By BILL SNIER
CANTON — Lewis Stansbury’s ex-sister-in-law helped bring him back to bowling after a seven-year hiatus due to devastating leg injuries.
But it took the words of a 21-year-old to inspire him to a career milestone.
The 43-year-old Alliance right-hander recently had games of 268, 267 and 269 for an 804 series — his first career 800 to go along with two career 300 games.
And it came after he experienced a horrible break in Game 2 during the HDP-Shenaningans Sunday Night Mixed league at Eastbury Bowling Center in a substitute role.
“The one shot I’m going to remember is what happened in the ninth frame of Game 2,” said Stansbury, whose previous high was 794 while bowling at Hallmark Lanes in Texas.
On that ball, Stansbury’s Roto Grip Dinam-X hit the pocket, but the 6-pin hit the 10-pin into the kick board. It fell down — for a moment. Then, the 10-pin stood back up again on the pin deck.
“It’s going to haunt me the rest of my life I thought at the time,” Stansbury said. “I just couldn’t even see after that. I grabbed a ball off the rack — I don’t even know if it was mine — and just shoved it into the gutter.
“I just walked away. I was just stunned. In games one and three, I was super consistent and left only 8- and 9-pins that kept me from 300 games.”
Then, Stansbury started his third game with another 10-pin.
“I left that right away so it was like, ‘Whoa, now there’s no pressure.’ And I went on another run,” Stansbury said.
In fact, he told teammate Alex Lemaster that he had 800 by the seventh frame of Game 3.
“I knew I didn’t have it yet, but I knew it was there,” Stansbury said. “There were probably three people there who knew I had shot 800. It was just a lot of weight lifted off my shoulders because I had been chasing it for so long.”
Stansbury was born and raised in Stark County, but joined the military and was stationed in Texas, where he continued to bowl, including some PBA Southwest Region appearances.
However, he suffered serious injuries in an accident while in the military, resulting in a spiral fracture of his left leg and a broken femur, among other injuries.
He had to learn to walk all over again, and bowling was not even a consideration. He went seven years without throwing a ball.
“I didn’t know if I could even get down into a shot or even stand on the leg to deliver it,” Stansbury said. “I actually had donated all my equipment to the youth programs.
“But my ex-sister-in-law, Kate, asked me to join her in a Sunday mixed league at Eastbury. I give her 100 percent of the credit for coming back. She challenged me to do it and the rest is history.”
But Stansbury, who has been bowling for only nine years of his adult life, also got a motivating talk from former Louisville High School and Walsh University standout Chase Barstow a few weeks before the milestone.
He has developed a relationship with Barstow and his girlfriend, Andrea Guzowski — over cookies.
“They kept bringing them every week and I think I’ve got a whole bowling bag full,” Stansbury said.
But it was something Barstow said that had a bigger influence on Stansbury.
“He leaned into me and just said some things that hit me just right. It was a competitive thing, and I could feel like he meant it and I knew his heart was in it,” said Stansbury, who admittedly doesn’t remember exactly what the two-handed righty said to him.
“From then on, I’ve been putting in the work, did the practice and kept grinding. The spirit he put into me has been in the back of my mind ever since.”
Stansbury, who bowls in two regular leagues, including the Northeast Ohio Travel League, while subbing in two others, has averages ranging from 221 to 240.
“I changed some fit stuff at the beginning of the season and I struggled with it, so it’s been kind of an up-and-down season for me,” Stansbury said. “But in the second half, I got into a groove, especially with (NEOTL teammates) Bill and Austin (Reese) and it’s been awesome. This has quickly become my favorite season of bowling. Overall, I’m pretty proud of what I’ve accomplished.”
The amazing thing is, despite the 800, Stansbury was not totally satisfied.
“I think I could have thrown it better. I couldn’t have, but I felt like I could have,” Stansbury said. “But I’m here, it’s there and it’s happening, is what I told myself.
“I really don’t think it has set in yet. But now, it’s expectations time and that changes things a little.”
Stansbury also started coaching this season, joining North Canton Hoover High School’s bowling staff.
“Motivating is one word to describe it. It’s been a blessing,” Stansbury said. “I tell coach (Nichole) Wells these kids have no idea what they’ve done for me this season. They will never know the impact they’ve had. I can’t wait for the future.”
Both on the lanes and behind them.