NORTH CANTON — When Keith Zeigler shot his first USBC-sanctioned 800 series just over a year ago, the 10th frame of the final game was just an afterthought.
“I pretty well had it clinched by then,” the 37-year-old Plain Township right-hander said of his 833 series at Park Centre Lanes in the Pizza Oven Classic league.
But in the Holy Name Society Mixed league at Park Centre recently, it was a different story for Zeigler, who throws without his thumb inserted into the ball.
After shooting 267 and 256 his first two games, he needed a big number in Game 3 to reach another milestone. After starting with six strikes, he left a 7-pin spare in the sixth frame.
“I knew by then that I had a shot at it, but I just left the 7-pin,” said Zeigler, who is employed as a land man in the gas and oil industry. “I was still feeling good and confident until the 10th frame.
“It’s the first time I really had to do something in the 10th. I knew I had to double and have good count to get there.”
Zeigler did exactly that, getting the double to finish off a four-strike string before leaving a single pin on his final ball for 278 and an 801 — his second 800 to go with one career 300 game.
“On the first one, the 7-pin went down late,” Zeigler said of the 10th frame. “On the second one, a messenger came across and took out the 10. I was watching that ball real close and I thought (the pin) was going to sneak behind it.
“That made me feel a lot better when it went down. I felt like I was in good shape to get at least eight on that last shot.”
The night hadn’t started all that well. He left a 10-pin in the first frame, followed by a 4-7 in the second and a 7-pin in the third frame — covering all three spares. Then, the run began.
Zeigler finished Game 1 will all strikes, then started Game 2 with the first seven strikes before leaving a 10-pin spare.
“I could have got to 270, but I left a 7-pin on the first ball and a random 7-count on the second one,” he added.
Zeigler, who grew up in Lodi, didn’t bowl in high school, just bowling on Friday and Saturdays with friends at Strike and Spare Lanes. He joined a league while living and working in St. Clarksville in 2016 before moving to Stark County in 2019.
Zeigler again used his Storm Nova, a ball he won in a raffle two years ago, to shoot his latest milestone — the same ball he used for his first one.
“It’s the best ball I’ve ever owned, and I’ve used it ever since,” Zeigler said. “I’m not somebody who’s real scientific or anything about bowling. I had never owned a ball that would hook until then.”
But he won’t forget that 10th frame.
“I just wanted a clean pocket hit. The first ball in the 10th felt pretty good off my hand,” Zeigler said. “On the second one, my knees were a little weaker on that one. But after that messenger, I was calm for the third shot.”
He also has been bowling in some area tournaments for the first time this season.
“It’s just something to do. I don’t expect to go out and win,” Zeigler said. “I’m just happy to cash if I can.”