By BILL SNIER
CANTON — Deana Gouge works at a bowling center and is co-tournament director of Stark County’s longest running scratch singles event.
But that doesn’t mean she has to bowl to enjoy the sport.
In fact, the 51-year-old Canton right-hander took off 10 years before returning midway though the 2023-24 league season.
“It was a commitment issue. I just didn’t think it was fair to a team when I know I’m going to be gone a lot,” said Gouge, who works the desk at Eastbury Bowling Center and assists in running the John Klonowski Memorial Scratch Singles, a February event that just completed its 33rd year.
“It wasn’t that I was going to go to another team or any place else. I just didn’t feel like I could commit fully to my team.”
So she walked away, content to work at Eastbury and performing her “full-time job,” which was caring for her mother, who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and dementia.
It took the request of a co-worker to bring her back last season.
“Joe (Sinay Jr.) said he needed someone on his team. But I told him I wouldn’t lose any hours of work or anything to do this,” said Gouge, who bowls in the Thursday Morning Mixed Trio at Eastbury with Sinay and Adren Bradley.
“I just don’t really have the heart for it or enjoy it as much. I like to be around it, I like to watch it, but I don’t want to do it as much. I still love the game, but I’m not going to travel or drive around or bowl tournaments any more. I want to watch them and be involved in them and watch everyone else bowl.”
In fact, when she returned, she used her same 900 Global bowling ball, drilled by Chris Mahaffey, from 10 years ago. That is until February when she actually won a ball raffle during a Wednesday league at Eastbury and received a new Hammer Widow Mania.
The first week with the new ball — which was 15 pounds compared to the 16 she usually throws — did not go well. But things changed the following week.
Gouge, who owns two 300 games in her career, had games of 287, 237 and 268 for a career-high 792 series.
Amazingly, she started both Games 2 and 3 with 4-7-10 splits, also failing to convert a 10-pin spare in Game 2. She had the front 10 strikes in Game 1 before leaving a 6-7 split.
“I really just wanted to get to the seventh frame because it had been so long since I had a run like that,” said Gouge, who is averaging 187 in her only league. “I had no idea where I stood. I heard Joe say in the 10th frame (of Game 3) to someone that I struck on the final ball I would be in the 790s. But I had no idea.”
Gouge admits she had to change many things about her game after a 10-year hiatus. The main change came in just holding and releasing the ball due to a left-hand injury.
“About three years ago, I had to have the bones removed in my left hand. I can’t support the ball at all in that hand,” Gouge said.
To compensate, Gouge rests the ball on her left forearm while preparing to make her release.
“It was really hard at first. The ball just seemed super heavy. I didn’t realize how much I needed by left hand until I started bowling league again,” Gouge said. “But I can use the forearm to support most of the weight and I’ve adapted.”
The change in lane conditions also was something for Gouge to deal with in her return.
“i don’t even know where to throw these balls half the time. I don’t like to have to work at it,” Gouge said. “But compared to when I was bowling a long time ago, I have to keep moving the way the balls are hooking all the time.
“It takes a lot of thinking through the shots. Before, I was going up second arrow and it was bam, bam, bam. But it’s not like that anymore. I’m a person where I know what my next move is going to be before I get on the approach. Gary (Rebillot) taught me that. Know what moves your are going to do before you get up there. If you’re going to make a 2-and-1 (board), know that before you’re on the approach.”
Gouge admitted if she had not won the new Hammer, she probably would have continued with her 10-year-old equipment.
“I was doing OK with it, but when I won the ball, I had to use it,” said Gouge, who admitted there also was a difference going from 16 pounds down to 15.
As for continuing in league play after this season, Gouge is noncommittal.
“Nothing against Joe, but I enjoyed bowling with my girlfriends. I don’t want to join three more leagues. I’d rather say where I’m at for the rest of the season. Next season, we’ll see,” Gouge added.
But she will make one concession this season. She will bowl in the Stark County USBC Open Championships at Eastbury with family members.
“My kids always tell me I quit before they started bowling as adults,” Gouge said. “So I’m going to bowl with them this year. They’re going to be excited about that.”