Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 1, 1994 TAG: 9411010115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The Roanoke resident racked up his perfect game in the N&W men's league at All-Star Lanes. It was his second 300 game at All-Star. The other three came at Hilltop Lanes.
Childress, who boasts a 213 average, said he felt a lot of pressure even though he was in a familiar situation.
``They always say it gets easier, but it doesn't get any easier,'' said Childress, 30. ``Through this whole game, I wasn't sure I was going to get it. I was going frame by frame. I've learned to take nothing for granted.
``The pressure on the last ball was bad, but with the crew I bowl with on Monday night, it's the best crew you could ever bowl with,'' he said of his Roanoke Car Shop teammates: Gardner Higgins, Wayne Canther, Jack Walters and Allen Smith.
Childress finished with a 744 series. His best series is a 795, which included a 300-game last year at All-Star.
``The goal I've always wanted ... I've never made it to the top five in the valley,'' he said. ``I've never made that, and I've always wanted an 800 series. The hardest person to please is myself. I push myself as hard as I can push myself.''
Childress said he tried to tune out everything around him in the final few frames, but it was hard.
``Everybody gathered behind the lanes,'' he said. ``In the pits down there I had my whole team. I can carry on between balls and smack their hands. But as far as looking back at the crowd, I try not to look back any more than I have to.''
by CNB