
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 16, 1995                   TAG: 9511160064
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FIRST 300 WORTH WAIT FOR SMITH

After eight years of bowling, the wait is over for Tyrone ``Ty'' Smith.

Smith bowled his first 300 game Wednesday night in the Silhouettes League at All-Star Lanes on Melrose Avenue in Roanoke. Smith, an employee at the bowling alley, said he averages about 186 and the closest he had come to a 300 was a 289 in the same league last year.

``It hasn't really sunk in yet,'' said the Roanoke resident, who bowled a 300 in his first game of the night and finished with a 699 series. ``I was shaky on the eighth frame - the 10 pin wiggled a little - but I knew I had done it on the last frame. It was a good ball. ''

Smith had just gotten his ball re-drilled and had not used it for a game. It's now his lucky ball.

As for being nervous as the 300 game went along?

``I was nervous,'' Smith said. ``I did not go to the bathroom the whole game, but I had to. I waited until the game was over.''

by CNB