JOHN BASSETTI | Bowling Eastman rolls back-to-back 300s

After rolling two 300s in 10 years, Skip Eastman got two in one night.
The bowler put together 246-300-300 for 846 in Austintown Township-UAW 1112 Men at Wedgewood on Nov. 27. It was his first 800.
Not far behind was Nick Evans with 298 and 299, but Evans' first game of 161 kept his set "down" to 758.
Following Eastman was Dwayne Learn's 780 and Bruce Boyd and Jason Wem with 772. Boyd's top game was 299.
Eastman's 24-strike effort was preceded by three strikes in the 10th frame of the first game. He had 34 of 36 that night before Thanksgiving.
"I left a 10-pin in the ninth and missed it," said the 47-year-old Eastman of Canfield. "Then I struck out in the 10th. I guess you could call it being unconscious. I hit the same mark every frame and the ball kept doing the same thing. I think my dad up above was helping me out. [He passed away Dec. 30, 1997]. He wasn't a bowler but he always encouraged me to do whatever I like to do. I know that night he was with me. I was just bowling and having fun. I think the guys on my team were more excited than me."
Develops new outlook
Following a hiatus most of the 2001-2002 season, Eastman developed a new outlook.
"I took a year off to let everything heal, to let my mind wander and now I've come back with a different attitude. I've calmed down a lot. When you're young, you always want to strive for perfection and it usually never happens. Now it's fun, like when I was a kid. I'm not worried about winning and losing."
Eastman's absence wasn't true, though, because he subbed a few times during 2001-2002.
This season, he refrained until the last week before the position round of the first 3rd.
"I was on the roster, but I was still working 10 hours. I had to be at work at 7 [p.m.] and the league started at 6:30. Then my schedule dropped to 8 hours."
The year off made him miss bowling a little bit more, but Eastman still wasn't sure he wanted to return full-time until consulting his wife, Karen.
"We sat down and talked and she said, 'go ahead and bowl.' If not for her, I probably wouldn't have done this."
Skip's first 300 was March 30, 1992 at Canfield Colonial Lanes and again on Nov. 13 -- two weeks before his double 300s, also in the Austintown Township league.
Eastman also bowls in Bob's Service Men's League at Wedgewood.
His real name is Lamont, but "Skip" evolved after an aunt labeled him at birth.
"My aunt told my mom that I'd always be the skipper of the ship. I got Skip out of it and it stuck ever since."
His initial 300 in 1992 resulted in a 677 series that left him shy of his first 700. His set the night of the second was 749. His third and fourth 300s finally put him over the 800 barrier.
"I've always strived for an 800 and I finally did it in a great way. A lot of people shoot 300s, but not back-to-back like I did.
He wasn't skipper of the ship, but skipping a year helped Eastman navigate the big one.
800s & amp; more
Tom Smith had 804 in Max Belchyk Classic on Dec. 12 while Bob Eisenbraun Jr. had 803 and Adam Barta 802, both in Shooting Gallery and all at Holiday Bowl. Eisenbraun's top game was 299 while Smith's was 290. Another Belchyk 290 was registered by Don Bagdassarian Jr.
Bill Patalon's 300 on Dec. 9 led Lucianno's Men at Wedgewood, Duane Beatty had his first perfect game during ITAM action at Camelot on Dec. 13 and Chad Hupp fired 300 in Eight-Ball Men at Holiday.
George Thomas had 299-771 in Howgren Heating & amp; Cooling at A-Plus Family Bowl during week 12.
A 7-pin left Linda Plume with a 299 in Wedgewood Ladies Trio on Dec. 10, when DeCinda Taylor's 744 was tops. Julie Zelonish followed with 729 and Marla Chicase 701.
Bill Dworak produced 299 in Youngstown Steel-Mopar at Boardman while Ken Wehr left an 8-pin to finish with 299 in Col. Mixed Trio at Arrowhead.
Dino Balkan had 298 in Camelot Outdoorsmen on Dec. 4, Jason Wem had high game of 296 in Bob's Service at Wedgewood and Rich Hornyak had 290 in Allied Printcraft at Holiday on Dec. 16.
The Dec. 7 session of Wedgewood Jrs./Majors had a trio of 700s with Greg Heaven's 794 leading the way. Mark Guthridge and Patrick Reed had 721s. Heaven's high game was 279.
Team No. 2 of Mozelle Keys, Al Traylor, Al Drummond and Willie McGaha won first half in Southern Tavern Mixed at Kay while Diane Ornelas was second-quarter champion in Lohr Nationwide Insurance Matchplay at Bell-Wick Bowl.
Smallwood Carpet Care of June Smallwood, Laura Williams, Ida Smith, Maryann Centofanti, Jody Stoyak and Diane Lopez won first half in Girard Merchants Ladies at Kay.
C.W.V. Post 1292 won CIO-NAP Builders Classic's 2nd quarter with Rick Comek, Joe DeFuria, Rob DelSignore, Bill Kosmo, John Sefcik, Phil Trgovac and Dick Vickers.
Youngstown Microfilm won Hubbard Businessmen's second quarter at Bell-Wick and West Side Lanes III won Downtowners' second quarter.
The "A" team of Marie Ponzani, Evelyn McPhail and Barb Schobel won Grand Gals' first half at A-Plus.