Duckpins a challenge
Not much has changed in duckpin bowling through the years.
Perhaps that's the appeal of the sport, in addition to the fact anyone can participate.
A smaller, lighter ball than its tenpin bowling counterpart and the fact that consistency can be a hard thing to maintain are two other interesting aspects.
"It's a very humbling game," said Jack Baccanti, secretary and historian of the Armco Duckpin League, which meets on Monday nights from September to April in the basement of the Knights of Columbus lodge in Butler.
"You can bowl real well in one game, then think you can do the same in the next. One guy rolled a 67 in the last game one week, then had a 193 in the next game the next week, then a 55 in the second game," he added.
Rick McClain of Best Insurance, a member of the Miller team — this year's theme for teams is beers — can certainly relate.
On Jan. 29, he bowled a 152 and a 181, but then closed out the night with a — 92.
"You can have a really good game, then a really crummy game," said McClain, who joined the league about a decade ago thanks to his brother Roger, who worked at AK Steel.
"It's a lot of fun. Most don't take it seriously. It's frustrating," he added.
Perhaps the greatest part of the game is that young and old, male and female can enjoy the game.By using a ball a little under four pounds and about six inches in diameter, it allows just about anyone to grab hold of the fame.The game has added a few nuances throughout the decades, but since it was started around 1900 in Baltimore, its still has a basic simplicity to it.Like tenpin bowling, there are 10 frames but up to three balls can be rolled in each frame.If you knock all 10 of the pins on the first throw, it's a strike; two balls to knock them down is a spare and three is the total of the three balls.Thinking of a perfect game? Don't. According to robinsweb.com, no perfect game of 300 has ever been achieved."A 145 is a very good bowler," said McClain. "If you bowl a 160, you get special recognition in our league sheet. If you get a 400 series, you get your name in bold print, and if you're lucky to get 500, you pretty much feel like the king of the league."It's a lot of fun ... There's great fellowship. Most don't take it too seriously. It's frustrating," McClain added.Baccanti of Butler recalls bowling in North Versailles near East McKeesport and seeing some very high pin totals."Those guys had 700 series and averaged over 200," said Baccanti. "I can't conceive that. Our high averages here have been in the 150s.
In the Armco League, the season lasts 26 weeks. It begins around mid-September and runs for 13 weeks before a timeout for a two-week holiday break.The next 13 weeks end around early April, and then a banquet to close out the season. The league has six teams with six bowlers each with a few alternates if needed.McClain is joined by co-worker Ray Rosebaurer, who also is the league's president, as well as Bob Sub, Ed Sroka, Bill Spohn and Dez Csizmadia.Baccanti, who joined the league as a bowler back in 1979, says the size of the league has remained the same through the years since the alley has just six lanes."When I joined, it was primarily Armco people," said Baccanti. "Right now, the majority is not.""This league goes way back and I'm relatively new," said McClain. "I'm one of the rookies, but I'd say one half to two thirds do or did work at Armco."
The appeal of duckpins is certainly that it's a game for people of all ages.Baccanti sees more."My philosophy is, physically, it's less demanding," said Baccanti of duckpins compared to tenpin. "I've bowled for awhile and I've got arthritis. With tenpins, it affects me, but after duckpins, it's not sore."The only thing is my ego is bruised,"Baccanti added.For McClain, he's gotten used to the duckpins, so he'll stick with it, no matter how exasperating."I'm not a tenpin bowler," said McClain. "I've bowled with the big balls many times, but never in a league. I'm not an expert."As of late February, McClain's team was languishing toward the bottom of the league standings.But no worries, according to McClain."We laugh and self-criticize, but it's fun," he said.
