By Mike Pettinella
Sarah Cassidy said her legs were shaking during the 10th frame of her first game earlier this week in the Tuesday Ladies Merchants League at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion.
With nine straight strikes showing on the overhead scoring monitor, Cassidy stepped onto the approach on lane 9, needing three more strikes to record the first 300 game by a woman in the 65-year history of her hometown bowling center.
The 44-year-old right-hander overcame her jitters by placing the final three balls in the 1-3 pocket and carrying all 10 pins each time for the perfect game.
Video of 300 game– Sarah Cassidy at Oak Orchard Bowl in Albion earlier this week.
Cassidy bowls for the Pretty Sweet Bakery team along with Judy Ward, Pam Jenks and her daughter, Emily Cassidy – who, along with other league members, greeted her with hugs and high-fives as she returned to the settee area.
“It is pretty exciting,” said Cassidy, who admitted that nervousness began to set in after she posted her seventh consecutive strike. “People started noticing. Thankfully, Sue Boring was bowling next to us and she was able to calm me down.”
The 300 game eclipsed Cassidy’s previous high game of 284 and raised her average to 177. Her other games were 182 and 147 for a 629 series.
Last season, Cassidy, who is employed as a billing specialist for a law firm, had a 189 average.
“Things have been coming together lately,” she said. “I just missed a 700 series (recently).”
Others posting perfect games over the past month in the Genesee Region USBC include Kyle Johnson of Batavia in the Tuesday Scratch League at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, Chris Baum of Buffalo in the 300 in the Sneezy’s Monday Night League at Oak Orchard Bowl, and Rob Husted of Bergen in the Thursday Owls League at Rose Garden Bowl.
MOUNT MORRIS YOUTH POSTING BIG SCORES
Sixteen-year-old Matthew Neus of Geneseo continues to put up huge numbers as a member of the Mount Morris Lanes youth bowling program.
Neus, a high-revving two-hander, rolled a 295 game and 727 series to close out December – about a month after rolling a 300 game and 773 series at the eight-lane hall. He now has five 700 series this season, contributing to a lofty 212 average.
While the 295 game earns him an 11-in-a-row award from the Genesee Region USBC, unfortunately the United States Bowling Congress does not recognize the perfect game because it was rolled during a “post-bowling” session without any opposition and not during the regular Saturday morning session.
The USBC Rule Book, 117e/7 lists an answer to the question, Can you explain when High Scores will or will not be recognized by USBC?
USBC will recognize High Scores bowled when:
1. Two scheduled opponents pre-bowl or post-bowl together. (Direct Opposition.)
2. The entire league is rescheduled.
3. A team is bowling alone during league play because the opposing team has pre- or post-bowled.
4. A team bowling alone because the league has uneven number of teams.
High Scores will not be recognized by USBC when:
1. An individual or team bowls unopposed.
2. Games are bowled unopposed before or after a league session.
3. League has uneven number of teams and the team without an opponent does not bowl with the league.
4. Two teams from the same league that are not scheduled against each other bowl together.
5. Two teams from different leagues bowl together.
Despite the 300 game not being “official” in the USBC’s eyes, it’s easy to surmise that Matthew – who placed first in last weekend’s Classic Division at the Youth Bowlers Tour event at Roseland Bowl in Canandaigua — is on his way to multiple honor scores as he continues to compete.
Also, congratulations to Evan Phillips of Bergen, who turns 16 on Friday, for a sparkling 755 series in the Rose Garden Bowl Youth League in Bergen.
60-AND-OVER TOUR HEADS TO MEDINA LANES
The 60-and-Over Tour presented by Batavia Downs Gaming rolls into Medina Lanes next Sunday, with registration set for 10 a.m. and competition to start at 11 a.m.
The scratch singles tour is open to all USBC-certified bowlers 60 years old and over. Entrants do not need to sign up in advance. The entry fee is $60.