By BILL SNIER
CANTON — Many players at the bowling center — both young and old alike — have been referring to Roger Webb as “Mr. Eastbury.”
“It is flattering, but I still don’t think I can keep up with some of these young guys,” the 58-year-old Perry Township right-hander and retired U.S. Postal Service employee said.
“But it’s fun though.”
The former Perry High School bowling coach and Stark County High School Bowling Conference Hall of Famer already has three 300 games this season — his career-best for one season.
But he added to his milestone total recently in the Eastbury Wednesday Night league at Eastbury Bowling Center with games of 299, 278 and 245 for an 822 series — his 21st career 800 to go along with 29 300 games.
He is bowling in just two regular leagues at Eastbury, averaging 230 in both, but also subs in six other leagues.
“I don’t really know what it is about (Eastbury). I’m just feeling pretty good this year,” Webb said. “Last year, I had some struggles and figured something out. My mechanics are better this year.”
Webb lost nearly three bowling seasons due to a variety of injuries, including having knee replacement and rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder. He still has a torn bicep in his right arm, but plans on doing nothing to correct it at this point.
“I don’t feel like I have the strength like I used to, but it feels OK so I’m going to leave it go,” Webb said. “It’s funny how many people I run into that have a torn bicep and just live with it.”
The corrections Webb made in his game had to do with his arm swing.
“I was just short-arming everything last year. It took me a couple of months to figure out what it was,” Webb said. “We did a lot of video watching my backswing, my balance arm and my footwork, and here that’s what I was doing.
“I started overextending and following through more and things started to get better.”
Only a solid 8-pin on his final shot denied Webb a 300 in Game 1. In Game 2, he had the front eight strikes before leaving a 4-pin. He then doubled in the 10th frame and added a 10-pin.
But he had to make an adjustment in Game 3.
“I had the first three (strikes), then left a 4-7 on a high hit,” Webb said. “I adjusted, threw two more strikes and then threw one outside and left a 3-6. Then I struck out.
“I had to move on the left lane that game … I made about a two (board) and one move. My target was still around 10-11. I was just throwing darts up the outside.”
Have the surgeries and age cost him any speed?
“I think my speed is still about the same. According to these machines I’m still around 15 to 15 1/2 (mph),” Webb said. “But I think I’m throwing it better.
“I feel like I’m where I was about four or five years ago. My big year was in 2018, and I think I’m throwing the ball close to that.”
During that season, Webb had five 800 series to go along with two 300 games.
But there still is plenty of time to go in the 2024-25 fall-winter season to achieve more.