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Lowry rolls personal-best 815 series at Holiday
BY JOHN BASSETTI
Dennis Lowry is just your average bowler — your 225-average bowler.
No wonder then, that the 43-year-old had a St. Dominic Men’s League-best 815 series at Holiday Bowl.
“Everything just seemed to carry,” said Lowry, who switched from a 16-pound ball to a 15-pounder not long after getting on the lanes at the house where the scores are usually higher than most in the area.
“I started with a 16-pounder that night, then immediately switched to 15 because of the carry and reaction; that’s when it was snapping at the back end.”
The personal-high 815 was Lowry’s third 800 in the league at Holiday, where, he says, the synthetic lanes help the output.
“A synthetic ball reacts much better to synthetic [lanes],” said Lowry, who also bowls in the Aaron Rental League at Camelot, where his average is 205 — about a 20-pin difference.
“I try to use the same three balls both places,” said Lowry, whose Red Tracks did the trick on Dec. 2.
Lowry’s previous 800s in the St. Dom’s League were 810 on Feb. 7 of 2010 and 802 on Oct. 19 of 2008.
“Those are the only 800s on record since I’ve been secretary,” Tony Ferraro said of his 15 years with the league, which had its 70th anniversary banquet on May 13, 2011.
Lowry’s 225 was followed by Tony Mortellaro’s 211 in the league, which comprises 17 men.
Lowry, general manager of Aarons Rentals in Boardman, had St. Dom’s high average of 219 last year.
He had a 299 on Dec. 2, but Lowry has had St. Dom’s 300s in 2009, 2008 and 2000.
Although the range of averages spans from Lowry’s 225 at the top to an 88 at the bottom, the bowlers aren’t envious.
“It’s a very tight-knit group, Ferraro said of the league, which usually occupies lanes 19-22 at Holiday on bowling night.
“He’s a great guy,” Ferraro said of Lowry, whose sponsor-less team includes Greg Kerr, Jerry Ferencak and Wally Kosela.
Speaking in his golden voice, Lowry has this to add about down-playing his accomplishment: “Duane Beatty had two 300s just five days apart,” he said of a fellow bowler who had perfect games in the Aaron’s league on a Wednesday night, then another in the St. Dom’s League on Dec. 16.
“That’s more impressive than my 815.”