By BILL SNIER
NEW PHILADELPHIA — Four 800 series, with a high of 847. A 300 game involved in each of those milestone series.
All coming in one league at Wabash Lanes — the Zoar Village two-man league — and with three different bowling balls — a Storm Absolute, 900 Global Realty and 900 Global Sublime.
Bowling was fun again for truck driver Ted Kays Jr., a 45-year-old Killbuck right-hander and PBA regional player.
He bowled in three leagues this season – one each at Wabash, Spare Time Lanes in Millersburg and Triway Lanes in Wooster — for the first time in many years, averaging between 210 (Spare Time) and 243 (Wabash), his all-time high.
What was it about Wabash?
“I bowled with the owner (Aaron Shanklin), and we had nothing but fun,” said Kays, who now owns 53 total 800 series to go along with 70 300 games. “We would just sit and laugh the whole time. I was just having fun, and that’s what bowling is to me. It’s what it’s all about.”
Kays had a goal of using a different ball each time he bowled in the Wabash league — and shooting an honor score with them. He achieved that goal.
“Every night I came in, I pretty much did the same thing. Depending on who you were bowling, you may have to change here and there,” said Kays about the league which featured three teams per pair (six total players).
“It was pretty much my goal to use a different ball every night. I would take five balls in and would find the I one I would strike with ore the one I felt like using.”
Frank Testa, who operates Ten Back Pro Shop and who drills Kays’ equipment, also had a pair of 800 series in the league this season.
this season plus pick up some tournament play on the weekends.
“I just found the fun in the game again. Yeah, sometimes it was tiring,” Kays said. “There were times I would get home and not feel like going. But my competitive side was like, ‘Hey, you committed to this … you have to do it.’
“There were some times when I worked and couldn’t get home in time so that would give me kind of a break weaving in and out of the schedule. But I just wanted to bowl this year for some reason. You can go through a spurt where everything is going good, but you’re still bowling mediocre. Then, it’s not fun anymore.”
Kays hit that stage about three weeks ago. So he went to consult a ooach for the first time — Shanklin.
“In 40 years of bowling, that’s the first time I ever went to a coach. I was in a funk, so I called Aaron up. It was raining, and I told him I was lost and was trying to figure it out. I asked if he could help me,” Kays said.
His doubles teammate told him to come over. One hour later, Kays felt like his old self again.
“In league, he really doesn’t get to watch much because of the play and his own game. But he took a few video angles on me,” Kays said. “It was just a few minor things, but minor things can turn into major things.”
Kays said the problems primarily were moving his head too much, rotating his shoulders and being quick with his feet. All of it came out on the videos.
“He told me there were other things we could fix in the long term, but I didn’t want to change everything, just make things smoother with tournaments coming up,” Kays said. “Now, I’m more aware of those things and I can feel when I’m not doing them.”
A test came two weeks ago in the 50-under/50-over tournament at Clutch Lanes and Sorts Center in Cuyahoga Falls when Kays bowled on a PBA oil pattern against a tough field in the doubles event.
“I started with 157 the first game. I started slowly, but then I had an understanding of what I was doing instead of just making it work,” Kays said. “It was tough out there, but by the end, I wanted to bowl eight more games because I had figured it out.
“I realized that it’s my 20 seconds to throw the ball and stop worrying about what’s going on around me. Just throw the ball and do what you do.”
Next up for Kays is this week’s Member/Non-Member PBA Central Region Doubles at Wabash, where he will be bowling with Massillon right-hander Ashlee Gonzales.
“I only bowl two or three regionals a year with my work schedule and when I can get away,” said Kays, who also has Cleveland area events in early June.
After that, it’s time for a break.
“I’ve got some golfing to do and my grandson is playing baseball,” Kays said. “I need to take a break more mentally than physically, just to re-focus myself.”
Will he stick to this schedule during the 2024-25 winter season?
“I want to say maybe not, but I probably will, just because I enjoyed it,” Kays said.
JONES BIG FINISH AT WABASH
Massillon’s J.D. Jones also had a big finish in his last appearance at Wabash in the Northeast Ohio Travel League.
Jones had games of 300,, 276 and 224 for 800. This came after rolling another 300 at Clutch Lanes.
“OK, I know I said I was ready to gibe up bowling for a year. Being mentally burnt out definitely took a toll on my game,” said Jones in a Facebook post. “But a little extra time to practice and some really good tips from very good friends have been helping me dig myself out of the rut.”
PROS AT WABASH THIS WEEK
Including Kays and Gonzales, Saturday’s PBA Central Region doubles has a full-field of 40 teams for the event.
The tourney begins with a 3 p.m. practice session Friday before the high school fantasy draft of players is set for 5:30 p.m., followed by the pro-am at 6:30 p.m.
The tournament begins with A squad at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by B squad at 3 p.m. with the top 12 overall advancing to Sunday’s bracket Baker System match play by seed beginning at 9 a.m.
Admission is free, with bowlers rolling on the PBA Earl Anthony 43 oil pattern.
For a roster view, go to: