Schalmont bowler Squires starts season with 300 game

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Schalmont's David Squires started his season with a 300 game. (Photo provided)

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David Squires couldn’t have started his junior bowling season in a better way.

After all, there’s no topping perfection.

The right-hander from Schalmont High School rolled his second career 300 game when the Sabres opened their Colonial Council schedule last week with a team victory over La Salle Institute at Sportsman’s Bowl in Rotterdam.

“My goal for the season was a 300 game, an 800 [three-game] series and to lead the Colonial Council in all of the divisions,” Squires said.

The 16-year-old took care of that first objective with 12 consecutive strikes, which included only a brief moment of trepidation on his first ball in the 10th frame.

“I saw the eight pin almost stand up, and then it went down,” Squires said. “My first 300 was a little more eventful.”

That performance, in an ironic twist, came when Squires was a sophomore and took place in the first game of Schalmont’s season-starting match against Lansingburgh. He rolled that one at Sportsman’s Bowl, as well.

“Am I really going to do this again the same way?’ Squires thought as he closed in on his second perfect game two days before Christmas.

Squires said his final ball in his initial 300 game in November 2019 was high in the pocket, and sent a pin off the side wall that ricocheted left to right before downing the last pin.

“I went from, ‘I got a chance,’ to ‘No I don’t,’ to ‘I got it,'” Squires recalled.

He added: “Before my last ball [last week] I turned to my friends and said, ‘I have to throw this a lot better,’ and I did.”

Squires had other games of 257 and 222 for a 779 triple against La Salle, which was two pins shy of matching his career high of 781 set last season. That season saw Squires average 217.82, which was third best in the Colonial Council.

“I want to send a shout out to all the people who have helped me get better,” said Squires, a four-year varsity team member. “I couldn’t do this without them.”

Squires played a significant role last season at Boulevard Bowl in Schenectady when Schalmont won its first Section II Class B title in 10 years. His 1,351 total included a 642 triple in the morning and a 709 triple in the afternoon, and that series featured a 280 single.

Schalmont was denied an opportunity to compete afterward at the state tournament when that event and some others were canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. All state competitions, as well as Section II title competitions, have already been called off for this winter season, leaving bowling teams like Schalmont with only league play to focus on.

Schalmont is scheduled to meet Cobleskill-Richmondville Monday, and will take on Mohonasen Wednesday.

“I would like to bowl in college,” Squires said. “I am going to try to bowl my best, improve and try get my name around.”