By BILL SNIER
NORTH CANTON — Steve Krajci became the eighth 60-or-older player to shoot an 800 series in the area this season.
What does he think is the reason?
“Advil,” the 61-year-old Canton right-hander said, laughing. “I take it every time I bowl.”
That night in the Hannon Electric league at Park Centre Lanes, there was no indication of a milestone night for the Harbor Castings employee. He went 223 out of the gate.
“I just started with the wrong ball,” said Krajci, who bowls in two Park Centre Leagues, averaging 225 and 226. “I left three 10-pins in a row to start and then made the adjustment. I switched balls.”
After staying clean the rest of the way, Krajci rolled his ninth career 300 game in Game 2 — “All of them were solid,” he added — and finished with 279 for an 802 series, his second career 800. He can’t remember when he rolled the first one.
“I really try not to keep track of my scores,” said Krajci, when asked if he felt any pressure in the 10th frame. “I just go with the flow. So I really didn’t know I even had the 800.
“When I got done and saw the score is when I knew it.”
Only a 4-pin spare in the sixth frame of Game 3 denied him a second straight 300 game.
Krajci started the night with the original Motiv Pride solid before switching to the Pride Empire for the rest of the night.
“It felt really good to do that. I’ve been really throwing the ball well,” Krajci said. “I actually took the summer off this year and I really think it helped my game.
“I just didn’t think shooting 800 would ever happen again.”
Krajci became the second player to shoot 800 in the 26-team league, joining 19-year-old Zach McCutchen. The pair also have two of the five 300s shot in the league.