Jim Gray is having a bowling season like never before.

The Butler resident is averaging 213 in the Imperial League on Monday nights at Sherwood Lanes. He's never averaged higher than 197 as a full-time bowler in any league before this year.

"I don't know what's going on,"said Gray, 32. "It just seems like I've been on fire all year."

His performance in January demonstrated as much. Gray rolled two perfect games in three weeks — and nearly made it three in four weeks.

That was after going six years without a 300-game.

"I remember my first perfect game well because it was the day after my birthday,"he said. "Oct. 25, 2000, in the French and Belgium League at Sherwood Lanes.

"All 12 shots were right there. There were no anxious moments that way."

Gray also rolled his highest career series — 761 — that night.

Fast forward to Jan. 16 of this year, Imperial League, Sherwood Lanes. Gray connected for nine consecutive pocket strikes until his 10th shot was off the mark.

"It came in a little high, but it still carried,"he said. "I got lucky there. I tucked a couple of shots that night and they still went.

"My knees were so stiff during that 10th frame. I felt like I had never done anything like this."

Two weeks later, Gray was at it again. He took another perfect game into the 10th frame, only felt more relaxed.

"I was calm and comfortable," he said. "I didn't hesitate on any of the shots. I almost knew it was gonna happen."

The following week, it nearly happened again. Gray struck on his first nine shots, then rushed his first shot of the 10th frame and missed.

"My teammates laughed at me," he said. "I have to admit it. I choked."

Gray bowls with Richie Kline, Chad Reges, Darryl Thompson, Mark Undercuffler and Dan Manning in the Imperial League. He bowls in the Strikes &Spares League at Family Bowlaway on Tuesday nights, where he averages 189.

He averaged 215 as a substitute in the Butler County Traveling League three years ago. Other than that, Gray's previous best average in a season was 197.

"I worked behind the counter at Sherwood Lanes for a number of years, but I wasn't a bowler then,"Gray said. "People kept asking me why."

His final year of working at Sherwood was in 2000. He never participated in a bowling league until the 1996-97 season.

Gray admitted that years of watching bowlers at Sherwood got him interested in the game.

"I just wasn't into it when I was younger," he said. "But the years I worked there, I watched all those bowlers. There were a lot of good ones and I learned from them.

"After sitting back, doing my job, watching what was going on ... one day I went out, bought a ball and got to it."

He's been pretty good ever since.

"Istill don't have an 800 series,"Gray said. "That's what I want."

His run of 300 games has dried up as well — for the time being.

"Now my teammates say I'm overdue," he said.