By BILL SNIER
NORTH CANTON — Taylor Devaul had been in that position before.
Despite three career 300 games, bowling in high-pressure situations for both Notre Dame College and Jackson High School during her career, individual nerves have always been a problem.
“That’s why I think I never had an 800 before … because I get so nervous,” the 28-year-old East Sparta right-hander said. “It’s so funny because I’ve been in plenty of high pressure situations.
“Being in those situations as an individual makes me nervous. But in a team situation, it doesn’t bother me.”
Devaul, a product information specialist and coordinator for an animal health organization, faced another one of those individual challenges recently during the Sunday Eagles No. 190 league at Park Centre Lanes.
After beginning her day with games of 257 and 269, she knew she had 526. But Devaul tried to avoid the obvious.
“I knew I had 500 after two, but I really didn’t want to think about 800 just because I make myself so nervous,” said Devaul, who also serves as boys bowling coach at Canton Central Catholic High School.
But the former All-Federal League and All-Stark County Conference player and SCHSBC hall of famer (2020) put an exclamation mark on her day, rolling a 300 in Game 3 for her first 800 — an 826 — after her husband, Kaleb Devaul, a two-handed righty, rolled 834 earlier this season at Park Centre for his first career 800.
Kaleb also had his third career 300 recently at Park Centre.
“It’s really exciting. I had talked to my dad (Jeff Sturm) a couple of days before and he reminded me he had me beat in 300s,” Devaul said of Jeff, who doesn’t have an 800 series. “But not anymore — and I’ve got him with the 800 too.”
She left spares in the seventh and 10th frames of Game 1, along with spares in the first and 10th frames of Game 2 en route to a clean night.
“When I got to the first ball in the 10th frame, I wasn’t even thinking about the 300,” said Devaul, who is averaging 227.5 in the league. “I just wanted that 800.
“When I get nervous, I have a tendency to get a little slower, so I moved one board left and it did the trick.”
The 300 was just the icing on the cake for Devaul, who used her Storm Fate ball — “the ball I always use at Park Centre,” she added. She is bowling in just the one league.
Devaul said coaching for the past nearly six years also has helped with her own game.
“It’s made a difference for sure. I see the mechanics of other bowlers and I think it has helped me in fine-tuning mine in order to show them how to execute shots correctly,” Devaul said.
“The biggest change in my game is I’ve slowed down. I mean, I still go fast, but I make an effort to slow down and really stay behind the ball more. I still come around it a little bit, but compared to where I used to be, it has definitely improved.”
Devaul has bowled in the Ohio Queens tournament during the past several years, and did attempt a couple of pro events in the past. It’s something she may return to in the future.
“I’d like to do it, but more of it is the financial angle and trying to save up for other things,” Devaul said. “It’s eventually something I’d love to do do.
“But I’m a pretty busy person and combine that with coaching, it can be really hard.”
But she does have one other bowling goal — averaging 230 in her league.
“That would be a big goal. If I could get there, great,” Devaul said. “But I just want to stay healthy enough to keep bowling. And, of course, roll a few more 800s.”
BURNS HITS FOR 300
Also at Park Centre, Renae Burns recorded her third 300 game Wednesday in the Hannon Electrc-Custom Poly Ladies league.
Burns, who posted the Stark County USBC’s high female average a year ago of 220, hit 300 in Game 1 of her 654 series.
That was the disappointment of the night as Burns had hoped to go on a run for her first career 800. She has a career-high of 793.
“Not shooting even a 700 series was disappointing,” said Burns, who finished with 202 and 152 using her Hammer Burn ball. “I was glad to have my brother, my son and my nephew there to see the 300.”
Burns, 39-year-old Plain Township right-hander and a nurse for the Massillon City Schools, is averaging 205.3 in the league this season.