CANTON — Devone Johnson’s bowling has been forced to take a back seat to his job as a United Parcel Service supervisor.
“I’m only bowling in one league because of my work responsibilities,” the 49-year-old Canton right-hander said. “When I come into seasonal deliveries for UPS I don’t bowl from October to January, so I miss about eight weeks before I can come back.”
In the past, Johnson admits, the time off has played havoc with his game, causing rhythm and timing issues as he tries to get back on stride.
“I’ve been a 220 average for most of my life,” Johnson said, “but I’m only around 208 this season.”
But when Johnson came back from his break this season, things were different.
“It just seemed like this time, I was killing it in the pocket,” Johnson said. “It seemed like my focus was there more and it felt great. I thank the Lord that it did.”
The peak came in mid-February in the Liberty Vending league at Eastbury Bowling Center when Johnson had games of 299, 290 and 267 for a career-high 856. It marked his fourth 800 series, with his previous high being 824.
He also has “15-to-20” 300 games.
“My mom said maybe I should take some more time off,” Johnson said. “She said that maybe it’s good for me since her son is getting older.”
Johnson, who usually arrives late for the Friday league due to his job, started with the first 11 in Game 1 before leaving a 6-pin on his final shot.
“I just tugged it,” Johnson said.
He started Game 2 with a 10-pin spare before striking out. He left a another one in Game 3 along with a 3-10 split in the 10th frame which he also converted.
“I didn’t have to move the entire night. I thought I was going to have to change when the oil carried down, but for some reason, that ball pretty much stayed there,” Johnson said of his Storm RST X-2 ball, which he’s had for about a year.
“I put it up between the second and third arrows, about 10 to 15 board, straight up. We call it the Geno style (in memory of longtime Eastbury bowler and Greater Canton Bowling Association Hall of Famer Gene Guidone).”
Johnson, who refers to himself as a “Godly person,” feels he received help to even make an appearance at bowling that night.
“I felt like I didn’t have the strength to even come and bowl that day,” Johnson said. “But it seemed like the Lord gave me the strength to bowl because maybe he had a purpose for me to do something like that.
“You just never know. It’s just a blessing that I can bowl as well as I do coming in only one day a week.”