Dream big: "I wanted 50 by 50." By Joan Taylor
10/17/08
Whenever I interview someone who has had an honor score or achieved some other form of bowling greatness, I always ask him or her for bowling goals. Usually the answer is "to keep bowling" or "an 800 series" or maybe "to get into a Hall of Fame."
But someone once said to dream big, and that's exactly what Steve Pancoast, Hackettstown, did. "I wanted 50 by 50." Was he talking about adding on to his house? No. He wanted to post 50 games of 300 by the age of 50.
It has happened, and Steve is not quite 49 yet. He achieved this on October 6 in the Hensle Trio Classic League at Circle Lanes. Additionally, the question would be, "What hand did you use?"
This time it was left-handed. And he rolled it on the same pair of lanes where he had his first 300, on March 10, 1983, and that one was right-handed. Several years ago Steve felt he had achieved all he wanted to as a rightie, but didn't want to stop bowling. So he switched to lefthanded for fun and has posted 21 perfect games on that side. So what was left but to try for "50 by 50."
He rolled 237-247 and 190 (this is a four-game series league) and said that the third game was a transition game as there were four other lefties bowling on the same pair of lanes. He made the correct adjustment at the end of the third game and posted 12 strikes.
He was, after all these years, somewhat nervous on the final ball because of the self-imposed milestone. He currently averages in his three leagues are: 228 (Monday), 230 (Wednesday) and 224 (Thursday).
He bowls in his Thursday Kings and Queens league with his wife of 24 years, Melanie, son Andrew and Steve's mother Verna who at 78 has had two knee replacements. His daughter, Sarah, used to bowl but is busy as Petty Officer Third class in the US Navy in Virginia.
Pancoast used a Hammer black widow pearl, which has a story behind it. He won it for $5 in a drawing held at the Lehigh Valley Masters tournament last year. The ball was fitted by Bowlers' World's Mike Byrne.
For the record Steve has also amassed 17-800 series, 8-299 games, 8-298 games and 21 eleven (strikes) in a row. It's no small wonder that he's in the NJ State and Morris County BA halls of fame.
Last year he rolled two perfect games during the Lehigh Valley Masters tournament and finished fourth. But that's where he won the ball drawing, so fourth wasn't so bad.
Steve wanted it mentioned that this tournament is open to anyone and is a scratch tournament held at Rose Bowl in Allentown, PA, coming up November 1-2 and 8-9. For further information, contact the center at 610-437-4606.
By the way, Steve's goal is "to stay healthy and keep bowling." Go figure.
Column
Whenever I interview someone who has had an honor score or achieved some other form of bowling greatness, I always ask him or her for bowling goals. Usually the answer is "to keep bowling" or "an 800 series" or maybe "to get into a Hall of Fame."
But someone once said to dream big, and that's exactly what Steve Pancoast, Hackettstown, did. "I wanted 50 by 50." Was he talking about adding on to his house? No. He wanted to post 50 games of 300 by the age of 50.
It has happened, and Steve is not quite 49 yet. He achieved this on October 6 in the Hensle Trio Classic League at Circle Lanes. Additionally, the question would be, "What hand did you use?"
This time it was left-handed. And he rolled it on the same pair of lanes where he had his first 300, on March 10, 1983, and that one was right-handed. Several years ago Steve felt he had achieved all he wanted to as a rightie, but didn't want to stop bowling. So he switched to lefthanded for fun and has posted 21 perfect games on that side. So what was left but to try for "50 by 50."
He rolled 237-247 and 190 (this is a four-game series league) and said that the third game was a transition game as there were four other lefties bowling on the same pair of lanes. He made the correct adjustment at the end of the third game and posted 12 strikes.
He was, after all these years, somewhat nervous on the final ball because of the self-imposed milestone. He currently averages in his three leagues are: 228 (Monday), 230 (Wednesday) and 224 (Thursday).
He bowls in his Thursday Kings and Queens league with his wife of 24 years, Melanie, son Andrew and Steve's mother Verna who at 78 has had two knee replacements. His daughter, Sarah, used to bowl but is busy as Petty Officer Third class in the US Navy in Virginia.
Pancoast used a Hammer black widow pearl, which has a story behind it. He won it for $5 in a drawing held at the Lehigh Valley Masters tournament last year. The ball was fitted by Bowlers' World's Mike Byrne.
For the record Steve has also amassed 17-800 series, 8-299 games, 8-298 games and 21 eleven (strikes) in a row. It's no small wonder that he's in the NJ State and Morris County BA halls of fame.
Last year he rolled two perfect games during the Lehigh Valley Masters tournament and finished fourth. But that's where he won the ball drawing, so fourth wasn't so bad.
Steve wanted it mentioned that this tournament is open to anyone and is a scratch tournament held at Rose Bowl in Allentown, PA, coming up November 1-2 and 8-9. For further information, contact the center at 610-437-4606.
By the way, Steve's goal is "to stay healthy and keep bowling." Go figure.