By BILL SNIER
CANTON — Matt Frock was looking for ways to test himself further on the bowling lanes.
So, over the past two years, the 49-year-old Canal Fulton right-hander has turned to more frequent tournament bowling on the weekends, testing himself on everything from different house oil to sport-shot patterns.
“I think I’m more focused now than I have been. I wanted to put myself out there and be more competitive instead of just bowling three or four nights a week on house shots,” said Frock, who is employed by Shin-Etsu Silicones.
“I like to test myself on the harder stuff, but then I also go to Jody’s (Boyd) tournaments (house-shot patterns with big fields) a lot.”
On his 2023-24 winter season, Frock said “lack of focus was a problem.”
“I would get lackadaisical with things. I don’t follow through or dip my shoulder …, just some dumb things,” said Frock, who bowled in three leagues this season including the Northeast Ohio Travel League.
“Instead of taking a couple of more seconds on the approach and really focusing, I would rush things.”
But on his final night in the Liberty Vending league at Eastbury Bowling Center, it came together for Frock, who put together games of 257, 279 and 299 for 825, his 30th career 800 series to go along with 71 300 games.
“I really didn’t realize what was going on until midway through the third game. It was our fun night and banquet night,” Frock said. “But I threw a shot in the fourth frame of the third game and I came back and told Joe (Stauffer), ‘I smashed that one … If I can throw nine more in a row like that I have 800.’ ”
It didn’t start well for Frock out of the gate as he left consecutive 10-, 7- and 10-pin spares in frames one through three.
Then the run began.
He struck out in Game 1 until his final fill ball when he left another 10-pin. Then, in Game 2, he left a 9-pin spare in the second frame and again ran strikes until leaving a 10-pin on his final ball.
But in Game 3, he just kept going, running off 11 in a row before another 10-pin on his final ball.
“It was a good ball … better than the 10th one I threw,” Frock said. “When I kept striking into the eighth and got to the ninth, I knew I had it. It was just a question of how big.”
Frock used the Hammer NU, which he had drilled by Frank Testa at Ten Back Pro Shop just three months prior.
“This one was really a surprise, given the night and everything,” said Frock, who averaged 215 in the NEOTL, and 225 and 223, respectively, in his two Eastbury leagues, one a mixed trio league.
“I had a few 780s and 790s this season, but I really didn’t know if I would get one. I was surprised to go that big.”