By BILL SNIER
NORTH CANTON — Four 800 series in just 54 weeks — at the age of 66.
How can Akron right-hander Dan Freeman explain his surge of milestone scores after having just one career 800 prior to the 2023-24 winter season?
“I have no idea why, except that I love retirement,” said the Furbay Electric retiree. “There’s a lot less stress.”
After shooting 821 in the Hosner Carpet Trio league at Park Center Lanes in September, Freeman again hit a milestone recently in the same league with games of 267, 300 and 258 for 825.
“I’m bowling a lot more right now,” said Freeman, who bowls regularly on Mondays and Fridays at Park Centre and Tuesdays at Kent Lanes in addition to subbing in senior traveling leagues on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“I have a lot of consistency right now. I know my backswing is straight … I’ve been doing the same thing for a long time and I don’t have much of a backswing at all. Am I surprised? Yes. I only had one until I was 65 so go figure. I thought about it before when I only had one. But now, if it happens, it happens.”
In January 2024, before having cataract surgery on both eyes, Freeman had a pair of 800 series in consecutive weeks at Kent Lanes. He now has five to go along with 17 career 300 games.
But only one 300 has come during the streak — during the most recent 800.
“A funny story about this one. I was warming up like I usually do before the league and I was throwing the (Hammer) Arctic Vibe,” Freeman said. “I shot 277 with it and had the last nine strikes.
“Then, I move over to the league pair and I start with the first nine. So I had 18 in a row with it.”
On the pair next to him, Chuck Spencer was also on a 300 pace in the league. Freeman paused to video Spencer’s final shots, which gave him his first adult 300 after having one during his junior bowling days.
“I didn’t bowl until after he was done,” Freeman said. “Then on the first ball in the 10th, I leave a 10-pin and miss it.”
Freeman then matched Spencer in Game 2 with 300 before again starting the final game with the first six strikes — 18 in a row again — before a 10-pin spare. He then had two more strikes before leaving a 9-pin in the 10th frame for his final count.
“I really don’t know if I’m throwing it better now or not,” said Freeman, who is averaging 224 in the senior trio, but has been as high as 235 in his career. “The videos I take are very similar to the way I’ve thrown in the past.
“I’ve been a decent bowler and competitive my whole career. It just seems like I’m more competitive now because I’m bowling against guys my own age. It makes a difference.”
He had another shot earlier this season at Spins Bowl Akron in the Summit-Stark Senior All-Star Traveling league after opening with 289 and 286. But he finished with just 170.
“The left lane disappeared for me,” Freeman said. “But I have that capability of throwing some big games out there.”
After the past two years serving as a bowling assistant coach with his son, Dan, at Stow-Munroe Falls High School, Freeman is leaving after this season. Has it affected his own game?
“Sometimes on Tuesdays after coaching. I get frustrated because they don’t listen to me,” Freeman said. “I’m the old guy who doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
How long can he continue at this pace? Maybe a third 800 for the 2024-25 season?
‘Until I can’t do it anymore. I’ve always been competitive and I need to find something I can compete in,” Freeman said. “If it’s not bowling, maybe cornhole after that.”