By BILL SNIER
NORTH CANTON — Six of the 35 800 series reported to snieronbowling.com so far this season have come from players ages 60 or older.
What’s the secret?
“You could say the equipment helps,” said 64-year-old Louisville right-hander Jerry Waldren, who became the latest member of that group. “But I still think you have to be consistent, hit your mark, lift … but equipment certainly helps.”
Waldren raised his career 800 total to three recently in the Foxfire Lounge Mixed league at Park Centre Lanes, recording 846 on games of 258, 288 and 300, striking on 25 of his final 26 shots.
He used a one-year-old Hammer Black Widow for his career-high series to go along with his 10th 300.
“I’ve actually been struggling with that ball, but I think it’s been me,” said Waldren, a FirstEnegy-Ohio Edison employee, “That night it just all clicked. I was throwing it well and I was carrying.”
Playing a straight up the boards outside line, Waldren admitted he didn’t have to move all night, which was a rarity.
“Everything just held up that night,” Waldren said. “Usually, I’m moving left and throwing it harder or having to do something.”
A pair of 4-pin spares in the sixth and ninth frames of Game 1 and a 4-7 spare on his second ball on an admittedly “high hit” in the 10th frame of Game 3 were Waldren’s only misses. But the 300 did have some excitement in the 10th frame.
“I hadn’t done the math, but when I had that many strikes in a row in Game 3, I knew I had the 800 set,” said Waldren, whose last 300 came two years ago while his last 800 was about seven years ago. “The first shot in the 10th was OK, but the other two were questionable. There was a little bit of nerves there.
“That last one I tripped the 4-pin into the 9-pin and it carried.”
Waldren bowls two leagues at Park Centre, averaging 219 in the Tuesday Hannon Electric league and 227 in the mixed league.
“It had been awhile,” Waldren said. “Did I think I would do it again? Not really. A 300 maybe because those are easier to get.”
But the run of 800s by seniors lately has given Waldren hope that he can repeat his honor score.
“I talked to Dan (Freeman), and he’s had three in the past year (including one this season) at 65,” Waldren said. “So you have to think there is a chance you could do it again. Sometimes, you just never know.”