He handled a disruption in practice and disappointment in his first game to roll games of 295, 244, and 279 for an 818 series, his second career 800 series in the Fond du Lac Bowling Association.

McDermott just got done with his warm-ups when he was summoned by teammate Chip Gilgenbach to help get his equipment out of his vehicle.

“I was playing between the seventh and eighth board with my Track Rising,” he said. “I felt OK until Chip showed up at the end of practice and needed help getting into the trunk of his car. I changed out of my bowling shoes to go outside and help. After 10 minutes, we still couldn’t get into his vehicle, so we got Frank Hilbert to sub for us.

“That definitely took my mind off of bowling.”

The delay didn’t seem to bother McDermott as he opened the first game with nine consecutive strikes.

“I caught a couple of breaks early in the game,” he said. “I started to settle into a groove late in the game. I was rolling the ball well and thought 300 was a definite possibility.”

Things got a little dicey in the final frame as McDermott battled the pressure of a perfect game.

“When the 10th frame came around I was shaking in my shoes,” he said. “I missed wide right on the 11th shot, but it came back and carried a splash hit. I thought the pressure was off. But as I regrouped for the final shot, the nerves really kicked in.”

McDermott took some extra time before delivering the final shot.

“Off my hand, I thought it was going to be a decent shot. I must have set it down short cause it hooked hard on the front part of the lane and ran high leaving the Greek Church,” McDermott said. “I told my teammates afterward that I was more nervous going for 300 this time than any of my previous six perfect games. I think I just got a little too juiced up and wanted it too bad.”

With 539 going into his last game, McDermott had his eyes set on 800.

“I guess I was looking to redeem myself for the half-count 295 game,” he said. “I knew exactly what I needed, and I was focused on getting it.”

McDermott started the last game with a turkey and then spared a 10 pin in the fourth frame. He then ran the next five to set up the all-or-nothing 10th frame.

“I thought I needed the first two strikes for 800,” he said. “All three shots were stuffed. I was pretty pumped up after the second ball in the 10th. Afterward, I realized I only needed the first strike for 800.”

McDermott credits his ability to block out the last ball of the first game as the key to his series.

“I knew I needed to get back focused immediately,” he said. “There was a lot of good-natured ribbing coming my way for leaving the half-count. Maybe that helped me to get relaxed quickly and get back focused on the task at hand.”

McDermott’s big night, though, didn’t crack his top three favorite bowling moments.

“Winning team titles with Finnagan’s and Salty’s will always be at the top of my list,” he said. “My first 300 and 800 are right behind those championships.”

McDermott rolled a career high series of 820 in the same league in 2007.