The Eagle That Almost Flew Too S

I remember using the purple ogre last year in team event, basically playing to the range finder(s) as a down lane target. So I tried it again this year and it seemed to be a good plan of attack. I knew I had to get it to the target or it was going high After chopping a spare in the first frame to eliminate any hope of getting the "30 clean", I refocused on just scoring and shot 196-202, and in the third game sank into a good rhythm, and went into the 10th frame with a shot at 279. I didn't throw a very good shot, left one standing and finished with 258 for a 656 series.

When I watched previous squads bowl it appeared that they had a bit more recovery to the right, and since my Ogre SS is my favorite ball out of the bag it came. It gives me more length to get through the heads and a strong backend move to get the ball back to the pocket. Once our practice frames were done, I did not touch another ball the rest of the day. One of my league teammates during league one day told me it's the best ball I have and I can't agree more. I wish I could offer more in terms of adjustments and drama, but I really didn't have to move much and never changed balls. We were bowling on Lanes 3-4 for doubles, then moving to 1-2 for singles.

I found that I could use my "A game" alignments. I typically play around 4th arrow and the conditions allowed me to do it once again. They had opened up a bit since most of the guys before us played straighter up the lane and dried up the outside for me. Where I had the range finder to target during team, I was looking more at about 8 board as a breakpoint now. 226-237-214 for a 677 series. Just solid shooting and making spares and strikes.

For Singles.. same ball, basically the same line, I think I played both lanes the same. I had shot well in both sets and just wanted to continue with it for 3 more games., thinking more about Brackets than the Singles title.

Game 2, I was excited about shooting such a great score and feeling like I had a pretty good look at the pocket. I got up in the 10th frame with the front 9, and I just wanted to finish it out strong. The first shot came in a tad high but carried for the strike (no solid 4 this time). I lost some "umph" in my second shot due to nerves and the ball hooked up, leaving the 4-7-10 split. I got my 2 pins and finished with a 286.

By this time I am thinking about so many possibilities and outcomes. I thought the singles lead was like 816 or so, and I knew what I was sitting at. One of our bowlers, Chuck, was telling me to go get it and keep striking. I was thinking about brackets..and super brackets.

I shook off the disappointment of not finishing out that second game quite as I would have liked, and put the nose to the grindstone again for 10 more frames. Strike in the first frame, "Ok Bryan, let's do this.."

Once again, first three strikes, solid 4 pin. "you're still there. keep striking. that was a good shot". I had 6 frames left and room for one more spare in there. This was getting tense and exciting. More and more people were watching from behind our lanes, as to be expected. I just kept making shots. Each strike was one frame closer to victory. Five strikes later, we're in the 10th frame with a possible 279, but I wasn't thinking about THAT total, I just knew I needed a mark to take over the top spot. "just strike and make it easier.. one time, right here, one ball". I'm sure a 100 different emotions ran through my mind when the ball left my hand. The ball hit the pocket, the pins hit the deck, VICTORY! A 9 count on the next shot, cleaned up the spare, and took it all in. "I just took over Singles and shot 832... WOW"

Until Matt Cannizzaro, USBC Media Relations Manager, came to talk to me I was not aware that I had taken over the Regular All-Events lead as well. That was just another bonus in the whole situation.

.......and to think I almost wasn't there. I had arrived in Albuquerque to bowl and, to my dismay, was a week early due to a miscommunication. I immediately called my boss to see if I could get our vacation days rearranged and after what I imagine was some good "last minute magic", I was able to come back a week later and bowl with my group finally.