By BILL SNIER
snieronbowling.com
NORTH CANTON —Connor Lab had arrived at Park Centre Lanes earlier than usual for a Stark County High School Bowling Conference match against Carrollton.
“I literally had nothing else to do,” the North Canton Hoover senior two-handed right-hander said. “So I decided to come in early and began zoning myself in.”
The 17-year-old was zoned in enough to finish with a 536 series, including his first career 300 game in Game 2 of the Vikings’ 2,151-2,678 win over the Warriors. It was one of two shot that day in the conference, the other coming from Canton South’s Trevor :Gore at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes against Lake.
“I’ve had the front nine before a couple of times and I think the front 10,” said Lab, who admittedly is having his best season to this point. Lab ranks third in the conference with a 221.36 average heading into the second half after averaging 207 a year ago en route to first-team All-Federal Division honors.
Lab felt he was in a good position during the practice session prior to the match.
“The lanes looked like they played to my strong suit, which is playing al little straighter,” said Lab, whose 300 was the first since Connor Sabella had one for the Vikings during the 2021-22 season and was the 12th overall in school history.
He had just picked up a new bowling ball,, a Track Stealth, just two days prior to the match.
“It was my first time out with it … it was fresh out of the box,” Lab said.
Lab made an adjustment midway through Game 1, when he shot 236 to start the match, but went on a string at the end.
“The lanes seemed to transition really far left halfway through Game 1,” said Lab, who was standing about the 28th board and throwing at 16, peaking around 12. “So I scooted it really far and basically stayed there the rest of the day.”
The run continued into Game 2 until he again faced a 10th frame challenge.
“My knees were shaking in the 10th frame. My teammates said they could visibly see me shaking,” Lab said. “I really don’t know why this time was different except that the ball was coming off my hand really well and I was able to extend through my mark really well.
“I just seemed more focused.”
In addition, the Vikings as a whole finished with a two-game series of 2,299, which also ranks fifth in conference history in that category, with Lab leading the way. Hoover shot 1,179 in Game 2.
Lab leaped into senior teammate Jack Wells’ arms after the milestone.
“I really didn’t make any changes after midway in the first game,” Lab said. “I just stayed with it and it worked out this time.”
NOTEBOOK
* Marlington senior Jeremy Toole Jr. set a pair of Dukes’ school records during a match Thursday against Massillon at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes. He set the marks for high game (298) and series (485). The previous record for series was 449.
H.S. BOWLING RESULTS FROM JAN. 4
BOYS
INTER-COUNTY CONFERENCE
SANDY VALLEY 2,313, TUSCARAWAS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 1,924
(at Strike Zone Lanes, Canton)
Two-game series: Sandy Valley 1,805 (Meighen 183-269, Crowe 215-154, Hummel 169-143, Fiddler 135, Miller 158-186, Maddox 193); Tusky Central (Montan 168-152, Fedorsen 147-163, Williams 167-159, Brecht 150-160, Tienarend 83-159).
Baker System: Sandy Valley 197-128-183; Tusky Central 116-166-122.
EAST CANTON 2,364, NEWCOMERSTOWN 2,157
(at Eastbury Bowling Center, Canton)
Two-game series: East Canton 1,745 (Jute 167-168, Spencer 160-136, Steigerwald 161-147, Sherrod 191-196, Stubblefield 184-235); Newcomerstown 1,612 (no individuals available).
Baker System: East Canton 212-193-214; Newcomerstown 210-166-169.
STARK COUNTY CONFERENCE
MASSILLON 2,159, MARLINGTON 1,979
(at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, Canton)
Two-game series: Massillon 2,159 (Fromholtz 215-146, Bauer 197-159, Kohl 153-167, Louk 174-152, Patel 108-121); Marlington 1,618 (Toole 187-298, Thomas 129, Pettinger 155-152, Gates 104, Powers 110, McIntyre 13-152, Shank 158).
Baker System: Massillon 179-200-148; Marlington 125-126-110.
CARROLLTON 2,450, EAST LIVERPOOL 2,176
(at Walnut Lanes, East Liverpool)
Two-game series: East Liverpool 161-173, Gibas 125-154, McDole 220-267, Hanlon 131-197, Estell 160-155; Carrollton 1,867 (Johnston 216-197, Taylor 167-200, Hutson 180-155, Eckinger 187-215, Oberlin 196-154).
Baker System: East Liverpool 136-150-147; Carrollton 202-189-192.
MINERVA 2,201, CANTON SOUTH 2,071
(at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, Canton)
Two-game series: Canton South 1,515 (Fowler-Keagy 117, Gore 169-149, Morris 151-140, Payne 154-119, Smith 172-217, Chessman 127); Minerva 1,675 (Meadows 181-166, Jones 163, Eller 135, Hawk 193-162, Frazier 171-192, Keister 130, substitute 172).
Baker System: Canton South 205-152-199; Minerva 179-224-123.
GIRLS
INTER-VALLEY CONFERENCE
SANDY VALLEY 1,492, TUSCARAWAS CENTRAL CATHOLIC 1,474
(at Strike Zone Lanes, Canton)
Two-game series: Sandy Valley 1,144 (Ricker 124, Maddox 129-111, P. Selby 74-86, Beckett 93-126, A. Selby 156-138, Blackburn 107); Tusky Central 1,082 (Fox 200-99, Houston 113-133, Murphy 81, Miller 90-99, Leggett 97-83, Harper 87).
Baker System: Sandy Valley 97-130-121; Tusky Central 136-148-108.
EAST CANTON 2,033, NEWCOMERSTOWN 1,291
(at Eastbury Bowling Center, Canton)
Two-game series: East Canton 1,497 (McDonald 148, Lint 194-170, Alspaugh 112, Simpkins 165-139, Spencer 169-126, Mallette 136, Stewart 138); Newcomerstown 981 (Bricker 98-84, England 68, Christner 142, Bamberger 88-91, Garabrandt 76-83, Searles 146-105).
Baker System: East Canton 216-159-161; Newcomerstown 95-103-112.
STARK COUNTY CONFERENCE
MARLINGTON 1,630, MASSILLON 1,492
(at AMF Hall of Fane Lanes, Canton)
Two-game series: Massillon 1,105 (Hendricks 108-147, Jackson 134-85, Hartleben 77-113, Sibert 115-126, Westler 96-104); Marlington 1,281 (Wines 141-138, WestCole 160-144, Pate 116, Vigliotti 117, Shoemaker 112, Turner 117-118, Cross 118).
Baker System: Massillon 127-118-142; Marlington 106-115-128.
CARROLLTON 2,279, EAST LIVERPOOL 2,229
(at Walnut Lanes, East Liverpool)
Two-game series: East Liverpool 1,771 (Grimes 164-194, A. Rudibaugh 191-236, Petrie 169-170, L. Rudibaugh 124-168, Riggle 177-178); Carrollton 1,727 (Natcher 172-182, Elliott 176-132, Rummell 165-221, Ulman 160-181, Russell 165-173).
Baker System: East Liverpool 170-127-161; Carrollton 165-225-162.
MINERVA 1,938, CANTON SOUTH 1,338
(at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, Canton)
Two-game series: Canton South 1,088 (Hooper 157-135, Franks 103-156, Jones 76-81, Covill 96, Miner 87, Haynam 109-88); Minerva 1,636 (Worrell 221-181, Leach 139-138, Thompson 247-205, Kugler 96-139, Klitz 118-152).
Baker System: Canton South 101-149; Minerva 160-147.