Local bowler scores perfect games
EL CENTRO — A goal for many bowlers is to put together the perfect game. Twelve strikes for a 300.
One would expect some excitement when that goal is achieved for the first time.
For Michael Curtis, he hit the milestone six years ago at the age of 17 and up until the beginning of the year; he added nine more perfect games.
On Jan. 16, Curtis started out in the Mixed League at StrikeZone, where he added his 10th perfect game and followed it with a bunch of strikes and a bad-break pocket 7-10 split to post a 234.
The night turned extra special as he rolled a second 300 game in the series. So, just how emotional was he?
“I didn’t know how to react,” the El Centro resident confessed. “The first 300 was cool. The second one never crossed my mind. I was focusing on an 800 series. When I got nine (strikes) in a row again, I told my dad. He was excited and said to just keep throwing. One frame at a time.”
His dad Fred is his mentor and co-owner of Leo’s Pro Shop at StrikeZone along with his mother.
When together at the center, father and son talk between every shot.
“First, we talk about it,” Fred explained regarding the conversations they have since Michael was 8 years old. “This is what’s working on the lane. When you see the motion of the ball, you make adjustments.”
“The lanes weren’t easy that day,” said Michael. “I was doing some different things, a little loft. I usually change balls in the third game. This time, I used the same ball in all three games.”
For the record, the ball used on this night was a Motiv Forza, bought and drilled at Leo’s Pro Shop. “It’s my comfort ball,” Michael said with a smile. Michael started bowling at age 7 and said it was because of family.
“I used to bowl before,” Fred reminisced. “It was Father’s Day and I asked my family if they’d like to bowl. The next week, I started in a league. It’s a sport we could all play.”