Fusco makes a state-ment

There were no TV lights with cameras rolling, but, nonetheless, Bob Fusco's first 300 game got notable exposure.
Not only were all eyes on the Austintown resident when he stood on the approach for throw No. 12 at Shamrock Recreation in Springfield on April 2, but Fusco had the weight of the state on his shoulders.
Thirty years of toil on the alleys paid off on a personal level when the 44-year-old successfully struck out during the second game of a 633 series during doubles competition at the U.S. Bowling Association's Ohio State Bowling Tournament.
"I always hoped to bowl a 300, but I never thought it would come at the state tournament," Fusco said.
"It's really special that it came on the state level and that my wife [Judy] was there to witness it."
It was the first time he'd ever taken a perfect game into the 10th frame.
"I was in a groove and just kept hitting my mark," he said. "My first two pitches in the 10th frame were flush in the pocket."
Prior to the 12th ball, Fusco's knees were shaking.
Concentration
"I kept thinking, 'Just don't drop the ball and don't fall. Just get the ball out on the alley and give it a chance,'" he said.
As Fusco was getting ready to throw, he heard someone on the lanes to his left say, "Get off the approach, this guy is going for a 300."
"That made me more nervous," Fusco said.
"I stepped off the approach to gather myself."
After he released the ball, he felt it had a chance.
"I threw it out a little, but the ball hooked into the pocket," he said. "I just couldn't believe it."
After everything calmed down, Fusco called his mother to tell her of the accomplishment.
"My parents have always supported me and I just wanted to share it with them," he said.
During team competition at Victory Lanes on April 1, Fusco bowled 714.
As a member of the Allied Printcraft League at Holiday, he averages 195.
He started bowling at age eight in bantams at Wedgewood.
Harper has 829
Steve Harper Jr. had his third-best set of 829 last month in Monday Night Men's Classic at Wedgewood.
That's still behind his best set of 863 in 1992 and his second-highest of 845 bowled last year in Monday Night Men's Classic.
More recently, on April 5, Harper had 821 in the UAW 1112-Lucianno's Restaurant Men's League. His games were 277, 274 and 270.
Don Bagdassarian Jr.'s 237-300-290 -- 827 in Max Belchyk/Dr. Ferkula Classic at Holiday was rolled on March 16 and Jeff Patterson's 804 topped Lucianno's Restaurant Mixed at Wedgewood on March 25.
Jim Dodge's 803 blew away the rest of the Variety Mixed competition at Holiday on March 18 when Bob Eisenbraun Jr.'s 299-727 was next-highest that night.
Teri Haefke's 792 for three games and 1,019 for four were highest among Wedgewood Ladies Trio bowlers on March 28. Jennifer Gossett had the second-best series of 744 and 959.
The high game of 279 was shared by Haefke, Gossett and Samantha Gigax.
Haefke, Gossett and Marla Chicase are Ladies Trio bowlers who had 800s in the past.
Pat Rohrbaugh's 270-762 in Lucky Strikes and Theresa Florjancic's 254-717 paced Hively's Ladies at Amron on March 21.
Pam Ripple's 733 in Hi-Lo Ladies at Wedgewood on March 20 was her first 700. Ripple's high game was 268.
Pattie Hahn's personal-best 713 in Pinettes at Holiday on March 2 surpassed the next-highest bowler's 542.
The first 700 for Hahn was also a season-high for Pinettes.
Hahn's games were 230, 247 and 236.
The York Pro Shop team of Chris Berry, Lynn Hack, Tracy Governor and Patty Kohn rolled up a 47-13 record to win Wednesday Night Bowlerettes' second half at West Side.
Jack's Auto Sales won Kernan Insurance Classic's fourth quarter at West Side and Jack's Auto Body I won Downtowners' fourth quarter at West Side.
Fran Cerny's final scoresheet of the season had a note that she's completing her 29th year as secretary of the St. Brendan's Women's League at West Side.
HOF nominees
Fourteen local bowlers were nominated for consideration for induction into the 2006 Youngstown Bowling Association Hall of Fame.
The HOF committee will meet on April 22 to select up to four nominees for this year's induction.
The nominees are: Ray "Cookie" Vens, William D. DeCicco, Fred "Fritz" Freisen, Bob Eisenbraun, John O. Gibson, David J. Miller, Robert J. Malenic, Sonny Petrarca, David A. Shevetz, Jack E. Sommerlad and deceased nominees Matt Korenich, Chester B. Thomas, Jake Millerleile and Stephen J. Scerba.
All new inductees will be honored at the 74th annual Hall of Fame and awards dinner on June 11 at the ITAM Centre.