By BILL SNIER
NORTH CANTON — To say Katelynn Eldred was zoned in during a run to her second career 300 game would be an understatement.
The 27-year-old Ashland right-hander felt she “got away” with her first strike in the 10th frame of Game 2 during the Hannon Electric league at Park Centre Lanes.
“I yanked that first one and it came in a little high,” Eldred said. “I thought I was going to get screwed on that one, but I got lucky.
“So I just came back, reset, backed up and zoned in.”
In fact, teammate Brandon Clifford told Eldred later that someone on her left side had actually walked up on her during the second ball in the 10th.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t even see anyone. That’s how zoned in I was,” said Eldred, who works from home in billing for Third Street Family Health Services out of Mansfield. “I struck on that one. The final one was a little light, but it carried and that’s all that matters.”
It was the first sanctioned 300 for Eldred, with her last 300 coming one year ago in the Foxfire Lounge Mixed Classic league, also at Park Centre.
“The funny thing is, this one came on Lane 18 and the first one came on Lane 19,” Eldred said. “I was OK in the 10th frame because I really didn’t even realize what was going on until the eighth or ninth frame when I looked up and saw it.”
It came after Eldred opened with 243 in Game 1, staying clean while covering 10- and 7-pin spares. But, after the first two games and a 543 start, problems came in Game 3.
“Let’s just say it was a 300 high I was riding on,” Eldred said, laughing. “But the lanes were breaking down and my biggest downfall is I don’t know how to adjust when the lanes do that.
“I’m still hoping to get my first 800 and I was thinking about that after the two games, too. I knew I was capable of it. I just had too much in my head.”
It resulted in a 171 finale for a 714 series using her Roto Grip Magic Gem. It was not her usual starting ball at Park Centre.
“It’s really new to my arsenal and I threw it a little bit during the summer, but I really wasn’t liking it,” Eldred added. “I started with my usual ball in practice that night, but didn’t like the results. So I switched out and stuck with it.”
The big start to the season also comes after a difficult summer when Eldred had considered walking away from the game and selling off her equipment.
“My head has really not been in it and I hit a slump,” said Eldred, who also is pursuing her associate degree in health information management from the University of Cincinnati. “During the summer I was getting really discouraged to the point where I wanted to sell everything.”
Instead, she sought advice from Cooper Smith at Ten Back Pro Shop on how to improve her game.
“I had three lessons with Coop and he was very knowledgeable and was able to break down where my troubles were,” Eldred said.
In addition to working on Eldred’s release — “He has me following through more,” she added — Smith also had Eldred go to a four-step delivery.
“I used to be a five-step in high school and somewhere along the way, I don’t know where, I went to three steps,” Eldred said. “I could tell I needed some work done. We made the changes and it’s working well now.”
The fact Eldred had the milestone in a male-dominated 26-team league also had an impact.
“Definitely,” said Eldred when asked if doing it in this league meant a little more.
“I’ve had some blow back about subbing in a men’s league,” she added. “There are still some guys who think women shouldn’t be in the league. But I think I’ve been earning my spot pretty well.”
A year ago, Eldred bowled half the season in the league and averaged 219. This season, she is at 214 while also averaging 202 early in the mixed league — her only full-time league.
Why drive from Ashland to North Canton to bowl?
“With working full-time and school, I don’t have a lot of time. But I grew up here and bowled here all my life before moving over there three years ago,” Eldred said. “I just haven’t found any leagues over there I fit into. I know everyone here … it’s my home away from home.”
And home is where the heart — and scores — are.