Teammates Roll 300s in Same Game

Bowling for Jim Ball GMC in the Classic Doubles League at Jamestown Bowling Company, the duo tied a national American Bowling Congress two-man record when they both fired a 300 in the first game of their three-game series.

Not only that, but the 600 game marked only the 22nd time since 1981 -- and the first time since 2002 -- that any two-man team anywhere in the United States had accomplished this feat.

"That's the highlight of my career," said Parisi, A Jamestown resident and longtime area bowler who now has 14 career perfect games. "I've done a lot of things, but how can you do better than this. It's as good as it gets."

"Nothing can compare to this. Individual things are great, but two guys as a team doing the exact same thing....It's the pinnacle of the game, 300."

For Snyder, a Hamburg resident who grew up in Westfield, the 300 game was his second in six days and the 30th of his 30-year bowling career. But the 43-year-old left-hander left no doubt where he rates his and Parisi's accomplishment.

"I've never been a part of something like this. " Synder said. "To get the national recognition..."

it didn't go unnoticed at the Foote Avenue establishment as other bowlers stopped what they were doing to watch Parisi and Snyder work their magic.

Parisi, a right-hander, thought he might leave a 10-pin on his final ball, but his shot carried, putting the pressure squarely on Snyder's shoulders.

"After he shot his 300," Snyder said, "he said 'The pressure's all on you.' The 10th and 11th (balls) were OK, but the 12th one felt like it weighed 90 pounds."

"I didn't want to let him down. I just wanted to make a good, clean shot. it carried. i don't know if it was good or clean, but it carried, that's all I know."

Parisi, 57, could barely watch his partner.

"I was a nervous wreck watching him throw every ball." Parisi said. (I didn't want to look. When he threw his 12th ball, I jumped out of my shirt. I couldn't believe it."

Ironically, Parisi had considered not bowling because of the way he performed the week before in the Classic Doubles League.

"I was ice fishing all day, thinking 'I don't want to bowl tonight because I bowled so lousy last week.' " he said. "I thought maybe I'd fall in."

What Parisi and Snyder "stumbled" into, instead, was the ABC record book, a place reserved for the rarest and finest accomplishments.

"The only thing I think that could top this is if I would win a regional or (Professional Bowlers Association) tournament." said Parisi, who has been bowling in senior regional tournaments for the last seven years. "But I know that's not going to happen, so this is it right now."