Neshaminy bowler sets PA record with pair of perfect games. And he did it in one match
Nobody talk to him, keep it quiet, no jinxes. That was not the case for Neshaminy junior bowler Zak Pfeiffer.
"My teammates and coaches were encouraging me and cheering me on and that really helped," Pfeiffer said. "And I didn't really get nervous until my final ball in the third game."
How he didn't get nervous until then is remarkable. And what he did before then is even more incredible.
Try a pair of 300 games sandwiched around a 206 game for what was, believe it or not, his third career 300 and first 800-plus series. On top of that, his scores helped Neshaminy top William Tennent at Pike Lanes in Southampton to clinch the Suburban One League National Conference title.
Neshaminy bowling coach in awe
"I've been bowling for a long time and have never had a 300," Neshaminy head coach Deb Wolstenholme said with a laugh.
"And he's a junior in high school and has three of them. And I don't think it will be his last one, either. He works hard at it and was really in control. Zak just kept his focus and it was unbelievable to see."
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A Pennsylvania record in high school bowling
According to the United States High School Bowling Foundation website, only two high school bowlers had ever had a pair of 300 games in one match — one from Kansas in 2016 and one from Ohio in 2006.
Now there are three.
"Zak is the first in Pennsylvania to ever do it," Wolstenholme said. "And he did it with a lot on the line for the team, too.
"I have a lot of really good bowlers and I told the team before the last game that they all need to do well and they did with Zak capping it off."
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What a roll for Neshaminy junior
Pfeiffer, a Feasterville resident who bowls out of the Penndel Bowling Center, credits Wolstenholme and Rick Kliman, who owns the pro shop at the Penndel lanes, for helping get to where he is with the sport.
"I've learned so much from my coaches and my parents have always been really supportive," Pfeiffer said.
"And my teammates are great and we all cheer for each other and that helps everybody."
Third game a charm for Neshaminy's Pfeiffer
But what about that last ball in the third and final game?
"I didn't look at my scores, but after the first 300 I had my adrenaline really going," said Pfeiffer, who carries a 206 average.
"The only time it kind of got to me, and when I was nervous, was on my 12th ball (in the last game). Last year, against Bensalem, I missed the seven pin on my last ball and ended up with a 299.
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"And I was using the same ball the other day as I was then. But when I let it go, it was right in the pocket and once it hit the pins I just screamed out. It was a great feeling.
"My parents were there to see it, which was great, and everybody was really excited. I've been bowling for a long time and to do something like this really feels amazing."
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Drew Markol: dmarkol@theintell.com; @dmarkol
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Neshaminy's Pfeiffer rolls pair of perfect games against Tennent
