By BILL SNIER
NORTH CANTON — North Canton Hoover High School senior teammates Chase Wensel and Manny Doerfler were stringing strikes during Game 1 of Tuesday’s match against Jackson at Park Centre Lanes.
Wensel knew what Doerfler was doing on Lanes 5-6. But Doerfler didn’t know about his teammate’s run on Lanes 9-10.
“Ryan (Dague) came down and said, ‘Manny’s on a run,’ ” said Wensel, an 18-year-old two-handed right-hander.
Doerfler was trying to glance over at his teammate’s scores.
“I looked over, but all I could see what the last few frames. I didn’t know what he had done earlier,” Doerfler said. “I thought about walking over, but I was concentrating on what I was doing.”
It turned into conference history for both players and the Hoover program as the Vikings won 2,984-2,568 over Jackson.
Both Wensel and Doerfler recorded their first 300 games in the Stark County High School Bowling Conference —giving the Vikings a total of three as a team (senior Connor Lab had the other) this season. It marked the first time one team has recorded three in one season and had two players shoot 300s in the same match.
The 300s marked the 13th and 14th in school history.
It also marked the second time this season that two 300 games were shot the same day in the conference, with Canton South’s Trevor Gore joining Lab on Dec. 20 at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes.
The most 300 games thrown in one season in conference history was seven during the 2014-15 season, including one by a girl (Wooster’s Courtney Peck).
Wensel finished with a 516 series, but it was not his high for the season (530), while Doerfler had 462 — his season high.
Doerfler, also an 18-year-old two-handed righty, concluded his run to 300 first.
“It was pretty nerve-wracking. I just had to remember the adjustments we made with his brother (assistant coach Chad Wensel) earlier in the week,” said Doerfler, who shot 279 earlier this season and is averaging 198.40 through eight weeks.
“I had to keep my hand in longer, stay behind it, so I didn’t tug the ball. Just come out smooth. I was very nervous. I had the front nine earlier but left a 10-pin, so I just wanted to keep my nerves down and make sure I threw a good shot.”
Doerfler, who has been struggling recently, said the adjustment has helped.
“Sometimes when I’m going into my approach my hand slips a little to the left, and that’s when I tug it a little more,” Doerfler said. “So we made that adjustment earlier in the week.
“My problem has been my spare shooting. I had a game earlier this season where I had all strikes and didn’t make a spare for 190. That has killed me.”
The Hoover players and fans erupted after Doerfler’s accomplishment. But Wensel still had to bowl the 10th frame in his quest.
“I took a pause after every shot in the 10th, picked up my resin bag, took a little drink and a couple of deep breaths,” Wensel said after the commotion died down a bit. “Just taking a few extra seconds before each shot to calm down.
“The last one was a little shaky, but it was over my mark. I just try to keep a level head and stay focused with every shot. It seems like every time I have a lack of concentration, I throw a bad shot.”
Doerfler used a Storm Infinite Physix for his milestone; Wensel threw a Storm Absolute.
“I was just relieved. I still had that feeling from earlier after throwing a not so good shot that cost me the last time,” Doerfler said of his 279.
“It just feels so good after being so close so many times to finally do it just one time,” said Wensel, who has a 280 and 279. “Just one shot is all it takes.”
The two seniors also have more long-term goals: a return to the OHSAA Division I state tournament after missing the Vikings missed the cut to match play by just two pins a year ago and finished ninth.
“Our individuals game-wise are doing better, but I think our team dynamic is not what it was last year,” Wensel said. “We have to get our Bakers down. It’s been a rough spot for us.
“Losing Austin Crowe (graduated) was a big part of our team. Trying to just stay calm is the best thing you can do and practice a lot. It’s one step at a time.”
“We have to be consistent,” Doerfler said. “We missed by two last year when we had one really rough game and missed spares. Then, we did well, but it hurt to know we were that close.”
With three 300s in the books this season, can the Vikings add more?
“All five of us have had one in a match or practice,” Doerfler said. “I think someone can do it again.”
MATCHES FROM JAN. 25
BOYS
INTER-VALLEY CONFERENCE
INDIAN VALLEY 2,416, EAST CANTON 2,209
(at Eastbury Bowling Center, Canton)
Two-game series: East Canton 1,729 (Jute 242-147, Spencer 182-192, Steigerwald 179-220, Sherrod 132, Stubblefield 136, Collins 153-146); Indian Valley 1,830 (Gunn 128-143, Grewell 218-214, Jones 173-170, Irwin 165-171, Long 236-212).
Baker System: East Canton 147-143-190; Indian Valley 202-214-170.
STARK COUNTY CONFERENCE
CANTON CENTRAL CATHOLIC 2,325, MARLINGTON 1,896
(at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, Canton)
Two-game series: Central 1,825 (Sieber 195, Short 210-256, Yingling 164, L. Gawlak 186-211, B. Gawlak 189-158, Anderson 109, substitute 147); Marlington 1,555 (Toole 160-278, Thomas 165-190, McIntyre 131-126, McIlvain 125-137, Wright 108-135).
Baker System: Central Catholic 148-171-181; Marlington 110-105-126.
TRIWAY 2,523, MASSILLON 2,123
(at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, Canton)
Two-game series: Triway 2,017 (O.Fiesler 223-226, George 150-152, Yoder 200-171, M. Fiesler 233-181, Meshew 214-267); Massillon 1,556 (Smith 126, Fromholtz 154-169, Bauer 164-123, Kohl 194-207, Louk 122, Piorkowski 149-148).
Baker System: Triway 191-185-130; Massillon 172-215-180.
GIRLS
INTER-VALLEY CONFERENCE
EAST CANTON 2,107, INDIAN VALLEY 1,647
(at Eastbury Bowling Center, Canton)
Two-game series: East Canton 1,663 (McDonald 168, Lint 191-190, Alspaugh 178-164, Simpkins 152, Spencer 183-165, Mallette 138, Stewart 133); Indian Valley 1,216 (Dunlap 141-179, Blickensderfer 167-131, Hamilton 100, Richmond 103-122, Ferguson 81, Mills 78, Fischer 114).
Baker System: East Canton 161-149-134; Indian Valley 161-112-158.
STARK COUNTY CONFERENCE
CANTON CENTRAL CATHOLIC 1,777, MARLINGTON 1,729
(at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, Canton)
Two-game series: Central Catholic 1,326 (Montgomery 119-136, Guenther 115, Jenkins 137-169, Pulaski 143-148, Sukosd 103, Myers 122-134); Marlington 1,327 (Wines 127-143, WestCole 135-116, Shoemaker 116, Pate 136-154, Vigliotti 126-171, Turner 103).
Baker System: Central Catholic 139-174-138; Marlington 130-134-138.
TRIWAY 2,063, MASSILLON 1,666
(at AMF Hall of Fame Lanes, Canton)
Two-game series: Triway 1,579 (Fiesler 127, Taylor 96, Finley 152-149, Meshew 195-161, Yoder 265-198, Wallace 104, substitute 132); Massillon 1,322 (Hendricks 152, Jackson 125, Hartleben 185, Sibert 121, Foss 143-115, Sanders 142-149, substitute 103-87).
Baker System: Triway 163-148-163; Massillon 107-139-98.