By BILL SNIER
A pair of Alliance area bowlers — 23 years apart in age and both members of the Northeast Ohio Travel League — reached bowling milestones recently at two separate centers.
For 47-year-old Sebring right-hander Richard Stoffer, it’s the continuation of a road back from serious injuries suffered in October 2023 with the latest in a strong résumé.
But for 24-year-old Alliance right-hander Richard Elliott III, it was just the beginning of his road to more award scores.
Here is a look at both players’ accomplishments.
NO. 36 FOR STOFFER
Stoffer had an award score on every pair of lanes from Lane 13 up to 24 at Hunt Club Lanes in Salem. Except for one pair— Lanes 19-20.
That is no longer the case.
Stoffer had games of 257, 279 and 276 for 812, his 36th career 800 to go along with 63 300 games, in the Monday Men’s league. It was just over a year ago when he had his last 800 in the same league with 821.
In 2023, Stoffer suffered life-threatening injuries during a work-related accident. He suffered a broken right foot and right elbow, had four bruised ribs and needed six stitches to close a wound in his head.
“You don’t think you’re going to make that comeback after something like that,” Stoffer said at the time. “When I first got back, everything just hurt. I didn’t have the ball speed I used to have. But plenty of people around me kept saying, ‘you’re going to get it back … you’re going to get it back. Just keep at it.’ ”
But with friends and family around, Stoffer recorded his second honor score since the injury.
“It’s huge, especially doing this at Hunt Club. It was my first honor score on that pair,” said Stoffer, who bowls in the league with his father and other family members while averaging 222. “The last game, I was going on a 290 pace. But after I struck on the first ball, I knew I had the 800 in the bag.
“I was just messing around with Chris Sommers and just threw the last ball. I really didn’t care because I had it.”
Stoffer’s latest milestone came with a new Storm Equinox he had drilled just two weeks prior by Frank Testa at Ten Back Pro Shop.
“The funny thing is that the drilling seemed to be a bit different to me. It felt like it was too short … like my hand had shrunk,” Stoffer said. “But Frank remeasured it and said it was the same as the rest of my equipment. He just told to ‘just keep throwing it … you’re OK.’
“Then, two weeks later I shoot 800 with it. It was all in my head I guess.”
Stoffer, who had no open frames, said it also was special to have family and friends around for his latest milestone.
“My family all bowls there and it was nice for them to see it,” said Stoffer,, who averages 218 in the NEOTL and 228 in the Shenanigans-Hit Dem Pockets Mixed league at Eastbury Bowling Center
NO. 1 FOR ELLIOTT
It was a long time coming for the former Alliance High School standout.
Elliott, a welder at MAC Trailer in Alliance, has a pair of 799s and 798 in his career.
“I’ve been close a few times,” said Elliott, who had games of 251, 286 and 289 for an 806 series in the Liberty Vending league at Eastbury.
“It felt so good after being so close all the time. I was just never able to get there. But now, the pressure if off.”
Elliott had his only open frame in Game 1, missing a 2-4-5 spare. It was a 2-4-5-8 spare that cost him a 300 bid in Game 2 before missing just twice in Game 3.
Elliott’s milestone came the same night as Plain Township right-hander Jordan Norris shot the identical score in a sub role in the league.
“I didn’t even know until he came down and told me,” Elliott said. “That was just crazy.”
Using a 900 Global Zen 25, Elliott said his line “really didn’t change much at all.”
“I really wasn’t thinking about it a whole lot because I was throwing the ball well all night,” Elliott said. “I really didn’t realize it until I needed the first two in the 10th frame of Game 3. After I got the first one, it kind of set in a little bit. But I threw a good shot on the second one to get there.”
Elliott’s father, Richard Elliott II, also bowls in the NEOTL, but on a different team than his son.
“I think Dad has three or four 800s,” Richard III said.
Elliott carries a 231 average in the NEOTL and is at 229 in the Liberty Vending league.
TAKING APPLICATIONS
The NEOTL still is accepting applications for the 2025-26 season. The trio league bowls on Thursdays, beginning at anywhere from 8 to 9:30 p.m. and includes 16 teams and four divisions.
The 30-week league has weekly fees of $25. The league’s annual draft is set for 7 p.m. May 17 at a site to be announced. There is a $10 application fee.
For information and draft applications, go to its Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/NEOHIOTL