By BILL SNIER
CANTON — After standing at 503 after two games, Sean Terrigan really wasn’t looking for a potential honor score.
In fact, for most of Game 3 that night in the Gregory’s Restaurant-Jeannie’s Catering league at Eastbury Bowling Center, he was talking on the phone with his cousin from Georgia.
“After I had the first eight in a row, I looked up and it was like ‘Whoa,’ ” the 50-year-old North Canton right-hander and electrician said.
The result was an 801, Terrigan’s second career 800, with games of 279, 224 and 298. His previous high of 807 came the year 77 Colonial Lanes closed in Canton in 2018.
“I kind of expected to shoot another one. I knew I was good enough, but it’s not one of those things that you think about,” said Kerrigan, who averages 206 and 219 in two leagues at Eastbury. “But when it comes up on you like that it’s like whoa.”
Using a six-year-old Hammer Scandal, Terrigan started his night with the first five strikes before leaving a 10-pin in the sixth frame.
“That 10-pin was absolutely brutal,” said Kerrigan, who owns 12 career 300 games, including five sanctioned. “I felt great and had a nice rhythm going.”
Things changed in Game 2 when he left a pair of 10-pin spares, a 7-pin spare and a 7-10 split in the sixth frame.
“The lanes moved on me, and I didn’t move fast enough,” Terrigan said. “I think I moved about a board and a half, but I moved back a half board just to get through the second game. It seemed to carry better then.”
Throwing a target area from 13 (board) to nine with speeds around 15 to 16 mph, Terrigan again got lined up for the third game.
“I’ve thrown the ball better, but it was a pretty solid night,” Terrigan said. “I did get away with a couple of light hits early that I usually don’t get away with. I wouldn’t say I got away with a lot, but there were a few shots that surprised me.
“Plus, I was on Lanes 1 and 2, a notoriously bad pair for me. I was doing cartwheels after this.”
But, while talking on the phone, Terrigan just kept running strikes in Game 3 — and didn’t realize his potential milestone until late.
“Once I got 10 and 11, the big thing was the 800. I needed only seven pins to get there,” Terrigan said. “I have a ton of 790s and I wanted to make sure I got it.
“I thought about throwing it the same, but with my luck, I probably would have left a ‘Greek church’ (4-6-7-9-10 split) or ‘big four’ (4-6-7-10).”
Instead, he flattened his hand and threw the ball right up the middle, leaving two pins to clinch the 800.
“I probably should have gone for both, but I’ve had 300s before,” Terrigan added. “I wanted to make sure.”
He also has been bothered by arthritis in his left knee, which has caused him to make changes in his game.
“I can’t get the torque that I used to,” Terrigan said. “I used to be up around 18 miles per hour, but I had to slow the ball down. It’s changed things quite a bit, but it’s part of getting older.
“I’ve been throwing the ball really well and I just keep rolling along.”
Right into another honor score.