Striking success providing perfection

BANGOR – Family Fun Bowling Center manager Andy Meucci still finds it hard to believe.

“I’m pinching myself, to tell you the truth,” said Meucci, a Bangor native who has a perpetual smile on his face these days.

“I’ve had six 300 [games] thrown in the best season here, now we already have 17 300 games.”

Yes, that’s 17 300 games.

In contrast, the neighboring Sports Arena in Hermon has posted only two 300 games since September.

A perfect game requires 12 consecutive strikes.

Meucci, 52, says there are three reasons for the increased number of perfect games at his 10-pin bowling facility: the technology of the balls, the lane oiling machine he has, and the newly resurfaced wood on the lanes.

“The way a block is made inside a ball can make it react different from one that you’d grab off the rack. A ball can be drilled 16 different ways to react 16 different ways,” explained Meucci. “The technology of the balls has exploded in the past couple years.”

However, the reason why 300 games seemed to be unique to Family Fun Bowling Center could be due to the lanes themselves.

“The best thing we ever could’ve done is have our lanes resurfaced,” said Meucci, who owns what are believed to be the only wooden lanes in Maine. “There were a lot of cracks in the boards and the oil was going down through them. We’d be losing the shot by the end of the night. If you keep the oil on top of the lane, your shot stays there.”

The oil machine that was purchased in September 2004 has made a big difference as well. The AMS HVOSummit puts down the same oil pattern every time, and Meucci likes it that way.

“If my bowlers are used to one shot, then they can adjust to that shot. I have guys asking: ‘Why don’t you put different shots out there and make it harder for the bowlers?’ Why do I want to make it harder for the bowlers? If you come in here to bowl, and you bowl great, you’re going to like this game more … and you’ll probably want to come back.”

Some league bowlers agree.

“Since [Meucci] bought the new machine, the shots have been a lot more consistent,” said Rod Haney, a lefthander who has posted two 300 games this season. “It’s fun.”

Each fall/winter season starts in September and ends April 30. In this season, the 17 300 games have been bowled by 11 different people. Ben Johnson leads the way with four 300 games, followed by Chris Austin, Art Meether, and Haney who each have two. Jason Lenfest, Paul Banville, Cecil Bischoff, Jim Melton, Dave Deabay, David Dill, and Meucci have one apiece.

Meucci recalls his 300 game, the first of his life.

“I still can’t believe it. I’ve been knocking on the door for a couple of years. I got up there and my 12th ball was terrible. I tugged it, but the bowling god was with me. It was great.”

Jerry Donna, 34, a former 300 bowler, likes the number of perfect games.

“It’s a lot of 300s for a house,” said the Prospect native. “It’s good, though. It’s what keeps the bowlers coming back. I pretty much know what equipment I’m going to throw. It’s fairly easy.”

Meether, 38, who is originally from Oregon but now resides in Hampden, likes the new interest. “[The number of 300 games] helps get interest. It’s fun to get new people in here.”

When asked if the easier shot might diminish the accomplishment of a 300 game, Meucci said, “Some will say that, but I wouldn’t. I think it makes it easier, but you still need the skill of the bowler and some luck. You can not go out there and shoot a 300 game if you know nothing about bowling. But if you’re a true bowler and you practice the game and you know what the equipment is all about, you’re off to the races.”

In order to secure the sport of bowling for the future, Meucci and others have encouraged youth and high school leagues. Donna, Meether, and Ed Cotter coach high school leagues.

“We want to be at the varsity level by next year,” said Meucci. “We have the [Maine Principals’ Association’s] blessing; we just need to get more teams.”

Forty-five bowlers on nine teams competed this season at the high school level in the Penobscot Valley Conference. Teams from Bangor, Brewer, Bangor Christian, Hermon, and Hampden and a Bangor Home School team compete.

“These guys are the ones that are going to take bowling over,” said Donna.

Meether is happy to see a comeback of youth in bowling.

“When the video games came out, kids didn’t care about coming out and bowling. Bowling has really suffered across the country for 10 years now. But, it’s starting to come back,” said Meether.