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William Decker III Rolls 868 Series

Mid-Hudson Bowling Association Record

On Tuesday November 4, 2008, William Decker III set a new three game series record for the Mid-Hudson Bowling Association.  On lanes 3 and 4 at Pat Tarsio Lanes in Newburgh, he bowled games of 300, 289, and 279 for an 868 series.  William surpassed the previous Mid-Hudson Bowling Association and Pat Tarsio Lanes three game series record of 859 by nine pins.  The previous record was set on Wednesday May 16, 2001 by Thomas Bailey at Pat Tarsio Lanes in Newburgh.   

This was not his regularly scheduled night to bowl, and he was called to substitute for another roster bowler in the Service Club League.  William started the night with twenty-two strikes in a row, followed by a pocket 10-pin and a spare to bowl 300 and 289.  The final game of the series started with nine strikes in a row, followed by a nine-pin, a spare, and another strike.  Amazingly, William had a total of thirty-two strikes and two spares for the entire three game series.  When asked if there were any exciting moments he could recall William replied "Tripping the nine-pin in the third game".  He was also asked if there were any bad shots that he made, and with a smile he said "Yeah, the second frame of the 300 game was a cross-over strike".

William did not feel nervous or pressure at any point of the night .  He was mostly caught up in playing the card game, and joking around with fellow bowlers.  There are multiple ways to play the card game, but typically a player receives a card for a strike or a spare.  The player with the best hand at the end of the game wins the card game.  While in the 10th frame of the first game, he was more concerned with winning the card game then bowling 300.  The irony, William lost the card game despite bowling a perfect game.

Bowling an 800 series takes three great games, and after the first two games William was on his way to another prestigious achievement.  Marvin Davies, William's cousin, brought it to his attention that it may be possible to break the current high series record.  With the possibility of bowling 800, and even the chance of breaking the record, William approached the third game like it was just another game.  When he was asked what advice he could give to someone in the position to bowl a 300 game, or an 800 series, William replied "Stay calm, and don't think about it if you can".

Five days later on Saturday November 8, 2008, William completed his first game of league play with a score of 247 on lanes 5 and 6 at Pat Tarsio Lanes in Newburgh. This was in the Vic Beam Memorial Weekenders Mixed League, which is one of two leagues he is a roster bowler in.  Before the second game started William joked with Chris Washington and said "A 247 game is going to make it hard to bowl 800 again".  That's all he needed to say because he followed it up with games of 277, and 300.  William's total series for the night was 824, and when asked if he was surprised he bowled another 300 game and an 800 series within five days he replied "Yes, I was definitely surprised".

Before this incredible week of bowling, William had two career 300 games, and his highest three game series was 834.  For the current bowling season, his highest league average is 225 in the Vic Beam Memorial Weekenders Mixed League.  

For those wondering what bowling ball William used during his 868 and 824 series, it was a 15lb Cell which is manufactured by Roto Grip.  The ball was given to him by its previous owner Carlos Pimentel.

William has been bowling for twenty-six years, and was first introduced to bowling by his Aunt Elizabeth Walsh, and Uncle George Decker.  They used to bring him to the bowling alley on their league night, and he used to open bowl while they were bowling.

William is married to his wife Tabitha, and they are parents to twin girls Aryanna, and Bryanna.

On behalf of the Mid-Hudson Bowling Association, we congratulate William Decker III on his record setting achievement and outstanding display of bowling over the course of five days.