Growing up in Battle Creek, Mich., Debbie Worthington knew all about bowling.

Her father owned a pro shop and maintained an average in the 200's. Bowling houses there were 80 lanes in some locations.

"Bowling is so big there," Worthington, 47, of Beaver Falls said. "The leagues aren't any bigger, there's just more of them.

"If you rolled a big series, boom, it was in the paper."

As big as bowling was in her hometown, Worthington never knew a bowling ball could break down.

That is, until she experienced it first-hand.

A league bowler at Freeway Lanes in Zelienople, Worthington averaged 193 last season — the highest average in the Butler County Women's Bowling Association.

"I had no idea until somebody told me," she said of the achievement. "I was thrilled, of course. I mean, who doesn't want to be the best?"

Worthington has been a top bowler for a long time. She's been bowling for 28 years — getting started in the sport through her father — and averaged anywhere from 185 to 192 in different leagues at different houses in Michigan.

Her 193 average last year was her highest yet.

This year started off as a different story.

"The first six weeks of the season, I couldn't do better than a 450-series," Worthington said. "I was doing everything the same. I couldn't figure out what was going on.

"I'd been using the same ball for eight years. I had no idea that could be the problem, but I was talking to my dad and he said that bowling balls will break down and that it sounded like my ball had given up.

"He talked me into trying a new one — and he was right," she added.

Worthington's father, Jack Douglas, was one of the first men to bowl a 700-series several years ago. As recently as six years ago, he bowled with his daughter in California, used a house ball and still bowled over 200.

Since getting a new ball, Worthington has averaged nearly 210 for 10 weeks. She has turned in series of 685, 691 and 698.

"I missed a 10-pin spare on all three of those nights to cost myself a 700," she said.

Her highest series last year was a 698.

"Now I'm bowling like I was last year," she said. "The only difference is the ball. My average is up to 174 and it's climbing."

Worthington bowls in a Tuesday night league at Freeway Lanes. She said exercise has helped improve her game.

"I'm physically stronger and that's helped my stamina," she said. "I throw a 15-pound ball and I throw a hook, so I have to stay on my shot.

"I'd love to get a 700-series. I've come so close."

Worthington has never bowled a perfect game, either. Her highest game is a 289, bowled on Halloween night seven years ago.

Consistency has been her game. She rolled a pair of 200-games three weeks ago and approaches or surpasses a 600 series almost weekly.

She bought the new ball in October. She hasn't slowed down since.

"I'd love to be able to get my average back up at the top of the women's association again," Worthington said. "It would be a nice accomplishment to repeat that.

"Averaging between 190 and 200 … Not a lot of women do that. It's a nice target to shoot for."