Jim Hepler's friends refer to him as a house bowler.

That's because the Butler County Bowling Association's second vice president hasn't fared too well on the road.

"I've bowled in the state tournament for 15 years or so and have only cashed a handful of times," Hepler said. "My tournament history hasn't been very good."

That could change this year as Hepler, 42, produced an all-events score of 1,946 last weekend, which was good enough for fourth place on the all-events scratch leader board through three weeks of the Pennsylvania State Bowling Association Tournament.

Of course, this year's tournament is being held at Family Bowlaway and Sherwood Lanes on weekends through June 20. Hepler averaged 220 in a league at Sherwood Lanes this season.

"My friends told me to do this on the road next year and they'll be impressed," Hepler said.

Hepler rolled a 593 series in the team event at Sherwood, then put together a 676 series in singles and a 677 in doubles at Family Bowlaway.

His highest game among the nine was a 244. He connected for strikes in the first seven frames, then split in the eighth and opened in the ninth.

"I blew it, but I'll take it," Hepler said. "My goal was to bowl a 1,900 (all-events) and I did that."

Hepler finished second in Butler County with a 225-average in 1996 - Lance Rihn had a 226 - and has won the BCBA's team, doubles actual and handicap, singles and all-events titles during the past 12 years.

He teamed with Geoff Foringer to win the handicap doubles county title last year, rolling his second career 300 game and an 815 series.

Hepler began bowling at age 9 and participated in the YABA program. His 9-year-old daughter participates in YABA bowling now and Hepler coaches the YABA program on Saturday mornings at Sherwood Lanes.

"I appreciated everything I learned about bowling when I was a kid and I'm happy to pass that along to young bowlers now," Hepler said.

Zelie Lanes is second in the team-handicapped division with a score of 3,329.

The five-man team consists of team captain Jerry Higley of Prospect, Robert Leonberg of Rochester, James Banyay of Evans City, Bryan Yeck of Freedom and Dave Yeck of Rochester.

Banyay carries the highest average in the group at 193. Four of the bowlers participated in their first state tournament. Banyay and Bryan and Dave Yeck are teammates in a Tuesday night league at Zelienople Lanes. Higley and Leonberg bowl in the league as well.

"We certainly didn't expect to be in second," Banyay said. "But in a handicapped tournament everybody stands a chance."

Pennsylvania State

Bowling Tournament

Current Standings (after 3 weeks)

Team Handicapped

1. Mifflinburg Moose #2 (Central Pa.) 3,570

2. Zelie Lanes (Butler County) 3,329

3. Charlie's Crew (St. Mary's) 3,270

4. BPOE 612 #4 (Seneca Highlands) 3,252

5. Pappy's Boyz #1 (Indiana) 3,247

6. BPOE 612 #5 (Seneca Highlands) 3,234

7. The Family Five (Allentown) 3,232

8. NFL #2 (Greater Pittsburgh) 3,227

9. BPOE 612 #3 (Seneca Highlands) 3,223

10. Marianna Lyceum #2 (Washington) 3,217

(lowest score to cash: 2,978)

Team Scratch

1. Brookfield Pro Shop #1 (Bucks County) 3,106

2. Maximum Benefits #2 (Washington) 2,917

3. Dickens Cider (Seven Mountains) 2,906

4. Byllye Lanes #6 (Bradford) 2,899

5. Team Yuengling (Washington) 2,869

6. Holiday #6 (Greater Pittsburgh) 2,811

7. Two King's Pizza B (Hazleton) 2,801

8. 5 Stooges (Kittanning) 2,800

9. Pizza's Beverage #1 (St. Mary's) 2,778

10. Penn State (Pottstown) 2,772

Doubles Handicapped

1. Greg Walter-Doug Walter (Central Pa.) 1,596

2. Brian McHale-Anthony Blackwell Sr. (Pottsville) 1,480

3. Eugene Jaskiewicz-Stanley Odyniec (Greater Philadelphia) 1,477

4. William Bauer-Timothy Foy (Pottstown) 1,471

5. Kurt Witmer-Bryan Musser (Seven Mountains) 1,462

6. Jason Kizis-Carl Kizis (Central Pa.) 1,457

7. Daniel Dickson-Michael Parcheta (Greater Philadelphia) 1,455

8. Donnie Fisher-Kenneth Hoover (Altoona) 1,449

9. Greg Shingler-Anthony Pecora (Johnstown) 1,439

10. Eugene Harding-Henry Hunsberger Sr. (Pottstown) 1,438

(lowest score to cash: 1,277)

Doubles Scratch

1. William Bauer-Timothy Foy (Pottstown) 1,471

2. Leroy Hetrick-Jason Cicali (Pottstown) 1,386

3. Scott Quinn-Kevin Quinn (Bradford) 1,375

4. Donnie Fisher-Kenneth Hoover (Altoona) 1,323

5T. Brian Croushore-Bob Dail Jr. (Bucks County) 1,322

5T. Lee Zimmerman-Jonathan Hackenberg (Central Pa.) 1,322

7. Clair Dacheux-Daniel Sneddon (York County) 1,320

8. George Hanson-Chris Hickman (Pottstown) 1,309

9. Clair Banks Jr.-Brian McConnell (Altoona) 1,307

10. Dean Hess-Jason Beissel (Reading) 1,302

Singles Handicapped

1. William Casterline (Wyoming Valley) 786

2. Michael Parcheta (Greater Philadelphia) 762

3. Doug Walter (Central Pa.) 754

4. Lee Robison Sr. (Reading) 753

5T. Greg Shingler (Johnstown) 752

5T. Daniel Henritzy (Palmerton) 752

5T. Michael Laverty (Central Pa.) 752

5T. Chris Vaccaro (Seven Mountains) 752

9. Herbert Bowser (Kittanning) 750

10. Mark Primerano (Seneca Highlands) 748

(lowest score to cash: 643

Singles Scratch

1. Lee Robison Sr. (Reading) 748

2. Ryan May (Reading) 727

3T. Lawrence Parks (Johnstown) 710

3T. Kevin Quinn (Bradford) 710

5. Rodrick Baird (Western Crawford) 707

6. Scott Yoder (Seven Mountains) 704

7. Shawn Meckes (Allentown) 701

8. Edward Yorns (Beaver Valley) 698

9. Barrett Raabe (Greater Pittsburgh) 693

10. Nicholas Rishel (Central Pa.) 691

All-Events Handicapped

1. Doug Walter (Central Pa.) 2,308

2. Jason Kizis (Central Pa.) 2,226

3. Joe Galsick (Seneca Highlands) 2,209

4. Michael Laverty (Central Pa.) 2,206

5. William Casterline (Wyoming Valley) 2,157

6. Carl Kizis (Central Pa.) 2,148

7. Greg Walter (Central Pa.) 1,134

8. Michael Parcheta (Greater Philadelphia) 2,125

9. Patrick Schauer (St. Mary's) 2,117

10T. Fred Ironside Jr. (Seven Mountains) 2,112

10T. Shannon Kielkopf (Pottstown) 2,112

All-Events Scratch

1. Bob Dail Jr. (Bucks County) 2,084

2. John Fichter (Greater Pittsburgh) 1,985

3. Terry Einsig (York County) 1,969

4. James Hepler (Butler County) 1,946

5. Kenneth McAfoos (Indiana) 1.940

6. James Nealer (Punxsutawney) 1,935

7. Edward Yorns Jr. (Beaver Valley) 1,934

8. Todd Benner (Pottstown) 1,921

9. Jerry Manley (Troy) 1,914

10. Richard Hildebrand (Butler County) 1,896