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Konopasek pockets rare feat with 800 series By DON HUNT Joan Konopasek bowled her way into the record book at Medford Lanes on Tuesday night. The longtime Medford resident became the first bowler in the 61-year history of the Medford Women's Bowling Association to roll an 800 series. Along the way, the 49-year-old department store clerk rolled her first 300 game. "This is a dream come true for any bowler," said Konopasek, who nailed strikes on 28 of 36 attempts and had just one open frame on the night. "I got on a roll and just kept going." Konopasek had flirted with a 300 game four times previously in a career that spans 40 years, recording 10 strikes in succession only to leave a seven or 10 pin. All four times she finished with a score in the 280s, including her previous best of 289 last year. But Tuesday night Konopasek gritted her teeth and charged ahead. "I just told myself that I wasn't going to mess up this time, and I didn't," she said. "I concentrated a little bit more. "Every ball I threw (during the 300 game) was right in the pocket." The 300 came on the heels of a 247, meaning Konopasek needed a 253 in her final game to hit the magical 800 series. "After I bowled the 300 my teammates said, `Hey, now you can go after an 800,"' Konopasek said. "And I said, yeah, right. I really wasn't thinking about the 800 until halfway through the third game. I didn't want to put pressure on myself." In her third game, Konopasek started off with two strikes -- giving her 14 in a row -- before leaving the six pin in the third and fourth frames. She converted the spare both times, then rattled off six strikes in a row to finish with a 256 game and an 803 series. The 800 is believed to be the first ever by a female bowler in the Rogue Valley. The rarity of the accomplishment is evidenced by the fact that only three local men have hit the 800 mark this year -- Ron Fristoe with an 807, Don Pratt with an 805 and Fred Kadin with an 800. "An 800 series is tougher to get than a 300 game -- no question about that," said Konopasek, who bowls left-handed. "But it was great to get them both on the same night." Only one other woman -- Lela Larkin -- has bowled a 300 game this year and only six other women have topped the 700 mark for a series. Unlike many bowlers who compete in two or three leagues and continue on through the summer, Konopasek bowls just once a week in the Invitational League at Medford Lanes. "I fish in the summer -- I like to get out in the sun," Konopasek said. The 803 series raised Konopasek's average from 199 to 201. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.