by Leo Surdam
Who says that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day? For members of the “All Out Waste” team, bowling in the Friday National League at the Barbecue Recreation in Hoosick Falls, Friday March 13 was anything but that! The five man team, whose bowlers consisted of Jeff Nichols, Kevin Button, Dan Merrills Jr, Jake Colliano and Matt Brownell, fired an astounding 3653 total scratch, shattering the previous record of 3636, previously held by Monday United’s Barbecue Recreation.
Jake Colliano took top honors for the evening when he bolted out of the gate firing a perfect 300 in the first game. Only to be followed by a nice 279 the second game! In the third game, it was Dan Merrills Jr. giving Jake a run for his money as both bowlers were perfect through nine frames. Dan got up in the tenth and proceeded to throw his second 300 game this season, the first coming on January 23rd! Seeking to match his teammate, Jake threw the first two strikes, and with everyone in the house watching in anticipation, he buried the final shot in the pocket, only to come up a ten pin short of his second perfecto of the night.
Colliano finished the evening with a record setting 878 series, surpassing the previous Barbecue record that was held by Jack Fitzsimmons at 867.
Merrills contributed a nice 764 to the team’s drive to the new high mark. Brownell pitched in with 719, Button added a 649 and Nichols had a 643 series.