NORTH CANTON — It started with his participation in the Stark County High School Bowling Conference Alumni Tournament recently at Park Centre Lanes.
And, for 31-year-old Canton right-hander Justin Barth, it continued three days later with his third career 800 series.
But his decision to go with a used bowling ball, a Roto Grip Idol Pearl, both times paved the way to a milestone.
“That ball was one I would move to when we had lane transition,” said Barth, who is general manager at the Verizon store in Independence. “But in the Alumni tournament, I found something with it when nothing else was working.
“I threw it during the second-chance tourney. I was put at anchor for that and I missed striking just once in four games. So I decided to start with it on Wednesday.”
Bowlers rolled on the PBA50 Aulby39 oil pattern during the Alumni tournament, which caused problems for the entire field. Wednesday, Barth was back on his traditional house oil pattern, but his previous experience was key.
Barth had 279, 257 and 279 for an 815 series. He feels his participation in the Alumni helped lead to his milestone.
“(Co-tournament director) Jim Heighway commented that everyone who bowled in the Alumni seemed to have a really good week the week after,” Barth said. “We were all so focused on hitting our marks in that. If you went a board inside, the ball might go Brooklyn. And if you went outside, you might not get to the head pin.
“You really had to focus on hitting your mark, and I think that carried over.”
Because of the distance Barth travels each week to bowl in the Hannan Electric league at Park Centre, he doesn’t arrive in time for practice. But that’s fine with him.
“I honestly don’t like practice. I just come out here, throw my first couple of shots and see how it goes,” Barth said. “When I don’t practice, I feel like I start out better. When I start, I’m still kind of tight so I keep everything more consistent. As I loosen up, I can pitch it right or inside.”
His Idol Pearl was bought from two-hander Ryan Heaton, who had bought it from another two-handed righty.
“It had about 20 games on it,” said Barth, who is a one-handed bowler. “I had Frank (Testa) put a thumb hole in it for me.”
Game 1, Barth had the first four strikes before leaving a solid 10-pin in the fifth and finishing with a string. Game 2 was more of the same as he again left a solid 10-pin in the fifth frame. But those were followed by a 9-pin and another 10-pin late.
Game 3, Barth had the first nine strikes before a 9-pin denied him a shot at his first 300-800 in the 10th frame.
“I missed five times all night with two smoked 9-pins and three smoked 10s. I didn’t move the whole night,” said Barth, whose target area was the 14th board out to eight. “I line up in the same area every time. It is Park Centre.”
Barth drew quite a crowd for his 10th frame.
“We were one of the last ones done, so everyone was watching that shot in the 10th. I threw a good shot, but it was just another ringing 9. The 10 just bounced in the gutter around it,” said Barth, who has four career 300 games. “I knew after I struck in the ninth that I just needed four pins for that 800. I knew it was kind of locked up so I wasn’t nervous at all.
“I wanted to get the triplicate, but that didn’t happen after Game 2, and I haven’t had a 300 in my 800s. I gave it my best shot.”
Considering how consistent he was, was this Barth’s best overall series?
“Nope. My first one, an 817, at Colonial was the one I’ll remember. I loved that old place,” Barth said of the former Jackson Township center. “I had 299 my first game and then 246. The last game I finished with a smash 8 (pin), strike, smash 8 and strike.”
His first 300 came while still bowling for North Canton Hoover in the SCHSBC against Perry.
But this one will stand out for consistency.
“I was throwing really well coming into the Alumni tournament and I was super focused on throwing the ball right,” Barth said. “We missed making the cut by 28 pins, but we won the second-chance event. We figured it out at the end.”
And Barth carried that over into league play.