Pictured: Barry Gilitiuk, Left. Is Presented His HOF Plaque From MMA VP Bob Schreiber.
Being Consistent Through Out His Bowling Career. Helps Land Barry Gilitiuk, An Enshrinment Into The MMA HOF.
Rolling Two Perfect Games In Both October And November 2018, And An 800 Series. Solidified His Bowling Superiority Nomination.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association.
Mesa - - - How many times during the course of a season, have we heard stories about how much a new bowling ball will dramatically change a bowlers year?
Well, it did again for one bowler in the east valley and he has been on fire (Intense Fire that is) ever since it was drilled .That's because Barry Gilitiuk, a right-hander who bowls out of Brunswick Zone Mesa. Has bowled not one, not two, not three, but four perfect games during the 2018-19 season.
So, an obvious question that he was asked following league play in the Bob Brown Classic League on November 2, at BZM. Where he rolled his fouth of four perfect games on lanes 19-20 was: How do you explain the success you have had on the lanes during this stretch.
"Good lane conditions. Having the right ball for the lane conditions. And being able to repeat the shot," he said, of the Intense Fire which is made by Storm. "And you have got to have a little luck."
Barry, who works for Virtue Bowling Supply, got his first perfect game during this stretch on October 9, in the Virtue Classic League. He rolled the first perfect game on lanes 21-22 and it included a string of 26 strikes in-a-row. He included games of: 290-300-227 for an 817 series. This was his eighth 800 series that he rolled. He rolled his first (835) on Dec 21,1999 at Country Club Bowl. And his most recent (822) on Dec 29, 2016 at BZM.
"Rolling 26 strikes-in-a-row is a lot harder to do than rolling 12 strikes in-a-row," he admits. "I know I will be able to shoot an 800 again, but may never throw 26 strikes in-a-row again. That is why rolling 26 strikes in-a-row was more of an accomplishment. There is something about the Intense Fire that matches up to the lane conditions. Thank You, Storm, for creating the Intense Fire."
He has another theory on why he had a career night on October 9.
"I felt like I was in a zone, and the shot didn't break down all night. Plus, I got lucky and was able to carry a few shots," he said, of that evening. "The matches were close versus the team we were bowling against. And my teammates helped me stay focused. My teammates: Joe Hart, Gary Kresse, and Johnny Wing and I jell well together."
During this stretch, he rolled his four perfect games in the following leagues: one in the Metro 880, one in the Virtue Classic, and two in the Bob Brown Classic. Leagues.
According to Bowl.com, Barry has routinely averaged 200 or better in leagues in the east valley since the 1999-00 season. Where he averaged 225 for 105 games in the East Valley Open at Country Club Bowl. His best season average wise, came in 2013-14, where he averaged 227 for 105 games in the Metro 880 League at BZM.
At the Arizona State Senior Open at Bell Lanes and Lakeview Lanes in Sun City this past October he posted good scores there, too to continue his hot streak. He rolled a: 740 ( in doubles); a 678 (in singles); and a 650 (in team); for an all-events total of 2,088.
"Since I got the new ball, I have been trying something new when it comes to releasing it," he says, of what else may be part of his success last season. "Instead of staying behind it, I have been giving it more rotation. The inspiration behind the new release was Jakob Butturff. When I told him of my adjustment, his reply was: 'good to hear that, 'thank you.'"
As far as individual titles go. He has two Mesa Metro doubles and one team event in his trophy case. He is also the 2013 Arizona State Senior Masters Champion, and defeated Warren Eales in the championship match to claim the titile at R.H. Johnson. He was also part of a team from the east valley that won the military high rollers event last year in Las Vegas at The Orleans. Members of the team were: Don Caron, Erick Flick, Joe Hart, Steve Jones, and Johnny Wing.
So, when he got the notification that he was selected to be enshrined into the Mesa Metro Hall Of Fame by the nominating committee for bowling superiority this year at the annual meeting. He was honored to be chosen as the newest inductee.
"Well, it meant so very much for me to be inducted into the MMA HOF. It meant all of the practice I did, all of the leagues I've bowled in, contributed to me receiving this prestigious award," he said, of his induction into the Hall. "Johnny Wing notified me, that I was up for the nomination. And, I was surprised to be picked for the HOF."
