By BILL SNIER
CANTON — In December 2022, Dennis Welly welcomed a new grandchild into the world.
His daughter’s last words to him before he went to bowl that night was “bowl well.”
He shot 300 that night.
Move the clock to a year later and Welty had added three more grandchildren, giving him a total of eight for the 51-year-old Canton right-hander who just celebrated a birthday.
“With three more, I figured it was time for another 800,” said Welty, and self-employed painter and drywall installer who already had 16 800 series and 37 300 games.
That came to pass recently in the Wednesday Night league at Eastbury Bowling Center when Welty had games of 277, 268 and 290 for his all-time high of 835.
“It’s all been good this season,” Welty said. “I’ve been more happier bowling this year. I’m not hurting as much when I go home. As long as I get the stupid 10-pin out, I’m happy.”
Welty started Game 1 with the first five strikes before a solid 8-pin in the sixth stopped his run. He then ran strikes until his final ball.
Game 2 produced a 10-pin early in the game after running the front five strikes. But his second ball in the 10th is what he will remember.
“I left a lousy 5-pin,” Welty said. “I got the ball so far inside that it slid all the way down,”
In Game 3, he started with another 10-pin spare in the first frame before his run through the 10th frame. He knew where he stood after two games, but he hadn’t done the math to know what he needed for the 800.
“I thought I needed the first two in the 10th to get there,” Welty said. “But Stevie (Belopotosky) and uncle Steve (Belopotosky) did the final call after I got the first one in the 10th.
“Anyone who tells you they aren’t nervous in a situation like that is lying to you. I was a little nervous, but I just kept moving a little left so if I pulled the ball, I still had some room. After that, it was just finding the ending.”
Welty is bowling full-time in two leagues and subbing in another at Eastbury, with averages ranging from 220 to 233.
Welty, who used a Storm Night Road for his 800, has adjusted his bowling style the past couple of years. Where he used to swing the ball much more, he has gone to a straighter, more down-and-in style.
“I’m getting older and I just can’t get my butt behind it anymore,” Welty said, adding his accuracy has improved.
But it produced another honor score for trio of new grandkids.