By Mike Pettinella
Matt “Strapper” Slocum set a Perry Bowling Center record last Thursday night when he rolled an 836 series in the Thursday Miller Lite Giant League.
The big 24-year-old right-hander pummeled the pins to the tune of 300-257-279 for the Paul’s Auto Repair team on lanes 1-2. It was his fifth certified 300 game and first 800 series.
The 836 eclipsed the previous mark of 826 set by Arnie Taylor, and was only 11 pins shy of the Genesee Region United States Bowling Congress Association record set last season by Craig Royce of Lima.
“I took two practice balls, and then rolled the first 18 strikes,” said Slocum, a state Department of Corrections employee.
All told, he recorded 29 strikes as he easily topped his previous high series of 774.
He credited teammate Brian Weber for keeping him focused.
“Brian told me to ‘stay firm’ with the shot,” Slocum said. “Then, when I had the (Perry) record, he just said, ‘It’s all for fun now.”
His other teammates are Justin LaGeorge, A.J. Koronas and his father, Dick Slocum.
He was using a Roto Grip Nomad Solid bowling ball drilled by Bill Beachner at Perry Bowling Center.
Slocum said he bowled with Taylor six years ago when he joined the men’s league. Taylor was among those who congratulated Slocum during league play on Friday night.
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JOHNSON SHOOTS 300
Mike Johnson of Batavia, who struggled for two games before switching balls, rolled a 300 game in a substitute role Sunday in the Scooter’s of Le Roy/Lambert’s Jewelers/Bob Harris Realty scratch league at Scopano’s Lanes in Oakfield.
The left-hander posted 201 and 156 on lanes 1-2, switching to a Hammer Bite bowling ball on the final ball of the second game. He promptly strung 12 in a row in game three for his third certified perfect game.
“All of a sudden I was carrying the pocket hits,” he said.
His 300 came in the first of two shifts. He rolled a 278 finale during the second shift as a sub for Jack Zajaczkowski.
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BUFFALO DUO TRIUMPHS
Buffalo area bowlers Pat Brick and Joe Mercurio teamed to win the Le Roy Legion Lanes scratch doubles tournament Sunday, outlasting 29 other teams for the $500 first prize.
Brick and Mercurio defeated Adam Philp of Caledonia and Ryan Kretchmer of Rochester, 224-190, in the Baker style (where bowlers alternate frames) championship match. Second place was worth $300.
Semifinalists, winning $150 each, were Dan and Gary Kinyon of Lockport, and Rob Vitigliano of Niagara Falls and Pete Maduri of Tonawanda. Also cashing for $100 apiece were Mike Johnson of Batavia and Rob Sease of Brockport, Dave Montemarano Jr. of Batavia and Brian Cline of Depew, Mike Tryniski and Dean Distin of Fulton, and Jim Emens and Dave Dobson Jr. of Rochester.