A bowler needs a little luck — and a whole lot of skill — to roll a 300 game.

Such a feat is comparable to getting a hole-in-one in golf in terms of the odds.

To roll three 300-games in the same set for a perfect 900 series isn’t unheard of. It’s been done before.

But it’s rare air indeed.

When 38-year-old Hakim Emmanuel bowled a 900 last week at Westgate Lanes in Brockton, Mass., he became the 27th person on record to ever do so, according to the U.S. Bowling Congress.

Consider the millions of people who bowl across this country every year and it’s mind-boggling.

At last check, four sanctioned Butler County bowlers — Sam Wiley, Kevin Lamka, Brad Buckley and Bill Kraus Jr. — have managed to bowl an 800-series so far this season.

There may have been a couple more to do so since, but you get the point. An 800-series is a monumental achievement in this sport.

The history of bowling in this county is impressive. There are 42 members in the Butler County Bowling Association Hall of Fame right now with other deserving members knocking on the door. John Bulger owns the county record for highest series, producing an 870 at the since-closed Freeway Lanes in Zelienople during the 1998-99 season. The late Ray Henry rolled an 845 at Sherwood Lanes two years earlier.

No one had rolled an 800-series in Butler County until the 1986-87 campaign, when Dee Crowe tallied an 802 at Sherwood Lanes. Tom Fry still holds the county record for highest average in a season, posting a 241.27 in 2005-06 at Sherwood Lanes. The county’s first-ever 200 average was turned in by Ralph Henry in 1960-61 at Lyndora Lanes.

Numbers like these seem astronomical to someone like yours truly.

I’ve never sniffed a 700-series in my lifetime, let alone an 800. My highest game ever is a 267 and I’ve never started a game with more than six consecutive strikes.

Standing on the approach in the 10th frame, trying to secure a perfect game, is something I dream about.

By comparison, BCBA member Jim Hepler has bowled a pair of 300-games in his career — to go with seven 299s.

There are more bowlers like me — averaging 170 or below— taking to the lanes on league nights than there are bowlers the caliber of Hepler, Henry, Fry and Bulger.

Then again, bowlers with averages lower than mine have rolled 300 games. It can happen.

There is hope.

That’s part of the magic of this sport. Show up on league night, sign up for a local or state tournament and you never know what you might do or see.

On any given night, the average Joe could produce a performance worthy of a professional.

Just ask Mr. Emmanuel.

He had never bowled a 300 in his life before bowling three of them on one night.

I doubt that was on his mind when he first unzipped his bowling bag that evening.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle