“My goal coming into the day was to stay No. 1 in the GMC, so that’s all that was on my mind,” Tillery said. “I wasn’t even thinking about a 300 until about the ninth frame.”
The perfect game was just the second in school history (Nick Wilson, 2008), and it came on the heels of a 221 first game that enabled Tillery to raise his average from 219.4 to 221.9. It also helped Big Blue score a 2,523 to 2,270 victory against Princeton.
“Both teams stopped bowling and watched him in the 10th frame,” HHS coach Harold Peetz said. “It was a great reaction from the crowd and the competitors.”
Peetz actually earned an assist on the 300 game by suggesting Tillery make a slight adjustment in the 10th frame of his first game.
“I suggested he move left two boards because his ball wasn’t having a consistent reaction when it hit the lane,” Peetz said. “Kyle has always been very receptive to any coaching. He’s extraordinary when it comes to that. He really listens.
“Once he made the adjustment, he zeroed in and took it off the sheet.”
The only downside to the day was the fact that Tillery’s mother, Mary Ann, arrived at Columbia Lanes about one minute after Kyle had completed his 300.
“I told her to hurry up and look before they took off the board,” Kyle said.
As for a celebration, Kyle said that will have to wait.
“We’re not doing anything (Monday) because I’ve got homework,” he said. “But my dad (Jerry) said he would get me a ring and buy me a 300 spare ball that says ‘300 Club’ on it.”
Kyle and his Big Blue teammates return to action today for their regular-season finale against Badin at Columbia Lanes.
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