Under the TV lights, Fazzone had to be perfect

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bob Weiner

Matt Fazzone was bowling under the television lights and trying to finish off a milestone achievement, but he wasn’t nervous. He couldn’t afford to be.

His recent perfect game, only the second ever in the TV finals for a Northeast Bowling Proprietors of New York/Huck Finn tournament, catapulted him to his first Huck Finn title at Middleburgh Lanes recently. Every shot was important because his opponent, Mike Neumann, was also on a long string of strikes and finished with a 289.

“To be honest, trying for a 300 game wasn’t bothering me at all,” Fazzone said. “I had to stay focused because Mike was matching me shot for shot. If I kept striking, I knew I would win. Otherwise, I would lose.”

It was the 16th career perfect game for the 24-year-old left-hander. He also has eight 800 triples on his resumé.

“I was playing pretty straight on the line. There was a lot of oil, so I tried not to get it too far out to the dry. But if I threw it too far inside, I would have left a bucket. There was that much oil out there,” Fazzone said.

Right-hander Steve Rock is the only other bowler in the 12-year history of the Huck Finn “Capital Region Bowling Show” to roll a 300 game in the TV finals, but he didn’t throw that perfect game in the title match.

Fazzone knows his equipment. Formerly an assistant in the pro shop when former PBA touring pro Brian LeClair ran Revolutions II, Fazzone now runs his own pro shop at Towne Bowling Academy called Action Bowling Supply.

“I used a 900 Global Boost. I signed up with them recently, and I love the equipment,” he said.

Fazzone said his father taught him how to bowl, but he’s received plenty of help along the way from such area standouts as Jim Geiger, Steve Wagoner, former PBA touring pro Kenny Hall and Towne Academy proprietor Marty Capullo Jr.

“All those guys were a big help, but Jim Geiger has helped me out a lot lately when we’ve bowled together,” Fazzone said.

Fazzone first began to elevate his game as a member of the highly successful Mohonasen High School bowling team. The Mighty Warriors, coached by Bob Tedesco Jr., won sectional crowns during his sophomore and junior years.

This season, Fazzone bowls twice a week. He averages 239 in the Riverfront Insurance City League at Towne Bowling Academy Monday nights and 232 in the Riverfront Mixed Doubles league Wednesday nights, also at Towne.

“Although I bowl mostly at Towne these days, I started out bowling in the Capital District All Star league [at Sportsman’s Bowl] for three or four years,” Fazzone said. “Now, I try to practice two or three times a week for at least an hour to keep my game sharp.”

STRIKES & SPARES

The Action Bowling Supply Open kicks off Sunday night with squads at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. There will be two more squads the following Sunday at 9:30 and 11:45 a.m., with the finals to follow. The format will be a four-game qualifier, changing lanes each game. Call Towne at 355-3939 for more information.

Chris Jones recently bowled a 246 triplicate for a 738 in the Edgewood Independent league at Towne Bowling Academy.

Jayson Capullo, who has a 117 average, recently bowled his high game (191) and high series (444) at Towne Bowling Academy.

Town ’N Country Lanes will host a Scotch Doubles tournament Saturday night at 7:30. Entry fee is $25 per couple. There will be instant prizes with color pins along with split and strike jackpots.

Chris Radliff of Schenectady defeated Jenna Lemke of Delmar 246-216 to win the Capital District Youth Scholarship Tour at Del Lanes last weekend. Radliff earned a $225 scholarship, and Lemke won a $150 scholarship. Andrew Hall of Westborough, Mass. ($150), Lauren Piotrowski of Schenectady ($90), Garrett Bartlett of Troy ($100), Hunter Kempton of Buzzard’s Bay, Mass. ($75), Michael Boyce of Schuylerville ($50), Kevin Benedetto of Albany ($40), Tom Hankey of Great Barrington, Mass. ($35), Amanda Chrzanowski of Schenectady ($60) and Katie Lynch of Troy ($35) also won scholarships in a field of 48 bowlers.

Kevin Benedetto, bowling for Sunset Lanes, rolled his first perfect game and finished with a 723 triple in the senior boys’ Western division of the Joey Schmidt Capital District Junior Pro-Scoring League at Green Island Lanes last week.

The doubles teams of John Riozzi-Ed Czyzewski, Gene Speenburgh-Eric Stangle, John Walther III-Steve Wagoner and Phil Kilmartin-Steve Dils advanced to the TV finals of the Huck Finn Over 50/Under 50 doubles event last weekend at Uncle Sam Lanes in Troy.

The next event on the Huck Finn schedule is the Family Mixed Doubles, a handicap tournament for adults. There will be one qualifying squad on Sunday at 11 a.m. at Sunset Recreation, with the finals following at 2 p.m.