One of the most elusive sports achievements was celebrated by a young Jefferson resident.
Nine-year-old Pierce Abbotts bowled a perfect 300 game, which is 12 consecutive strikes, on New Years Day at Spare Time Lanes in Jefferson. The fourth grader at Greene County Elementary School, who started bowling at age six, explains that he didn’t feel pressure until the final ball because it would make or break the perfect game. He modestly describes his reaction after all the pins went down for the final time.
“I was happy and gave someone a fist bump.”
Pierce’s father Brett was with him that day and says there were about 40-50 people that witnessed the feat, which he points out was the first of two perfect games that day at Spare Time Lanes. Pierce tells Raccoon Valley Radio who he looks up in bowling is professional bowler Jason Belmonte, who is from Australia and is said to be the “father of two handed bowling,” which Pierce emulates in his bowling style.
“It’s almost like bowling with one hand, but with two (which allows me to) throw it (the ball) faster and increase the weight of the bowling ball.”
Brett adds Pierce would’ve been the youngest person to ever bowl a perfect game, but because it wasn’t a sanctioned event, the 300 doesn’t technically count, according to the US Bowling Congress. However, Brett says Pierce has until a few days before his tenth birthday in July to officially be the youngest person, which is held by Hanna Diem who accomplished it right before she turned ten.