Salyer becomes just 2nd BHS bowler to fire a 300
Beau Salyer had been in the neighborhood of bowling a 300 game many times in the past, yet perfection had always eluded him. He was determined this time not to let the opportunity slip away.
A junior for Bellefontaine’s boys bowling team, Salyer threw the first nine strikes to put himself within striking distance of a 300 game entering the 10th and final frame last Friday during the Central Buckeye Conference tournament at Madison Lanes in London.
It wasn’t unfamiliar territory for Salyer.
“I’ve been really close before,” he said. “My previous best was a 279 and I did that six times. That is all but one strike and a nine spare.”
Shaking off the memories of his near misses, Salyer calmly threw his 10th strike with his first ball in the 10th frame. Two away.
He kept his 300 hopes alive with an 11th strike with his second ball. One away.
Despite dealing with some intense nerves, he was able to repeat the exact same form from his first 11 strikes. His final shot of the game was perfect, hitting the pocket pristinely to dispatch each of the 10 pins. His first career 300 was in the books. Finally.
“It was such a relief,” said Salyer. “I had been so close before. To be able to finish it off this time was an awesome feeling.”
Salyer joins very limited company with his 300 for the Chiefs. He is now only the second bowler in school history to have rolled a perfect game. The first was thrown by the late Zack Keller, a 2006 BHS graduate.
“There have been so many great bowlers at Bellefontaine, and to be able to put myself up there with Zack, it’s very humbling,” said Salyer.
To those familiar with Salyer’s ability, it was only a matter of when, not if, he would roll his first 300.
As a freshman two years ago, Salyer earned second-team all-CBC honors after averaging 186.
He upped his average to 202 last season on his way to collecting a spot on the all-league first team.
His game has reached even greater heights this season. He currently leads all CBC bowlers with a 222.7 average. The second-highest bowler has a 216.
While his 300 wasn’t a big surprise given Salyer’s talent and his previous flirtations with a perfect game, the location of it was.
Salyer had only bowled three times previously at Madison Lanes, and he struggled to get comfortable there.
“Actually, it was one of my least favorite lanes,” he said with a laugh.
But undeterred, he went into the CBC tourney with confidence after getting a practice round in at Madison Lanes ahead of time.
“There was a group of us that went over there the week before and that was a big help,” said Salyer. “I was able to figure out what I needed to do.”
He was locked in all day at the CBC tourney. In addition to the 300, which came in the last game of the series, Salyer rolled a 222 and a 224 for an impressive 746 series.
Salyer’s exploits helped his Chieftain team win the CBC tournament title. He hopes to keep his momentum rolling at the sectional tourney Feb. 18 at Poelking Lanes.
As for his next personal goal, Salyer has his sights set on one of bowling’s other top milestones.
“Now, I would really like to get an 800 series,” said Salyer.