Better focus helps Heath find bowling perfection

By John Bassetti

The instructions to Stop, Drop and Roll for safety’s sake if our clothing catches fire should be memorized.

Mark Heath followed similar commands prior to his first 300 in B & B Mixed at Holiday, Nov. 1.

The advice: Stop, focus, then bowl.

Heath, 42, admitted that he’s easily distracted during the Sunday night league.

“I was clowning around the first two games, having fun. Then a woman I bowl with — Lonzetta Poindexter — said that I needed to settle down and start bowling.”

Being sympathetic and respectful of elders, Heath decided to take his last game seriously.

“Being that her health is not the greatest, I was going to listen,” Heath said. “They continue to show up and bowl because they have that no-quit mentality,” he said, referring to the ordeals of other B & B bowlers.

“I put faith in what she said and I did it,” Heath said of his change of heart before rolling his first perfect game on lanes 7 & 8.

The 300 for Heath, a single father, was the latest triumph in a year that began with the loss of his job.

“My life has come around since then,” Heath said of gaining custody of his middle daughter in August.

“Despite the downturn in the economy, it’s been a great year,” he said. “Things are starting to turn up.”

His other daughter, who lives in Denver, bought the ball Mark used to roll the perfect game.

“It’s got Dallas Cowboys-looking colors,” Heath said.

Watching football while bowling was one of Heath’s problems.

After the 300, Heath, a 1985 East High graduate, called his son, Mark Jr., who felt he was entitled to a reward.

“He said, ‘Well dad, you owe me five bucks because you finally listened to me and didn’t watch the NFL games while trying to bowl.’ ”

Heath linked the daily hardships to his approach in achieving the pinnacle of bowling.

“When the odds seem against you, it’s up to you to make things happen, just like being up on the lanes by yourself. Bowling gives you that opportunity to do something you can take pride in.”

A witness to Heath’s accomplishment was David “Doc” Davis, a longtime friend, who had a hole-in-one the same week.

Mark Guthridge’s 823 in Belchyk/Action Plumbing Classic at Holiday was the most recent top series.

Dan Hageman’s 805 series in Thursday Night Sportsman at Wedgewood followed, as did Chris Colaizzi’s 800, which led Charlie’s Service at Holiday.

At Amron, Teri Haefke’s 726 was best among Thursday Matchplay Ladies on Nov. 5 and Haefke also led the C-G Pro Shop/Wedgewood Ladies Trio with 276-770 on Nov. 10. Susan Mineo’s 718 and Rachel Miller’s 712 were other C-G/Pro Shop 700s.

Richie Wilson’s 258-732 led Boardman Juniors.

At Boardman, Window World defeated Wedgewood Pizza South for the Window World Wed. Nite Men’s first 3rd. Window World team members are Doug Duncan, Andy Zigotti, Carl Cramer Sr., Ray Bakes and Rob Sanfrey.

At Camelot, Liberty Steel won the first 3rd in Zarbana Industries.

During the M & G Services Friday singles tournament at McKinley Lanes, Jim Bryant had the most recent high score of 886 scratch. Jeff Prox was second with 806.

Condolences to the families of Frances Carsone of Hubbard and Emil Palguta of Boardman. Mrs. Carsone was just a nice, gentle neighbor and avid YSU tailgater and Emil served his country with the Army Air Corps during WW-II and served his church and youth as a longtime scoutmaster.