It was merely a matter of getting over the jitters.

That's how Jeff Blank, 34, of Connoquenessing explains his recent rash of 300-games on the bowling alley.

A bowler since age 12, Blank had bowled only one perfect game in his lifetime — at Freeway Lanes in 2000 — before turning in a trio of them in six months.

He bowled a 300 last April in league play at Freeway Lanes. He bowled perfect games in each of the first two weeks of Butler City League play this season at Sherwood Lanes.

"That's all it was about, getting over the jitters," Blank said. "I've had the first 10 strikes in a row I don't know how many times.

"I'd always do something stupid and blow it. I've had my share of 289s, let's put it that way."

Blank has put together quite a resume regardless of the perfect games. He is averaging 220 so far this year and averaged a career-high 224 last year at Freeway.

Back in 1993-94, he teamed with Kurt Huff, Brian Marcellus, Kevin English and Warren Watson to set the Butler County record for highest team 3-game series at 3,646.

When he was 16, Blank rolled a 700-series at the since-closed Zelie Lanes.

He had not bowled all summer prior to opening the current Butler City League bowling season on a Tuesday night.

"I never bowl during the summer," Blank said. "I'm a truck driver and that's my busy season."

He opened the season in impressive fashion, however, bowling a 739 series on opening night, including the 300 in Game 3 that evening.

"All 12 strikes were solid hits," Blank said of the perfect game. "There really wasn't any drama about any of them.

"The thrill is always there, no matter how often or how many times you bowl a 300. You have to have a lot of luck because even a solid hit may not go … It's one of the toughest things to do in sports, I think."

Though Blank bowled another perfect game during the league's second week, he failed to duplicate the 700 series. He wound up with a 697.

Again, the perfect game occurred in the third game.

"What's nice about Sherwood is it gives the bowler a pretty good shot," Blank said. "If you find your mark and hold it, the ball is gonna drive the pocket consistently."

Blank is the only Butler County bowler with a pair of 300-games so far this season.

One thing he hasn't done is roll an 800 series. His career-best is 795.

"Coming into this year, the 800 is my ultimate goal. "I guess it always will be until I do it."

Blank bowled in youth leagues at age 12 and competed in his first men's league at age 16.

During his first year of youth league bowling, his average was 112.

"I was pretty bad," he said. "When I was in high school, I started working behind the counter at Freeway Lanes and began bowling quite a bit.

"I was bowling three or four times per week and my average took off."

After bowling at Zelie Lanes for five years, Blank moved over to Freeway Lanes. He still bowls in a Thursday night league there and averages 212 in it this season.

He's been a regular league bowler at Sherwood Lanes for 10 years now.

"Freeway gives you a playable shot, a fair shot," Blank said. "But if you dial in at Sherwood, you can really shoot some high scores."