There was a buzz in the air that late-spring night at Bar-Don Lanes. Something big was happening as a packed house of bowlers were competing in the Easton City Tournament.
But as was the norm in 1995, scores were kept by a scorekeeper and not on full display for all to see. On that Friday night in May, one bowler was rewriting the history book for the Palmer Township center.
Sam Piazza had completed the singles portion of the event and switched lanes with his doubles partner and uncle, George Kinsey. What followed was a mammoth 279-300-290—869 series. Nearly 25 years later, the series record still stands.
“I have to say it was an out of body experience,’’ said the now 69-year-old Piazza from his place in Florida. “I know people say they get in a zone. I can tell you I was in a zone. At one point I remember Kevin Moser telling me every ball looked like every other ball.’’
Piazza’s lone non-strike over the first 24 shots was a 10-pin in the sixth frame in Game 1. After tossing the perfect game, Jerry Mulford asked what he had in the first game? Piazza responded by saying he had 279. Mulford questioned if he said 179 or 279.
“I was thinking 220 is what I needed for 800,’’ Piazza said when interviewed after the match. “When I went up for my first shot in the third game they made the announcement I had 300. I rushed the shot and I left the 6-10.’’
If 221 was the target score for 800, there was one other mark that had stood for 14 years and was well within reach.
As Piazza went on another strike barrage, Jules Miknyoczki’s house record of 833 from 1981 appeared to be in serious jeopardy. I was bowling on lanes 1 and 2 with Miknyoczki as it all unfolded. Along with most of the bowling center, we looked on as Piazza stepped up on the approach in the 10th frame needing just a mark for the record.
“I think Uncle George was more nervous than I was,” Piazza said. “The thing I remember the most was the incredibly loud cheer after I got the first strike in the 10th. I struck out and the first one there to congratulate me was Jules. A class act.’’
Piazza’s 869 has had a few challengers. Joe Lagana Jr. came the closest with an 864. Only Frank Meshach’s 889 and Dave Arner’s 876 were better than Piazza’s 869 through 2012. The 869 is still the area’s 10th-best score of all time.
In 1995, Piazza expressed his next goal was to score a hole-in-one in golf. It took nearly as long since that day in May but Feb. 24 of this year he finally nabbed the ace.
Piazza’s house record is the area’s second oldest. Robin Fox hammered Bar-Don on Jan. 25,1993, with an 818 on games of 243-299-276 to top the mark established by Kim Moser, who had 718.
Let that sink in. Fox’s match was 100 pins better than the previous house high. But there was one other unmistakable parallel.
“The ball I was using was Kim’s ball she used for 718,’’ Fox said from her home in Montgomery County. “I had it drilled fingertip that season. It still had her name on it.’’
Fox’s improbable night featured a split in Game 1, but she went on a run and found herself in uncharted territory.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had more than five or six strikes to start a game,” Fox said. I wasn’t really nervous and was so mesmerized I blocked everything out. I felt good that night.”
Fox doubled in the 10th until a 5-pin ended her bid for 300. But a 299 gave her a two-game total of 542 and a shot at her first 700.
“I was keeping score and I think that kept my mind off of it,” Fox said. “I had a spare in the third frame and then a couple of strikes, and bowlers started congratulating me on getting 700. After that, I had no idea I had a chance at 800.”
Fox passed 800 thanks to an eight-bagger. A 7-count on her fill ball set a record that still stands at Bar-Don. At the time, it was the nation’s highest series of the 1992-1993 season according to the Women’s International Bowling Congress.
“The best series I had before that was 668. I never did shoot 700, but that night was something special,” Fox said.
The only serious challenge to Fox’s record came in 2006-2007 when Jacqui Reese fell one stick shy with 817. The area has only seen 11 matches from the women higher since that magical night 28 years ago.
It’s said that records are made to be broken. Both Piazza and Fox say go for it.
Area house records
Bar-Don: Robin Fox 818, Jan. 25. 1993, and Sam Piazza 869, May 19, 1995.
Bath Legion: Janet Mayer 814, March 19, 2006, and Anthony Gable 878, Dec. 4, 2012.
Bel-Pike: Jacqui Reese 858 Oct. 23, 2008, and Brent Tishuk 867, May 7, 2015.
Bethlehem Panthers: Jeff Bosak 848, April 19, 2001.
Blue Valley: Krista Sandt 845, April 26, 2013, and Brent Tishuk 889, March 27, 2015.
Fleas: (tie) Rob Laubach 816, Sept. 18, 2008, and Brian Dilley 816, April 7, 2016.
Nazareth Holy Family: Jacqui Reese 816, March 20, 2011, and Matt Butz 863, March 7, 2012.
Nazareth Jacksonian: Terry Heckman 819, March 14, 2009.
National Sokols: Dave Arner 876, Dec. 11, 2000.
Oakwood: Michele DeVries 825, Sept. 21, 2015, and Mikey Pearson 899, Oct. 22, 2018.
Town & Country: Krista Sandt 792, Feb. 26, 2019, and Dave Strohl 857, Nov. 28, 2016, and Brent Tishuk 857, April 17, 2018.
Warren: Ann Snyder 826, Dec. 11, 1997, and Anthony Johnston 847, Dec. 12, 2009.
West Hunterdon: Tracey Stevens 801, June 21, 2008, and Tim Emery 833, Dec. 4, 2019.
Dave Goodman can be reached at badgood2@aol.com
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Piazza and Fox’s house records still stand at Bar-Don Lanes - lehighvalleylive.com
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