"It's like a miracle," Denise Roth said after watching husband Mark Roth, a Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Famer and one of the greatest bowlers in history, walk unaided on the approach and throw a 12-pound bowling ball for the first time in more than 14 months.

Since Roth, 59, suffered a massive stroke in late May 2009 that left the left side of his body paralyzed, he has refused to give up the fight to regain his life. His first public appearance following his stroke was at the GEICO Mark Roth Plastic Ball Championship in late March in West Babylon, N.Y., motivated him to continue his rehabilitation.

He followed that appearance with a trip to Columbus, Ohio, in April where he spent a week with his former PBA Senior Tour competitors.

Last week, with the assistance of a recently-developed device called a "WalkAide" that provides electronic stimulation to eliminate a common stroke condition called "drop foot," the 34-time PBA Tour champion made another milestone leap forward.

With the WalkAide, he was able to lift his left foot almost normally and walk "without tripping over his toes," Denise Roth said. And with the ability to stand and walk on his own, Roth decided to test the device on a bowling lane in Fulton, N.Y., where he quickly worked his way up from a 6-pound ball to a 12-pounder, Denise said.

"Mark had use of the device for a seven-day trial and it was amazing," Denise said. "He could walk faster and farther than any time since his stroke. He actually bowled with confidence. He was getting around 100 percent better, which helped him get some badly-needed exercise.

"He had to turn the WalkAide back in after the trial period, so now we have to wait to see what the insurance company says (about getting it back)," she added. "It's a wonderful device. It actually took some of his hip pain away, too."

 

PBA Regional Roundup: Former exempt players Sapp, Garber post victories

In a weekend of limited PBA Regional activity, a pair of former PBA Exempt Players posted victories.

In the Central Region's third annual Lefeld Implement Classic, covered live on Xtra Frame, Derek Sapp of Keokuk, Iowa, won his fifth PBA Regional title and $4,500 on Sunday, Aug. 15, at Pla-Mor Lanes in Coldwater, Ohio. Sapp defeated PBA Hall of Famer Parker Bohn III of Jackson, N.J., 206-203, in the championship match.

Exempt players Ronnie Russell of Marion, Ind., finished third; Steve Jaros of Yorkville, Ill., finished fifth, and Chris Loschetter of Avon, Ohio finished seventh.

In the West/Northwest Region, Wayne Garber of Modesto, Calif., won $2,000 and his fifth career PBA Regional title Sunday in the Harbor Lanes Open at Harbor Lanes in Eureka, Calif.

In the Midwest Region, amateur Richard Ness of Belleville, Ill., defeated Brian Valenta of Lockport, Ill., by 62 pins to outlast a field of 41 non-champions in the St. Charles Lanes Challenger Open in St. Charles, Mo. Ness finished with a 9-3 match play record and a total of 4,430 pins for 20 games, including match play bonus pins.

The victory in the tournament for bowlers who have never won a PBA title was Ness' first, but because he is an amateur, Ness does not get credit for a PBA title nor is he eligible for entry into the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions.

On Sunday, Aug. 22, Xtra Frame provides final-day coverage of the PBA Central Region Elite Motors/Backhaul Direct Open from Crest Lanes in Marion, Ind. Xtra Frame then travels north to Airport Lanes in Jackson, Mich., for live coverage of the final day of the PBA Senior Jackson Open from Airport Lanes. The Jackson Open is the final event of the 2010 PBA Senior Tour season.

All PBA title holders (National, Senior, Regional, Senior Regional, Women's Series champions) who are PBA members in good standing as of October 1 are eligible for the 2011 PBA Tournament of Champions.

 

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