NORTH CANTON — McKinley High School graduate Andrew Fraleigh always has worked on his mental game.
But his problem, the 23-year-old North Ridgeville two-handed right-hander said, has been more physical recently.
“I’ve noticed that I put too much work and too much energy into my first two games, trying to make the best shots that I can,” said Fraleigh, who works at Lids in the Great Northern Mall.
“I was getting tired by Game 3.”
But recently at Rollhouse Parma, Fraleigh made some changes for the better.
“I was just trying to stay relaxed, stay slow, stay consistent through the first two games,” Fraleigh said. “That way, in Game 3, I had enough energy to still make the best shots I possibly can.”
It worked as Fraleigh had games of 279, 277 and 255 for 811 — his first career USBC-sanctioned 800 series. His previous high overall was 792, 784 sanctioned, along with seven total 300 games (three sanctioned).
“I was doing my best going into the last game to try not to think about it,” Fraleigh said recently after finishing in the top four with partner Chelsea Dorosky during the College Bowl Tournaments Doubles event at Park Centre.
“I’ve put myself in that kind of pressure situation before and it hasn’t worked out. I would crumble under it and shot 150s, 160s or 160s the last game. It’s a points league, so I just was thinking about making my head-to-head point and going from there.”
In Game 1, Fraleigh left a wrap-around 10-pin in the eighth frame. During the 277, it was another wrap 10-pin.
“I decided to make a ball change at that point. I wanted to try something that got me cleaner down the lane and I left a 2-8 on the final ball,” Fraleigh added.
In Game 3, he left a 9-pin in the second frame and a 7-pin in the fifth after making a ball change.
“I went from the Roto Grip Gem to Roto Grip Duo the last part of the game,” he added. “On the 9-pin, I just thought the ball snapped a little too hard on the back of the pattern. It was starting to find the break point.
“On the 10-pin, I just moved a little too far in and was a little lazy down the lane. I needed something a little bit cleaner that would still come around the corner, but not be overly harsh. That ball was something a bit nicer, if I could get the carry. I really think I don’t shoot 800 if I don’t make that change.”
He struck on the two key shots in the 10th frame and then left a “ugly” split on his final ball.
Fraleigh credits Joseph Zibrin at Bowlers Mart Pro Shop at Brookgate Lanes for his equipment and changes.
“There was a time last fall season where I just felt stuck. He helped me with the physical side of things and with my arsenal,” Fraleigh said. “I’m trying to build everything on the consistent side and have a good flow throughout everything.”
And now that the monkey is off his back, Fraleigh expects more honor scores.
“Getting this first one out of the way is huge for me. I finally put the jitters behind me,” Fraleigh said. “It’s the same thing with a 300. It just really eases that pressure.”