Harless dedicates first 300 game to ailing father

Ralph Harless has his priorities straight.
After rolling his first 300, the 41-year-old Boardman resident grabbed his cell phone and dialed his father's number.
"This one's for you," were the words used to tell the 73-year-old hospitalized man on the other end the news of the event that took place Dec. 5 in Excalibur/Monday Knights at Camelot.
"After everybody congratulated him, he got on his phone," Excalibur secretary Rick Spatara said of Harless' big moment. "He was so happy because he said he did it for his dad."
On October 24, Harless' father, Charles Zolla, was diagnosed with brain cancer.
"It meant a lot," Harless said. "He's been on my mind all the time."
Harless said Zolla finished radiation treatments recently and was brought home for the holidays.
"He's not doing too bad," Harless said. "But he's going to have surgery after the first of the year to have a spot on his lung removed."
If bowling could ease human suffering, all the better.
688 series
Harless couldn't have done better to conclude his bowling that night, when his series stopped at 688.
He'll receive a ring for the game and a watch for 100 pins over his 197 average for a single game (century award).
"Although he didn't feel well, he was kind of emotional," Harless said of Chuck Zolla's reaction to the 300.
Until this season, Zolla and Ralph's mom regularly watched Harless bowl at Wedgewood on Sunday nights.
Harless had no shaky frames at the 40-lane Camelot on Dec. 5.
"Near the end, I was trying to calm myself down. I was thinking of Dad because of what he was going through. I wanted to get 300 just to cheer him up a little bit."
Harless, owner of Action Electric, serving residential and light commercial businesses, returned to sanctioned bowling only five years ago. He started bowling in his early 20s for about four years, then gave it up for about 12 years.
His best set was 798.
Joe Steiner's night
Joe Steiner had 300-827 in UAW 1112-Lucianno's Restaurant Men at Wedgewood on Dec. 7 and Jim Baker's 300 led to a 781 series in Spiech Classic at Bell-Wick on Dec. 12.
Matt Mariano wasn't far behind Baker with 299-766 in the league whose sponsor is moving its men's wear business in Hubbard across the street.
Mike Cook had 300 in Longhorn Steakhouse at Boardman.
Erin Fairchild's 279-(759)-993 led Wedgewood Ladies Trio on Dec. 13.
Jennifer Gossett's 278-747 and Paula Pecorelli's 705 paced the women in Lucianno's Restaurant Mixed at Wedgewood on Dec. 3.
Julie Tufaro's 714 paced Hively's Ladies' 14th week of action at Amron and Donna Hess' 278-700 was tops among women in G.E. Mixed at Wedgewood on Dec. 5.
Golden Needle was second-quarter champ of F.D. Mason Classic at A-Plus Family with Lamont Stevens, Rob Milton, Jack Carter, Jackie Martin and Willie McGaha.
Amron champs
Also at Amron, Amen Corner members Bill Streb, Carl Pasternick, John Sbani and Paul Scheetz combined to win Wednesday Seniors' first quarter. Also, Fast Four of Joe Baker, Jo-Ann Dominic, Betty Kana and Steve Kana won Ron Haus Mix Matchers' first and second quarters.
Phyllis Harker and Bill Diver composed the first-quarter winning duo in Window World/Casper Welding at Amron.
Tuffy's won Diver Steel Seniors' first quarter at Amron with Evelyn Ensley, Joyce Markota-Vitkas, Hope Bartelmay and Jena Dechert. Donatelli Apts. won Tuesday Senior Men's first quarter with John Woldbold, Joe Dangerfield, Bob Brandon and Bill Dechert.
Roman Auctions of Bryan Kloss, Ron Roman, Tim Roman, Pat Vince and Dan Richards won Hively's Sportsman's first quarter at Amron.
In a one-game rolloff at West Side, Korner Restaurant won Downtowners' second quarter with Jason Carnahan rolling a 279 to pull it out.
Storey Chiropractic was second-quarter champion in D & amp; R Garage Door at Wedgewood, while Grandmas of Helen Cook, Joanne McGarrity and Evelyn Walsh won Good Times' first half at Bell-Wick.
Bob's Voluptuous Babes won Wednesday Night Bowlerettes' first half at West Side with a 41 1/2-18 1/2 record.
At Bowladrome, Saturday Mixed's second-quarter champs were High Rollers of Anna Auman, Jim DeMain, Peg DeMain and Brian Auman.
Merry Christmas to the queen of scoresheet stickers: Shirley Miller of Golden Gals Trio at Wedgewood.
bassetti@vindy.com