When it comes to bowling, Bob Eppinger gets around.

The 21-year-old Oakland Township resident bowls in four leagues per week – in four different houses.

"They all have different oil patterns and I use a different ball in each place,"Eppinger said.

And he succeeds at all of them.

Eppinger is averaging 207 in the Buckhorn League at Family Bowlaway on Monday nights. He is averaging 217 in the Fox's Pizza Den League at Sherwood Lanes on Tuesday nights.

He is averaging 213 in the Alex Sims Memorial League in Beaver Falls on Wednesday nights and is averaging 195 in the Soda Pop and Hoagies League at Meridian Lanes on Saturday evenings.

"I've become a better bowler from bowling at different houses,"Eppinger said. "It really comes in handy at tournaments. That's the reason I bowl at different places.

"If you're used to facing different lane conditions, you adapt that much quicker."

Last year, Eppinger averaged over 200 in all four leagues he competed in. He averaged 222 in 90 games at Sherwood Lanes, 210 in 94 games with the Butler County Traveling League, 208 in 81 games at Bon-Aire Lanes and 207 in 82 games at Meridian Lanes.

He didn't begin bowling until age 12 and spent three years in the youth program at Bon-Aire. At age 16, Eppinger bowled in his first adult league at Bon-Aire.

"I averaged in the low 180's and struggled with my confidence,"he said. "I switched to a league at Sherwood, averaged 203 and I've had the confidence ever since."

Besides bowling in four leagues, Eppinger competes in tournaments on most Sundays. Because he doesn't use his thumb when he bowls, there is extra pressure on his fingers as he releases the ball.

Bowl close to 400 games a season and that takes its toll.

"I can't see myself bowling in four leagues forever,"Eppinger admitted. "My fingers are all ripped up and there's not much I can do about it.

"I've never missed any bowling because of it. I just take the pain. There are nights when my fingers are bleeding by the time I'm done."

Eppinger has one sanctioned 300-game in his career. He rolled it in the Buckhorn League Nov. 20, 2004, at Bon-Aire. He's rolled sanctioned 299 and 298 games as well.

His highest series is 816, though that's non-sanctioned. Eppinger's highest sanctioned series is 771, bowled at Meridian Lanes.

I've been in the neighborhood for a 300 many times,"Eppinger said. "It's tough to polish one of those games off. I think I've rolled 10 279-games this year alone."

It is the unique challenge of bowling that maintains Eppinger's interest in the game.

"Hit a bad shot in golf and you can still save the hole by hitting a great shot on your next try,"he said. "There is no second chance in bowling.

"Once you fail to strike, the perfect game is gone. You can roll a perfect pocket shot and still leave the 10-pin, or the 7-pin if you're a left-hander. This game is not a perfect science.

"My goal is to roll a 900-sherries. That's the ultimate. That's the challenge,"Eppinger added.

Still a young man, Eppinger admits to having thought of turning professional.

"I'd have to get a lot more practice in and get a lot better,"he said. "It's tough to find a really hard shot around here.

"All I want to do is keep improving. Whatever happens, happens."