NORTH CANTON — For one night, Richard Stoffer became “Rech.”
But it was far from a wretched effort for his KS Machinery team on that January 2022 night at Spins Bowl Akron.
Stoffer and teammates Taylor Devaul and Kara Kutz recorded a 2,250 scratch series during the Northeast Ohio Travel League. It ranked first in the nation among United States Bowling Congress one man, two women teams during the 2021-22 season.
“That became the joke after that,” Devaul said. “He needed to be rech instead of Rich for the rest of the season.”
Stoffer, a 44-year-old Alliance right-hander, had come to the league that night after having a few drinks earlier. He admittedly was “feeling good.”
“I put my name in the lineup as rech,” Stoffer said. “I kept gobbling Smarties all night, but I kept calling them sweeties.”
Stoffer, using a 900 Global Wolverine, shot 738, with a high game of 256. Devaul, using a 900 Global Zen, had a team-high 762 with 279 in Game 2. Kutz finished with 750, with a high of 259, using a Roto Grip UFO Alert.
“We just killed it to start off the night,” said Kutz as the team had games of 730, 772 and 748. “It was one of those nights when everything went right”
Devaul, who coaches the Central Catholic High School boys team, was scheduled to bowl the Ohio Queens the following week.
“It was right before it and a great way to kick into that,” said Devaul, a 26-year-old East Sparta right-hander. “We really didn’t think about it until (Stark USBC association manager) Sue (Vukmanovich) told us it was one of the highest series in the nation. We were just having a good time bowling.”
Vukmanovich presented the national award to the trio prior to the NEOTL’s play at Park Centre Lanes on Thursday.
Stoffer said the trio had a good year last season.
“It was a struggle at times, but to come to with something like that is awesome and a member we can always take with us,” Stoffer said.
One thing the two women, who both were married late in 2022, can take is coming out ahead of Stoffer.
“The fact that both of us beat Stof … that’s something he’ll remember … that two girls beat him,” said Kutz, a 27-year-old Louisville right-hander.
This season, Kutz is not bowling in the NEOTL due to college classes. Stoffer remains captain of his team, but has two new teammates in the draft league while Devaul was drafted by the Sled Dog Transportation team.
Stoffer then followed up receiving the award by shooting 300 en route to a 794 series in the league Thursday.
“There’s just so much competition in this league,” Devaul said. “It wasn’t like we bowled badly, but it seemed like when one bowled well, the others would be average.
“It was just tough to click all at the same time. But the fact that it happened that night was just awesome.”