By BILL SNIER
NORTH CANTON — For Harland “Bud” Stebbins III, finding a balance between his own game, watching his daughter bowl in college and coaching his own team is difficult.
“It’s a challenge to balance everything out,” said the 55-year-old Massillon right-hander, whose daughter, Alina, bowls for Wright State University. “Luckily, I’ve missed only one tournament for my daughter on the weekends.
“High school coaching does take up a bit of time, but I enjoy it.”
The Canton Central Catholic High School coach also still finds time to bowl in two leagues. In one, the Hannon Electric league at Park Centre Lanes, he recently recorded his third 800 series to go along with six career 300 games.
Stebbins had games of 300, 236 and 264 for 800 on the nose.
“It just felt good to know that I can still do this,” said Stebbins, who averages 230 at Park Centre and 220 in his Sunday league at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes. “That was kind of the mindset for the 800.”
Stebbins said all 12 shots were in the 1-3 pocket for his opening 300. But he admitted he missed a lane change in Game 2.
“I missed an adjustment and left a 4-pin. Then I left a 10-pin and missed it,” said Stebbins, a senior loan officer for Commercial and Savings Bank who used a Motiv Pride Empire for his two milestones.
“In the third game, I felt pretty good about the move I made.”
After having the first seven strikes in a row, Stebbins had a spare in the eighth to halt his streak. Then came the 10th frame — and Stebbins knew what he needed to reach another milestone.
“I really didn’t feel anything until the last ball. I knew I needed to fill 28 pins (in the 10th frame) to get there,” Stebbins said. “I threw the first two and then it was ‘all right, just hit the pocket.’
“I hit my mark, but I just didn’t have a great release on the shot. It was just, ‘C’mon, get to the pocket.’ And it barely made it back.”
Stebbins left a 2-5 on that final shot — getting the eight pins he needed for the 800.
“I just watched the pins fall and was hoping it was enough. When I saw the final two pins stand, I knew I had it,” Stebbins said.
Stebbins admitted high school coaching this season has been “a little rough.” He handles the girls team while Taylor Devaul handles the boys.
“We have 14 girls on the team, and seven of them have one year of bowling experience while six others have just started bowling,” Stebbins said. “We have a really young team and we’re just trying to keep up with the basics. Trying to teach with a young team on the lanes, you’re going to get beat up a little.”
But Stebbins admits coaching also has benefitted his own game as well.
“I just seem more relaxed with my own game,” Stebbins said. “I just come out and roll the ball and don’t let it bother me. Just play nice and relaxed.”
So how long with Stebbins stay with his three bowling phases?
“I’m looking a two more years of coaching. I want to have a couple of years with these young ones and see if we can make a run at (state) again,” Stebbins added.
While, at the same time, watching his daughter in college for two more seasons and, hopefully, make another 800 run of his own.