Through seven frames, Cherri Larson was fine.

Thursday, November 08, 2001

Through seven frames, Cherri Larson was fine.

Things got tense in the 10th. But she overcame the pressure.

Larson became Albert Lea’s second bowler to roll a 300 game in league competition, doing it during the Five O’clock Shadows League at Holiday Lanes.

Larson said, &uot;It just felt right,&uot; though she was disappointed her husband, Mike, wasn’t there to witness it.

&uot;I didn’t really think about a 300 until after the seventh strike,&uot; she said. &uot;That was my previous record. I kept thinking how nice it would be to be able to call Mike and tell him.&uot;

Then she had other thoughts.

&uot;After the ninth frame, I wanted to go home and come back later to bowl the 10th when I wasn’t so nervous,&uot; said Larson, whose previous high game was 276.

Although it was the first 300 game for Larson, it wasn’t the first in the family.

When Larson met her husband in 1991 it rekindled an interest in the sport for him, and he began bowling after a 10-year absence. He went on roll two 300 games the first year.

&uot;He’s been my inspiration and coach,&uot; said Larson. &uot;Now we have one more thing to share.&uot;

Larson began bowling in 1984 as a substitute and, eventually, a regular at Albert Lea Bowl. One thing led to another until she was bowling in six leagues.

&uot;Although I am not able to bowl as much as I used to, I will continue to bowl the &uot;Shadows&uot; and &uot;9-10&uot; as long as they’ll have me.&uot;

If she keeps rolling 300s, that could be a while.