Setiz rolls first 300, No. 17 for Sowards

Monica Seitz has finally realized her dream of firing a 300 game.She achieved the feat of tossing 12 strikes in a row in a single game just a few minutes before Brian Soward racked up his 17th perfect game Feb. 15 while they competed in the Extol tournament at Star Lanes.The event was scheduled for 10 games — five each at Star Lanes in Sandusky and the final five the following day at the Port Clinton establishment, also owned by Jeff and John Lizzi. Inclement weather caused officials to keep the tournament in Sandusky for the last five-game block."Its been a long time coming for me," Seitz said. "I was close so many times, but just couldn't finish it off, but this time I wasn't going to be denied. My previous high game was 289."Seitz's 300 came in the second game, while Sowards drilled his perfect game moments later, his third game of the morning."After I got that ninth frame over I was confident I could make it this time," she said. "I was really focused and after the 11th strike. I said to myself 'I can do this, don't blow it,' but I have to admit, it seemed an eternity before the 12th ball got there."Overall, Seitz finished 11th in the handicap event, dominated by the younger bowlers."I had a small 200 in the first game, then had scores between 189 and 212 the last three. I had fun and I'm happy its all over," Seitz said.The 1996 St. Mary's Central Catholic graduate carries a 198 average."I was averaging 202 for awhile, but fell back recently," added Seitz, who lives in Norwalk and started bowling in the junior program at Star Lanes.Seitz's all-time high for a three-game series stands at 740.Sowards, 46, has tossed 300s seven days apart. The first of the season came Feb. 8 in the Sandusky USBC men's city tournament at Cedar Lanes, then again Feb. 15 at Star.He was the first local bowler to throw four 300 games in one calendar year."I had a good tournament and averaged 228 for the 10 games, but still finished way down the list, around 17th, because it was a handicap event," he said."I just couldn't keep up with the kids who had low averages," Sowards added. "But I kept on going over every game. It was still fun."He said bowling a perfect game never gets old."It's always great to get another one, and this one I liked because I was bowling with Tony Rodisel and Cathy Lizzi on the same pair," the 2014 Sandusky USBC Hall of Famer added. "And my other teammates, Randal Adkins and Dave Palin also were there when I got the 300."