By BILL SNIER
CANTON — It was going to be a difficult week for Sarah Edwards.
Her father, David Edwards, had died Aug. 22 at age 74, and the family was preparing to remember him Oct. 4 on his first birthday since his untimely passing.
“Bowling hasn’t been that hard,” Edwards said. “But coming in here (Eastbury Bowling Center) just brings back all the memories and everything like that.”
With her father on her mind, Edwards created another memory Oct. 1 in the Las Vegas Mixed Trio league at Eastbury.
The 37-year-old Louisville right-hander had games of 200, 246 and her first career 300 for a 751 series — also her career high. Her previous high series was 730.
The final shot was left off her hand, crossed over high on the head pin, but still tripped out the 6-pin for the milestone. It was all caught on video as she dropped to her knees and put her head into her hands.
“I mean I was nervous … it meant a lot to me with my dad passing away a month ago and it being his birthday on Friday,” said Edwards, who is an account manager for Securitas Security Services USA Inc. “I was just in shock … I don’t even remember what happened on that shot.
“I’m just glad that last ball carried.”
Using her Hammer 3-D Offset, Edwards built momentum with her 246 in Game 2 and continued into Game 3.
“I just liked my pace,” said Edwards, who admitted timing has been a problem. “I felt like I was throwing the ball well that night. I think in either the eighth on ninth I was a little heavy in the pocket, but it still carried.”
She could feel her father’s presence when she went up for the final shot of Game 3.
“I was just trying to think about what he would tell me. I knew he was there with me,” said Edwards, whose previous high game was 279, but it was the first time she had posted the first nine strikes in league competition.
“He was always the one who could tell me what I was doing wrong and what adjustments I should make. He was my coach. But I knew whatever was going to happen was going to happen.”
There were almost two 300s on the same team that night as Shane Heckman, bowling with Edwards, had the front nine. But his run ended on a solid 9-pin hit on his first ball in the 10th frame.
Edwards, who is averaging 205 in two leagues at Eastbury, returned to bowling last season after taking five years off due to injury and caring for her three children.
“I had meniscus surgery and a cartilage transplant in my left knee,” Edwards said. “It wasn’t horrible when I came back last year … like they say, kind of like riding a bike.
“But I took it slow and steady. The big thing was being afraid to slide. But I sold my equipment when I quit and had to get new stuff last year.”
Edwards really has set no more specific milestones for the future.
“I just bowl to enjoy myself … something I enjoy doing,” Edwards said. “Of course, I get frustrated like everyone else.”
The oddity is that her ex-husband, Michael Emerick Sr., also rolled a 300 game the next night in the Pizza Oven Classic league at Park Centre.
“I called him up and he thought I was calling to congratulate him,” Edwards said. “And I said, ‘For what?’ I didn’t even know.
“Then it was like, ‘Yeah, of course you would.’ ”
But Edwards’ one bowling dream would include Emerick and her son, Michael Emerick Jr., a former Louisville High School bowler.
“The last thing I would like to do in bowling was one year bowl the John Klonowski memorial with my ex-husband and my son … all three of us together,” Edwards said. “I would like to have my son bowl with both of us.”