shooting a career-high 853 in December and adding an 807 recently. Both involved a 300 game, giving him 35 overall to go along with 15 career 800 series.
“It’s been a consistent season for me to this point,” said Hanenkrat, who used a Hammer 3D Offset for both of his 800s, a ball he acquired in early December. “I’ve had lots of 700s.”
He is averaging 235 at Wabash and 226 in a trio league at Legacy Lanes in Coshocton, which has adopted a slightly different format.
In that league, three teams bowl on the same pair, putting nine on the pair instead of six.
“It’s two points a game with eight points for the night overall,” Hanenkrat said. “It’s kind of like a golf scramble with multiple teams facing each other.”
His 853 included games of 254, 300 and 299, with Hanenkrat leaving a 6-pin on his final ball.
“The first game, I left a 10-pin and a bucket (2-4-5-8) on a stupid ball. I kind of do that a lot, but then I just got into a rhythm,” Hanenkrat said. “I left the bucket in the seventh frame and then I just started striking and couldn’t miss.”
Hanenkrat, who looks at the indicator board 38-40 feet down the lane as his target, then ran off the next 28 strikes in a row before leaving the 6-pin.
“I just got a little light with the shot,” he added.
He had no indication a big night was coming on his second 800 of the season, which included games of 300, 267 and 240.
“I left 10-pin after 10-pin in practice. Then, I made a minor adjustment before we started and had the 300 and the next eight strikes before leaving a 10-pin and a 6-10 spare,” Hanenkrat said.
In the final game, the right lane changed for him, but Hanenkrat thought the mistake was his.
“I came up high on the one ball on that lane and left the 6-10, but I thought it might have been me,” he added. “But then I left the 3-6-7-10 (his only open of the night) when I hit that lane again and I realized it wasn’t me … that the lane had changed.”
Hanenkrat then made an adjustment in the sixth frame and struck out for the final count.
His new ball came on the recommendation of Steve Easterday.
“I’ve known him all my life. He picks out something that he thinks will work for me and drills it up,” Hanenkrat said. “I hand him the money, he hands me the ball and I go throw it.”
This is the first year for Newcomerstown’s high school program, which currently bowls out of Cy Young Lanes.
“The IVC (Inter-Valley Conference) adopted bowling unanimously for the league next season,” Hanenkrat said. “We’re involved with another league for our first season because we wanted to keep it local, but we’re not sure at this point how it’s going to be handled.”
But one thing Hanenkrat does know is how to stay busy. But bowling always will be a part of that.
“I tell people bowling is my sanctuary with just myself, a ball, 10 pins and 60 feet of lane,” Hanenkrat told the New Philadelphia Times-Reporter in an interview, “where everything else can be put aside for a brief time.”