APRIL 2014 -
7
SERVING THE BOWLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1967
Amos Gordo Rolls
900 Series
By Aaron Smith
ARLINGTON, Texas -
Amos Gordon of Colorado Springs, Colo., became the
first bowler in the state of Colorado to roll three consecutive 300 games on his way
to a 900 series Friday.
The 29-year-old right-hander had 36 consecutive strikes at the Friday Night
Mixed Early league at Thunder Alley Bowling Center in nearby Fort Carson, Colo.,
to become the 24th bowler in history to record a perfect series. The achievement
is pending approval from the United States Bowling Congress and would be the
25th USBC-approved 900.
The series bested the previous Colorado state record of 899, shot by Denver's
Terry Weddel in 2011.
Although Gordon hadn't achieved an 800 series in certified competition prior to
his performance Friday, he had been bowling well and had just missed hitting the
800 mark several times.
As the strikes started to add up Friday, Gordon still found himself more focused
on helping his team win.
"The guy I was bowling against started with four in a row, so I was trying to keep
up," Gordon said. "My mind was focused on trying to help the team win. We ended
up barely winning each game."
The attention started to turn to Gordon after he finished his second 300, and
Thunder Alley became quieter as he got closer to the final frame. In the 10th, he
tried not to pay attention to his surroundings and deliver quality shots.
"Everyone started migrating towards our lanes after the second 300," Gordon
said. "When I went to bowl, I didn't hear anything, which was crazy. When I got to
the 10th frame, I tried not to pay attention to everyone taking pictures and videos.
On the final shot, I took my time, made sure I got myself together and threw a
great ball."
The emotions finally came out after the final strike was delivered, and Gordon
hopes the achievement is a stepping stone in his bowling career.
"It means a great deal to me," Gordon said. "All of the hard work, focus and prac-
tice paid off, and it shows that if you put a lot into something, you can get great
things back. I couldn't have achieved this goal without the love and support of my
family. I'm going to stay humble and continue to practice and try to get better."
The first USBC-approved 900 occurred Feb. 2, 1997 when Jeremy Sonnenfeld
rolled three consecutive perfect games in Lincoln, Neb. There never has been a
Sport-certified 900 series.
USBC-Approved 900 Series (25)
Jeremy Sonnenfeld (R), Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 2, 1997
Tony Roventini (L), Greenfield, Wis., Nov. 9, 1998
Vince Wood (R), Moreno Valley, Calif., Sept, 29, 1999
Robby Portalatin (L), Jackson, Mich., Dec. 28, 2000
James Hylton (R), Salem, Ore., May 2, 2001
Jeff Campbell II (R), New Castle, Pa., June 12, 2004
Darin Pomije (R), New Prague, Minn., Dec. 9, 2004
Robert Mushtare (R), Fort Drum, N.Y., Dec. 5, 2005 and
Feb. 19, 2006
Lonnie Billiter Jr. (R), Fairfield, Ohio, Feb. 13, 2006
Mark Wukoman (R), Greenfield, Wis., April 22, 2006
P.J. Giesfeldt (R), Milwaukee, Dec. 23, 2006
Rich Jerome Jr. (R), Baltimore, Dec. 22, 2008
Chris Aker (L), Winnemucca, Nev., Oct. 30, 2009
Andrew Teall (R), Medford, N.J., Nov. 2, 2009
Andrew Mank (R), Bellevue Ill., March 18, 2010
William Howell III (L), Middletown, N.Y., Oct. 21, 2010
Matt Latarski (R), Medina, Ohio, Nov. 28, 2010
Bob Kammer Jr. (R), Crown Point, Ind., Jan. 8, 2011
John Martorella Sr. (R), Greece, N.Y., April 12, 2012
Jimmy Schmitzer (R), Riverside, Calif., April 20, 2012
James Williams (R), Pawcatuck, Conn., (bowled in Wakefield, R.I.), April 16, 2013
Joe Scarborough (R), Charlotte, N.C., (bowled in The Villages, Fla.), April 21, 2013
Todd James (R), East New Market, Md., (bowled in Laurel, Del.), March 18, 2014
Amos Gordon (R), Colorado Springs, Colo., April 11, 2014 **
** Pending formal approval by the United States Bowling Congress.
Todd James Rolls 900 Series
By Matt Cannizzaro
ARLINGTON, Texas -
Todd James of East New Market, Md., added three memora-
ble perfect games to his resume as he rolled 36 consecutive strikes for a 900 series
at Bryan's Bowling Center in Laurel, Del., on Tuesday night.
The 31-year-old right-hander was bowling as a last-minute substitute in the Tuesday
Night Mixed league and struck on every shot he threw to become the 23rd bowler in
history to record a perfect series. The achievement is pending approval from the
United States Bowling Congress and would be the 24th USBC-approved 900.
"I don't usually have any problems finding the shot there, but last night, I just couldn't
get lined up in practice," James said. "I didn't throw a strike until the last shot, but then
I was in the pocket the rest of the night."
James' longest string of strikes previously was 20, and once he got past that point,
the nerves started to set in. As he got closer to the end of the third game, he also was
in position for the center's strike jackpot, so everyone took notice.
"Once I got through the eighth frame of the third game, people started to realize I
hadn't missed all night," said James, whose daughters, Chloe, 11, and Alyssa, 7, got
to see him shoot 300 for the first time. "It's not a big place, just 14 lanes of four-
person teams, but no one left."
A break in the ninth frame of the final game collapsed the 4-6-7-10 split, but James
felt good about his last three shots, despite being more nervous than ever before. His
final offering briefly left the 10 pin standing, before a messenger solidified his place in
the record books.
"Standing there and waiting for that 10 pin to go down felt like forever, like in the
movies," said James, who runs an early-morning snack route. "Afterwards, we were
all pretty excited. I couldn't believe it."
Bryan's Bowling Center is about a 30-minute drive
from East New Market, but James has been bowling
there since it opened in 2009. He recorded a career-
high average of 235 there last season and is on pace
to beat that this year. He bowls regularly at Bryan's on
Monday nights and bowls as a substitute when he can
the rest of the week.
Henry Grabowski Jr. previously held the house record
at Bryan's Bowling Center with 858, shot in January
2013, while the previous state record belonged to Ron
Prettyman, who rolled games of 300, 299 and 300 for
an 899 series at Holiday Lanes in Claymont, Del., in
February 1996.
Amos Gordon
Todd James
Significant—Positive—Impact
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