As secretary/treasurer for the high-scoring Grafton Classic since 1992, Walt Sukey has penciled in more than his share of 300 games on his weekly report sheet.
However, what is usually a thankless, tedious, boring job turned into a labor of love the past two weeks for the LaGrange resident. On Oct. 17 and again on Oct. 24, the 300s he reported were rolled by his son, Adam.
Under the “list important accomplishments” section of the first week’s report was scrolled proudly and simply: “300 Adam Sukey … That’s my boy!”
The younger Sukey’s first career perfect game was one of four 300s scored by area men the week of Oct. 15-21. Tim Carey, Rick Parschen and Dan Stout had the others. Stout’s resulted in an 804 series.
In women’s scoring, the area’s best were back throwing strikes following a low-scoring week. Defending multitime C-T Bowler of the Year Judy Kovacs led the way with a 698.
“They were falling my way,” the younger Sukey summed up his 300 pair, “and I had a lot of luck. You gotta have that.”
The 24-year-old Elyrian sandwiched his first 300 between games of 237 and 233 for a career-best 770 series. He surprised everyone, including himself, when he came back and repeated the feat a week later.
“Believe it or not, I was more nervous for the second one,” said Adam. “I really don’t know why, other than I knew I had a chance to repeat, and that doesn’t happen very often.
“My right hand was shaking really bad (during the second 300). I knew I was putting the ball on the money, and, if I could just keep  it there, the pins would fall. I was almost expecting to see the 10 pin standing. I leave a lot of those, and I’m not good at picking them up. But I was able to stay focused and get it done.”
The elder Sukey couldn’t mask his pride.
“It’s fantastic to watch your son accomplish something as big as this — in anything,” he said. “The second one was just as exciting as the first, but I think I was even more nervous than he was.
“(The second) was amazing. He had a 170 first game, and I figured he was going to have a slow night — coming down from the week before. Then … boom … 12 in a row.”
Though Walt was surprised at the 300s coming back-to-back, he never doubled that his son could accomplish the feat.
“No, I’m not surprised. He’s a good athlete,” he said of Adam, a 2002 Midview High graduate who played varsity soccer.
With his dad a member of the Grafton Classic since its beginning in the 1970s, Adam spent many Wednesday nights at the Grafton bowling lanes.
“I was going down there when I was 8 years old,” said Adam. “And I was watching the same guys then that I bowl with now.”
Perfect games are nothing new to the Sukey family. Walt has bowled two and Adam’s uncle, Mark Trenchard, has scored several.
“I’ve got good bowling blood in me,” joked Adam, whose son Ashton’s grandfather is Stretch Moran. “It’s nice to show them that I can be a contender.
“That’s the best part of all this … having my family in the house.”
Stout added games of 258 and 246 to his 300 to come up with the 804 with the Thursday Nite Men at Grafton.
Carey, 27, of Elyria, rolled his 300 with the Wednesday Nite Men at Black River Lanes. He ended with a 715.
The perfect game was not the first for Carey, the 2006 Ohio State Tournament scratch champion who can boast of a career–high 826 series.
Parschen’s 300 came with the Invacare Classic at Brunswick Zone. He added it to scores of 200 and 258 for a 758.
Steve Clutter came within a pin of perfection with a 299 with the Saturday Nite Mixed at BZ.
Kovacs strung together games of 233, 209 and 248 for her high series with the Classy Ladies at BZ. 

TOP MEN’S GAMES

Adam Sukey    300
Tim Carey    300
Rick Parschen    300
Dan Stout    300
Steve Clutter    299

TOP MEN’S SERIES

Dan Stout    804
Dave Wallace    777
Adam Sukey    770
Dave Eischen    759
Rick Parschen    758

TOP WOMEN’S GAMES

Jennifer Ellingsworth    258
Judy Kovacs    248
Tami McDaniel    244
Wendy Huddleston    238
Olivia Pitts    237

TOP WOMEN’S SERIES

Judy Kovacs    698
Jennifer Ellingsworth    678
Wendy Huddleston    673
Olivia Pitts    670
Kelley Feierabend    648

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