Borrowed bowling ball leads to perfect game

By John Kennett
Journalism 312

A borrowed bowling ball turned into the game of a lifetime for a Midland area teen.

John Baker, 17, borrowed a Roto-Grip Saturn ball from his brother-in-law, Todd Cross, and bowled the first 300 game of his career on March 1, at Northern Lanes in the Jr. Mgr, Sr. 1 Division youth league.

“It was the first time I had ever thrown the ball,” said Baker, a senior at Bullock Creek. “(Friend) Trevor Terrill knew I was looking for a new ball and thought it would be a good one for me to use.”

Terrill just had the ball drilled the previous Wednesday and encouraged Cross to let Baker use the ball.

Originally, Cross had not planned on Baker using the ball for the whole game.

“Todd was only going to let John use the ball for a couple of shots,” said Terrill. “But, when John started off with two strikes, I told Todd to let him use the ball until he misses, which turned out to be the end of the game.”

After bowling the perfect game, Baker didn’t want to give the ball back.

“Todd definitely wanted the ball back, but my sister (Colleen) stopped him,” Baker said. “I was planning on giving it back anyways.”

Along toward the eighth frame of his perfect game, Baker started to feel the pressure that comes with the possibility of bowling a perfect game.

“I kept talking to Trevor and he settled me down between balls,” Baker said. “He told me to take it one shot at a time.”

A crowd formed around Baker as word quickly spread throughout Northern Lanes that a 300 game was in the making.

“It was kind of nerve-racking with the crowd gathered around,” Baker said. “Most everybody stopped what they were doing and watched me bowl. I was pretty much the only one bowling.”

With a 300 game on the line, Baker’s anxiety elevated in the 10th frame.

“My hands started shaking on the 11th ball,” Baker said. “After I threw the last ball, I kind of closed my eyes.”

When he opened his eyes and realized all 10 pins had fallen, he put his arms in the air and gave high-fives to teammates while the crowd began to clap and cheer.
“Three hundred games are hard to come by,” Terrill said. “He kept his head in the game. He didn’t throw a really bad shot. All his shots were pretty good shots.

The 300 game was part of a 653 series for Baker. His previous high series was 682 and best game was 290.

Baker comes from a family of bowlers.

“All my family bowls,” said Baker, who started bowling at age 3. “Bowling is a tradition in my family. My 300 game is pretty important to me.”

Baker, plans on attending either Saginaw Valley State University or Ferris State this fall where he hopes to become a member of the intercollegiate bowling team.

This spring, Baker has joined the track team for the first time and plans on throwing the shot and discus.

Edited by Justin Marr and Sheri Krotzer