Age of perfection

Maage, Shannon know 300 games don’t come often

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescity.com

CHARLES CITY — After 50 years of trying, Jerry Maage felt that he would likely never reach perfection.

“I figured if it didn’t happen already, it wasn’t going to happen now,” said the 69-year-old Charles City resident. “Not after all these years of bowling.”

On Dec. 10 while rolling with Boss Construction amid the Thursday night Hawkeye League at Comet Bowl, Maage managed to string 12 in row for his first 300 game.

It didn’t come too soon for a man who has been bowling competitively since he was a teenager.

“I had one Brooklyn shot,” the right-hander said of a ball that crossed the headpin opposite of the 1-3 pocket — missed it enough to get it. “I think it was in the seventh frame. The other ones were legitimate.”

Maage only bowls one night a week, but it’s the right night in the right house if you want to hang with high-rollers.

“We have four guys on our team who are averaging at least 200,” said Maage, who was carrying a 208 average going into last night’s play, “but don’t ask us how we’re doing.

“Just the other day, someone else in this league shot a 300,” Maage said of Chris Shannon’s perfect game bowled on Jan. 7. “They don’t happen often, but on any (Thursday) night here, they can.”

For Shannon, who bowls with the Iowa WallSawing team, it was his third 300 game.

“I remember when I bowled my first one,” said Shannon, 41, of Charles City. “It was a day after 9/11 … on Sept. 12. I can’t quite remember the day of the second one, which came about four or five years later.”

It had been nearly a decade since Shannon’s second 300 game to his third, though he’s had some close calls in between.

“About six times I’ve gotten to the 10th frame, and something usually takes it out,” Shannon said. “But from what I remember, I believe every time I’ve reached the 12th frame after 11 in a row, I finished it off.”

Shannon was carrying a 210 average going into Thursday night. That’s about “average” for him — he finished last season with a 212 average.

Shannon’s 300 came in the third game of a 707 series. For the record, none were “Brooklyn” shots for the right-hander with a big, swinging hook.

“They were all flush in the pocket,” Shannon said.

“They were all lucky,” one of Shannon’s teammates added.