By BILL SNIER
CANTON — Robert Hudas admittedly made the wrong ball choice to start his night.
But a correction during the fifth frame of Game 1 led to another milestone for the 37-year-old Canton right-hander.
After going five frames with his 900 Global Zen in the Saturday Night Mixed league at Eastbury Bowling Center, Hudas knew it was time for a change.
“The first four frames, the ball wasn’t reading like it did in practice,” the Giant Eagle employee said. “I decided to change in the fifth frame to get a better look.”
After his only open frame of the night, chopping a 2-8 spare, Hudas was able to get to 236 in Game 1, finishing with his 900 Global Reality.
Then, he went on a big run.
Hudas finished with games of 289 and 290 for 815, his third career 800 series to go along with five 300 games.
“I was able to move left and hit around 17 (board) and get it to the 12-to-13 area,” Hudas said. “I could play it deeper.”
In Game 2, Hudas ran off the first 10 strikes before a 10-pin denied him another shot at 300.
“On the first one in the 10th, the 10-pin was there for a minute before a messenger took it out,” Hudas said.
He then began Game 3 with a 9-10 split.
“I came around the ball,” Hudas said. “It wasn’t really something that you leave. But I was able to cover it.”
He then got on another run.
“It was in the back of my mind when I kept running strikes, but I really wasn’t doing the math,” Hudas said. “I really didn’t want to put that in my mind … know what I could and couldn’t do to get there. It could mean pulling the ball or throwing one badly.”
But when he still was stringing strikes into the 10th frame, it was hard to ignore.
“The nerves were there in the 10th frame, knowing that I was close. But I was trying not to think about it,” Hudas said. “I was just going up, throwing the ball and doing what comes natural.”
Were all three shots solid?
“We’ll go with that,” Hudas said, smiling, “but one or two of them might have been a little light. I knew I had to have that first one to get there.”
But the 800 gives Hudas something important.
“It felt great … it gave me my confidence back,” Hudas said. “That’s why I’m out here today … I’m able to get back out here and compete week in and week out.”