Local man rolls

first 300 game

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- To Les Geiger Jr. and his fellow bowlers, this is a big deal.

It's the biggest deal, in fact. It's the pinnacle of bowling -- the 300 game.

The 38-year-old New Ulm resident threw one three weeks ago during league competition at Concordia Lanes in New Ulm. To Geiger, and to other bowlers, it's like a pitcher tossing a no-hitter in baseball.

"It's a big achievement, a real big achievement," Geiger said. "It my first one, my very first one."

That's how big a deal putting together 12 strikes in a row in one game is. Geiger's first and only 300 game took him nearly 30 years to accomplish.

That's a lot of bowling. Geiger only bowls during the winter-league season and usually bowls only three games per week, but that's still a lot of balls thrown down alleys in search of that elusive 300 game -- the main goal of anyone who has ever, or will ever, roll a ball down a lane at 10 pins.

Geiger wasn't out to prove anything that night three weeks ago. It was the first night of league competition, but Geiger found himself, and his ball, in the groove.

The pitcher who throws a no-hitter, or the basketball player who can't seem to miss from the field describes the feeling as being in the zone. To a bowler, he's in the groove.

"I just stayed there, to the end," Geiger said. "It was the third game of the night. I've had six at the end of one game and six at the beginning of another game, but never all in one game."

Geiger, who averages around 190, is one of the fortunate few out of the millions of bowlers.

"People who know how I bowl, respect my bowling. It's a competition. I try not to gloat, I really don't like gloating, but it's an accomplishment," Geiger said.

Geiger has had 11 strikes in a single game before with his highest score 288. But Geiger admits to feeling some nerves as the game wound down.

He recalls the people interrupting their games to watch his bid for 300. He remembers the quiet other than the occasional cheer.

Geiger recalls also trying to stay focused after he had thrown strikes through the first seven frames.

"I thought, 'I've only got five more to get,'" he said. "I really didn't think that I was going to get it so I just threw the ball every frame and they kept falling.

"My knees were knocking a little bit, when I shot this 300 game."

After Geiger had rolled the 300, there was elation, but also relief. Relief from being free of the pressure. He said anybody who bowls knows that this is the main goal -- the big deal.

"It was just a good game," Geiger said. "I'm fortunate."