By BILL SNIER
DOVER — To say that Austin Reinerts has had a career in one season would be an understatement.
The 24-year-old Dover two-handed right-hander has four 800 series, with a high of 826, and seven 300 games — all this season. He owns “nine or 10” 800s in his career along with 20 USBC-sanctioned 300s.
“This has absolutely been my best season,” said Reinerts, who is employed by Boulevard Lanes in various capacities and has all his milestone scores between the Monday and Thursday leagues there in 2023-24.
“Not a whole lot has changed from last year. My mentality has a lot to do with it. I have a plan on what I want to do and I’m trying to stay mentally focused on what I want to be doing. But something tells me I have to move on from here.”
Reinerts began his high school career at Dover, where he threw one-handed “and probably averaged in the 130s.”
His bowling style changed after transferring his junior year to New Philadelphia.
“I transferred schools and opened up to the two-handed style,” said Reinerts, who also recently captured the all-events title in the sixth annual Dover-New Philadelphia Association Tournament with 817.
“My junior and senior years I finished with an over 200 average.”
With the help of Scott Jarvis at Boulevard, Reinerts continued to develop his game with a goal in mind: going pro.
“I definitely need to bowl more tournaments,” said Reinerts, who made the cut in the John Klonowski Memorial Scratch Singles at Eastbury Bowling Center before losing his first match.
“I haven’t bowled in a proper regional tournament in a year and a half or two years.”
Reinerts has bowled between 10 and 11 tournaments on other than house oil patterns, including nine regionals. He has traveled as far as Wisconsin and Virginia for pro events, with his best finish being 33rd in a Grove City event with a 70-player field.
“I have to go out and get some more of those under my belt,” Reinerts said. “I have to practice more definitely. My consistency on the shots that they bowl on is definitely different than you would see me on a house shot.”
Reinerts switched to throwing Motiv equipment full time.
“I’m throwing a little bit of everything they have to offer,” Reinerts said. “I just sort of transitioned to it from Storm and other brands. It has worked well for me so far.”
His game continues to develop under Jarvis’ guidance and watching videos of other two-handers.
“I watch at lot of (Jason Belmonte) Belmo and (Anthony) Simonsen,” Reinerts said. “If I can try to learn a thing or two from them, it can only help.
“I’m just trying to perfect what I can do. I can’t always rely on everybody; a lot of it has to come from practicing.”
One thing he has worked on is more speed control. During the Klonowski, bowled on a house oil pattern, he was hitting around 18 to 19 mph. He is trying to get himself in the 16-to-1y7 mph range.
“At the Klonowski, I needed that break. Reducing the speed might not seem like much, but it tires you out,” said Reinerts, who admitted bowling the PBA Players Championship qualifier, which included 28 games over four days “tired me out after the first day.”
“I woke up the second day sore and tired.”
For right now, it’s baby steps toward his ultimate goal.
“I would like to get some sponsors, but it would help if I was actually bowling more in tournaments and cashing once in a while,” Reinerts said. “Hopefully, I can start small and progress into major events.”
For now Reinerts will remain at Boulevard. He also hopes to get into high school coaching in the future.
“I’d like to have this kind of year every year. I’m sure everyone would,” Reinerts said. “I just need to stay relaxed and focus on what I need to be doing.”