onefrombills
12-31-2008, 05:21 PM
Baltimore's Rich Jerome Jr. became the 12th bowler to roll an approved 900 series Dec. 22. The 29-year-old right-hander had three consecutive 300 games in the Monday Night Mixed League at Brunswick Perry Hall Lanes in Baltimore.
He was the first bowler in two years with 36 consecutive strikes in the same series. The last 900 was rolled Dec. 23, 2006 by P.J. Giesfeldt in Milwaukee.
"I started realizing I might have a shot at it in the seventh frame of the last game," said Jerome, now in his 11th year on the lanes. "It seemed from then on that people started standing around my lanes but I tried to watch the pins. I also tried to watching the football game on TV to take my mind off it.
"After I finished, I looked around and it seemed like everyone there was on the settee area with me. It was very exciting."
Jerome had 10 previous 300 games and five earlier 800 series. Two of his perfect games came as part of his previous career-high 857 series Nov. 3 in the Drug Trade League, also at Perry Hall. The Drug Trade is USBC's oldest certified league dating back to the 1896-97 season.
Previous 900 shooters are: Jeremy Sonnenfeld, Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 2, 1997; Tony Roventini, Milwaukee, Nov. 9, 1998; Vince Wood, Moreno Valley, Calif., Sept. 29, 1999; Robby Portalatin, Jackson, Mich., Dec. 28, 2000; James Hylton, Salem, Ore., May 2, 2001; Jeff Campbell II, New Castle, Pa., June 12, 2004; Darin Pomije, New Prague, Minn., Dec. 9, 2004; Robert Mushtare, Fort Drum, N.Y., Dec. 5, 2005 and Feb. 19, 2006; Lonnie Billiter Jr., Fairfield, Ohio, Feb. 13, 2006; Mark Wukoman, Greenfield, Wis., April 22, 2006; and Giesfeldt.
He was the first bowler in two years with 36 consecutive strikes in the same series. The last 900 was rolled Dec. 23, 2006 by P.J. Giesfeldt in Milwaukee.
"I started realizing I might have a shot at it in the seventh frame of the last game," said Jerome, now in his 11th year on the lanes. "It seemed from then on that people started standing around my lanes but I tried to watch the pins. I also tried to watching the football game on TV to take my mind off it.
"After I finished, I looked around and it seemed like everyone there was on the settee area with me. It was very exciting."
Jerome had 10 previous 300 games and five earlier 800 series. Two of his perfect games came as part of his previous career-high 857 series Nov. 3 in the Drug Trade League, also at Perry Hall. The Drug Trade is USBC's oldest certified league dating back to the 1896-97 season.
Previous 900 shooters are: Jeremy Sonnenfeld, Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 2, 1997; Tony Roventini, Milwaukee, Nov. 9, 1998; Vince Wood, Moreno Valley, Calif., Sept. 29, 1999; Robby Portalatin, Jackson, Mich., Dec. 28, 2000; James Hylton, Salem, Ore., May 2, 2001; Jeff Campbell II, New Castle, Pa., June 12, 2004; Darin Pomije, New Prague, Minn., Dec. 9, 2004; Robert Mushtare, Fort Drum, N.Y., Dec. 5, 2005 and Feb. 19, 2006; Lonnie Billiter Jr., Fairfield, Ohio, Feb. 13, 2006; Mark Wukoman, Greenfield, Wis., April 22, 2006; and Giesfeldt.