Although it did not hurt him to put up the numbers he did in October and November to be inducted for bowling superiority on May 19th, he has posted big numbers earlier in his career to justify his nomination. That would have given him consideration to get into the MMA HOF. Previously he has rolled: eight 800 series; 100 700 series; 11 300 games; three 299's; and four times has rolled 11 strikes-in-a-row.
"Yes, I feel I had to put up more than the required scores and tournament wins, to make me eligible for the HOF," he said, of his previous accomplishments. "Well, I got pretty hot with the Storm Intense Fire, so that didn't hurt me one bit. Those couple of weeks after I got the Intense Fire, were just crazy. It seemed to me that I couldn't miss, and most times I hit the pocket, well it carried."
As great as he was scoring wise with the Intense Fire last October and November, he says that wasn't the best scoring stretch of his career. Earlier in his career, he had rolled six perfect games in three different centers during a two week period as well.
"When your HOT, YOUR HOT'," he explained, as to why he can put together big scoring streaks. "I think I bowled that well during those stretches because of having the confidence that you can carry the corner pins. Having the confidence only increases with better carry, and better carry means that your confidence level builds up more. Which creates more confidence that you have in your game."
Having seen two of his teammates get elected into the MMA HOF previously in Joe Hart (2013), and Johnny Wing (2018). Only gave him the incentive to work harder in the game to earn his enshrinement into the hall.
"It means so much to me to join these two HOF in the MMA HOF. I think they are the reason I am in the HOF," he said, of Joe and Johnny. "They have supported me to the highest levels since becoming their teammate, as well as being good friends. I really love those guys. I can't forget Gary Kresse. He is also very supportive of my game, and also is a very good friend, too. My son Barry Jr., and daughter Teresa Kenny were so proud that I was inducted into the MMA HOF, and yes, they are both bowlers as well."
Through his hard work and dedication to the game, he says the titles he won were something that he had to prove to himself that he could accomplish.
"Well, all of the titles are special to me, because they are not easy to win. But, the one that will always mean the most to me would have to be in 2013-14 when I won the AZ State Masters," he said, of his titles. "And, winning the: singles, all-events, doubles, and team event. Wow! What a tournament."
His bowling career started out when he was a youngster, by his parents getting him interested in the game at age 12. He started out by bowling 5 pins in Canada, and when he moved to Arizona. He started bowling in a high school league at Country Club Bowl
"I feel like I have been as good as I have been in bowling because I'm very consistent and can repeat shots fairly well," he says, of his success. "With the high rev rate that I have (210), I need to be a lot more accurate than most bowlers, and that I believe has set me apart from everyone else. I am hoping to bowl a couple of PBA 60 events this summer, to see where my game is compared to those guys. With luck, I will bowl well, and maybe even continue bowling in more PBA events. What I think it will take to get to the next level, is keep using the best equipment that I have access to thru Virtue Bowling Supply."
During his acceptance speech into the MMA hall, he did in fact thank Craig Spencer and Josh Blanchard for their help in his career advancement. As far as giving him the knowledge of what bowling balls will work the best for his game. And their help with the instruction he got on the lanes from them.
"I think my friendship with them, gives me the edge over others," he said, of their friendship. "Again, I thank them tremendously. I have been bowling since I have been a young whipper snapper. I'm guessing close to 50 years now. No matter what job I've had, I still bowl in several leagues and tournaments. Bowling has been, and will continue to be a very important part of my life."
Another reason he feels he has been successful on the lanes, is the comfort level he has by bowling in leagues in the MMA.
"Well, I know most of the bowlers in the MMA, or at least they know me. We have a bunch of great bowlers in our association. And, also a great bunch of Association Members that donate their time to make the association run so smoothly," he said, of bowling in leagues in the MMA. "They give up their free time to: give us awards, run tournaments, and just to be involved in our everyday life. My hat is off to All Of Them. Thank You so much for everything you do to give back to the bowlers. I would like to thank everyone for their support not just for today, May 19, but for your support over the years."
Mesa Bowling News June 13, 2019