In a league of his own

After getting his first strike during the 10th frame, Taylor Mellott said he knew the 11th strike was always the hardest one to pick up. After he picked up the 11th, Mellott sat down and said to his teammates “well I got the hard one, now I just have to go and get the easier one.”

Mellott was able to get that 12th strike, giving him his first ever 300 game as a bowler, last Tuesday at Lucky Lanes in Denison.

“It’s called Lucky Lanes for a reason, I guess,” Mellott said.

Mellott picked up the 300 during the second game of Red Oak’s series games against Denison-Schleswig. The senior is the first to complete a 300 game in Red Oak High School bowling history competition. Mellott’s 300 was also the first for the Lucky Lanes bowling alley.

In his first game of the series, Mellott finished with a 226. Mellott said he had found the right line, but was having issues with carrying the corners.

“It felt pretty good,” Mellott said. “It's a relief to get it done and out of the way.”

Red Oak Bowling Coach Darrell Berry said it was great, but the only downside was that Mellott wasn’t able to do it at Red Oak Lanes, with the Red Oak crowd in attendance.

“Regardless of where it happened, he's a very deserving young man,” Berry said.

Berry said it was neat to be able to see Mellott bowl the 300.

“Last year, he got to where he was in the ninth frame a couple of times and he got to where he was in the 10th, one or two times,” Berry said. “He said before the season this was going to be the year he did it.”

Thanks to Mellott’s 300 game, the Red Oak boys’ varsity team was able to hold on to their lead, heading into the baker games.

“Without that game, I think it would have been a completely different momentum change,” Mellott said.  “I don’t really think we would have done near as good.”

Mellott said it didn’t really feel any different after throwing a 300 game.

“It's kind of like climbing a mountain,” he said. “You just climb back down and do it again.”

While bowling the 300 game, Mellott said he didn’t look at the score, even though he knew about it in the back of his head. Mellott tried to keep his nerves calm.

“I look at the scoreboard every once in a while, but you're better off just to keep your mind off of it,” he said.  “Once you start thinking about it, something happens.”

Berry said he started noticing Mellott bowling a perfect game during the fourth frame and noticed it was still going during the seventh. At that time, Berry said he started to let the other athletes know about it.

“That way, I don't want it to be a complete surprise to them. I want them to know that ‘you know what; here he is going for the 300 game’,” Berry said.

Berry added that the team tries not to put too much focus on the game, so as not to put pressure on the bowler.

Mellott said the 300-game was a milestone for his Dad, who has been a coach for him.

“He’s pretty much coached me when I was younger,” he said. “Without him, I don’t think I’d be where I am today. It finally all paid off, all of his work.”

Mellott said one of the maintenance workers for Lucky Lanes, as well as his grandfather, both told him they had a feeling something would happen.

“I got up there and of course, something good happened,” Mellott said.

For his efforts, Mellott received a free bowling pin from Lucky Lanes. He’ll also receive a plaque from the United States Bowling Conference (USBC). Mellott can also buy a ring, commemorating his 300 game from the USBC. He was still looking into getting one.

Mellott said he would like to have at least one more 300 game by the end of the year. Mellott does plan on bowling collegiately and continuing his career.

Berry said the bowling alley was taping the competition and will send Mellott a copy of his 300 game.

For the rest of this season, the goal in mind is to bring home a state team title for the Red Oak boys team. Mellott will also be looking to win his third straight individual state title.

“Work on accuracy, consistency, because that’s what gets you to the top,” Mellott said.

Bowling Scores

The Red Oak varsity bowling teams won both of their meets last week. Last Thursday, they swept Tri-Center.

The girls won 2,193-1,699, while the boys won 2,534-2,140. Fresh off the 300 game, Mellott finished with a 383 series and 202 high game. David Terry was the only Red Oak bowler to record a 400 series, finishing with a 405.

Corey Marsden had a 344, while Hayden Berry recorded a 337 series. Brian Wade and Casey Dykes rounded out the group with a 321 and 297, respectively.

On the girls’ side, Shelby Storesund was the only Red Oak bowler to record a 300 series, scoring a 307. Maranda Myers and Kristi Yardas both had a 295, while Brittany Plambeck scored a 294. Jayden Hilding recorded a 289 series and Kaitlin Walston scored a 259.

Both Red Oak teams did win against Denison-Schleswig, last Tuesday. The boys’ won 3,052-2,994, while the girls won 2,530-2,507.

To go along with Mellott’s 526, Wade and Terry both had a 400 series. Wade had a 433, while Terry scored a 405. Berry recorded a 392, while Dykes and Marsden scored a 361 and 332.

On the varsity girls side, Yardas led the way with a 354 series. Walston and Storesund had a 350 and 349, respectively.

Myers bowled a 338, Hilding finished with a 320 and Plambeck scored a 260.

The Tigers will be on the road Tuesday to face St. Albert.