Persistence leads DeMain to first two 300 games

John Bassetti \ Bowling

Jim DeMain says he’s gotten better with age.

His scores lately corroborate that.

“It’s no secret,” the 58-year-old Boardman man said. “Keep at it and good things come.”

DeMain’s only two 300s came within about two months of each other starting with his first perfect game on Jan. 3 in Holiday Variety Mixed, then a second on March 11 in Wednesday Men, also at Holiday Bowl.

But the years haven’t changed DeMain, who hasn’t buckled to the more-balls-the-better theory.

“I only carry two: one for lanes when they’re a little oily and the other when lanes dry up,” DeMain said of the conditions.

He said oily lanes will give his ball more hook, while dry lanes allow it to go a little longer and won’t hook as much.

“I guess I’m old-school,” said DeMain, who prefers to increase or decrease his ball speed by changing his approach or by trying a different shot, rather than change balls.

“I’ll adjust my ball speed, approach or I’ll try a different shot,” said the bowler, who is also a member of the Tri-County Classic men’s league at Holiday. The Variety is with his wife, Peg.

His 300 in March was the first game of a set that dipped to 201 before a 278 game closed it out.

“Out of the box I throw a 300, then went brain-dead and lost concentration,” DeMain said of the second game, which shackled a series that could have exceeded 779.

In January, his first career perfect game was the third game when the lane conditions were dry.

“I had to move my mark a little and increase ball speed,” DeMain said. “In March, the lanes had fresh oil, so I used the same line the whole game.”

Jim, who works in sales at Schwebel’s where he’s been 23 years, returned to Holiday a couple years ago.

“It was a long time since I bowled at Holiday,” DeMain said. “The last time was in the mid-’80s. Then I got out of bowling until the late ‘80s or early ‘90s and bowled one or two nights a week at Bowladrome for 15 years. Bowladrome’s a tough house. Then I decided to move to Holiday two years ago and things started to click.”

DeMain’s bowling days go back to the 60s when he was in the McGuffey Juniors as a 13- and 14-year-old.

Over the 40 years, he bowled at several area alleys including Arena which was within striking distance of his current employer at Midlothian Boulevard and Simon Road.

Tom Dobos rolled 300-720 to lead The Zones to a 2-1 win over Zid Realty in Armando Saab Classic action at West Side.

Brian Neal added 245-691, Rich Thompson 280-659, Andy Shuger 227-637, Rob Malkovits 244-685 and Jim Dodge 234-671 for Zid Realty.

Rick Comek tossed 230-637 to lead Buckley Post over Jack’s Auto Sales, 2-1. Aiding Buckley was Ray Kuharich with 214-572.

The Zones will meet Buckley Post for the league crown.

Dan Devereaux had his first 300 on St. Patrick’s Day while bowling in Austintown Suburban at Wedgewood.

From the e-mail bag comes this note: Nick Amendola of Struthers, a YMBA Hall of Famer, passed away on March 4. Nick was a great contributor to the local bowling scene for more than 50 years.

The banquet of the Bell-Wick Thursday Night Gadaboutst will be May 7.

XJohn Bassetti writes about bowling for The Vindicator. Write him at bassetti@vindy.com.