I love finding hidden treasures. It's akin to going to a random yard sale and finding a stack of pristine 1960s era Marvel comics.
I had a similar feeling of discovery when I found out about Paxtonville's Sandy Herrold.
A month or so ago I began noticing some pretty high scores sent from Best Bowl put up by Herrold. I didn't think much of it at the time since my column had not yet started I was still busy with the goings-on of the scholastic fall sports seasons.
It wasn't until this past week that I was made aware of a recent perfect game that Herrold had, in addition to a 700 series she rolled.
Turns out it wasn't Herrold's first 300 game that she's thrown, nor was that 700 series her first or even 80th that she's rolled in her career.
The perfect game Herrold had on Nov. 1 while competing in the Sunday Mixed League for Larry's Losers was her seventh, and it came after a terrible game she threw to open her series.
"The first game was pretty bad. I couldn't get the ball to hook right. Everything kept going to the right side of the lane," said Herrold, who preferred not to disclose the score of her first game except to stay that it was "way under" 200.
"I just moved over a little bit to the left and it came back nice every time. Luckily the pins kept on falling down."
Thanks to the 300, Herrold finished with a respectable 692 series that night.
"The 300 wasn't a big thrill after that first game, but it was because it was a perfect game," Herrold said. "Then I came back with a so-so game, but it wasn't as bad as the first."
The next night, while competing for Who Cares in the Monday Ladies League, Herrold had a 727 series, the 88th time she has eclipsed the 700-pin plateau.
Two weeks prior to her most recent 700 series, Herrold rolled 700s on consecutive nights with a 727 on Oct. 25 and a 715 on Oct. 26.
The high game Herrold had to produce last Monday's 700 series was a 268, and if it wasn't for a bad break or two she could've possibly had her eighth 300.
"The shot was almost the same. I tried the outside shot again, but I had a couple of bad breaks including a split," she said.
After her efforts these last few weeks Herrold now has five 700 series this season, including rolling four in a row at one point.
"The lanes have been oiled a little better lately. At the beginning of the year they were different and the balls were hooking too much for me," said Herrold. "I've also used a little bit of a carry, that always helps."
WEEKLY BESTS
Men: Mark Derr had an 800 series and a high game of 289 in Strike Zone's Tuesday Men's League. Josh Lauver also had a 289 game in the Thursday Men's League at the same alley.
I also want to make note of the 300 game that Skip Bryner Jr. had on Oct. 6. I forget how many perfect games that is now for Skip, but it wasn't his first and I'm sure it won't be his last.
Women: Aside from Herrold, Heidi Beaver is still rolling after she had a 690 series in the Early Thursday Ladies League. Beaver had a high game of 256.
Until next week, stay out of the gutters.
n Brian Holtzapple is a correspondent who covers bowling for The Daily Item. E-mail comments, news and results to keglerskorner@dailyitem.com.
