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Hernando Today

Another Youth Hits 300

BOWLING

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Cody Malone, a 14-year-old Spring Hill resident, rolled a 300 game on Feb. 28 at Spring Hill Lanes. He became the county's third youth bowler to throw a perfect game this season.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: March 29, 2009

As the 10th frame approached, the typical nerves began to creep in for 14-year-old Cody Malone.

On Feb. 28 at Spring Hill Lanes, the Central High freshman and son of Spring Hill's Larry and Sherry Malone stared down the barrel of a potential 300 game.

His thoughts began to drift to a newspaper article he had just read a day earlier, chronicling the 300 bowled by his friend, Dalton Dokoupil.

"His quote was everyone stopped to watch, so he took his time and made sure he went through the same routine," Malone said. "I said 'I've been here before.' I went up on the lane, rolled my shot and luckily it ended up being a strike."

Just like that, Malone joined Dokoupil and Mariner Lanes bowler Anthony Caso as youth bowlers who have shot a 300 in Hernando County this season.

"I was amazed," Malone said. "I was happy. I felt like a lot of weight was lifted off my shoulders because I've finally done one."

Family hobby

Malone joined his father as members of the household with a 300 on their resume. Larry Malone shot his on July 23, 2008.

"It felt really great (to join his father)," Malone said. "He coaches me. Being equal with him feels really great. I feel very accomplished. I'm proud of myself, the way I've been bowling-wise."

He credited his father for getting him involved in the sport at the age of 4. His 17-year-old brother Josh also bowls, making it a family hobby.

Malone participates in three leagues at two different houses, the Spring Hill Elite and Spring Hill Youth/Adult at Spring Hill Lanes, and the Young Adults at Mariner Lanes.

It was in the Spring Hill Elite, a Saturday morning league, that he rolled his perfecto. Ironically, in that league he has his lowest average of 179. He averages 185 in the Youth/Adult and 192 at Mariner.

His 300 came in the second game of the set, bookended by a 221 and 215 as part of a personal-high 736 series.

He had "been here before" on Nov. 12 when he put together a 290 game. He shot a traditional 290, with 11 strikes in a row following a first-frame spare.

But the 300 came on day featuring a combination of a comfortable oil pattern and some pivotal mechanical tweaks.

"I felt really good," Malone said. "I've been working on my shot at that house. I was really out of sync before. That day everything was on.

"When I do something wrong, I'm able to make an adjustment. I made a couple of mistakes my first game. I made some adjustments.

"I moved left a little bit. I put my shoulders out, I held my arm straight and I cocked my wrist so I got more lift on the ball. It was a lot better; much, much better."

Having reached perfection at an early age, Malone just wants to keep improving.

"My next goal, I want to bowl an 800 series," Malone said. "I'm working on my roll, my shot, making adjustments; rolling the ball, hitting my mark."

BY THE NUMBERS: 2008-09 HERNANDO COUNTY YOUTH 300 GAMES
Name Date House
Anthony Caso 12-27-08 Mariner Dalton Dokoupil 01-24-09 Spring Hill
Cody Malone 02-28-09 Spring Hill

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at 352-544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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