Chris Ellis has bowled since about the time he could walk, so he doesn't often get nervous at the lanes.

Even when he's knocking on the door of a perfect game, it's no big deal.

If he messes up, he figures, there will always be another day.

Last Tuesday night at Berks Lanes was different.

As Ellis stepped up to the line for the final frame of his second game, he had a chance to achieve something he hadn't before.

It was enough to make his palms a little sweaty.

"I started to think about what I was actually doing," Ellis said. "It was the first time I thought of that, and I got nervous. I took a half-second break, and then I threw one of my best shots."

It was another strike.

Ellis completed a rare feat: back-to-back 300 games.

For a 29-year-old who works in the state welfare department and bowls in two recreational leagues each week, it was his biggest thrill in the sport.

Ellis has long been a fixture at the lanes. His father, Lou, used to operate Bowl-O-Rama, and Chris was first taught to bowl when he was 2 years old.

He rolled a 297 when he was 15 and delivered the first of his 15 perfect games when he was 17.

Bowling became a lifelong pursuit, a way to challenge himself at something he enjoyed.

"This is the first sport I ever did," said Ellis, a West Lawn resident who went to Exeter. "You make as much or as little of it as you want. It's a competition against yourself in the end. You just try to keep improving."

Ellis never much thought about the possibility of rolling back-to-back perfectos until he started to head in that direction Tuesday.

About halfway through the second game, people started clapping and paying closer attention.

When he connected on his 24th consecutive strike, he received the loudest ovation of his life.

"The cheer was really cool," Ellis said. "I don't remember ever feeling like that."

Ellis continued the streak to 25 strikes before leaving the four pin on Frame 26. He then rolled seven more consecutive strikes on his way to a 258 in the final game.

The 858 series was his best by 14 pins.

"I was just kind of locked in," Ellis said. "I couldn't miss."

After his series ended, Ellis put up a Facebook notice to let people know about his achievement.

He received a flood of congratulations from the bowling community and his co-workers.

The next night he was back at it, competing in the Fleetwood Social League at Hiester Lanes.

Ellis said he sets yearly goals for motivation. This year he wanted to average 230 at Berks Lanes and Hiester Lanes, and he said he's right around that number.

The consecutive 300s certainly helped.

"I'm not the best bowler around here," Ellis said. "Sometimes you're just on."

For one night, Ellis was just about perfect.

Bucky wrote:The Kid left 7-8-9-10 on first ball. Didn't think that was even possible.

Bucky wrote:The Kid left 7-8-9-10 on first ball. Didn't think that was even possible.

pacino wrote:Guy I know from bowling growing up just bowled a 300 in the PBA Tournament of Champions. Big deal, his first pro tournament 300.

standings thus far

he's 51st currently and about 60 under the cut to move on. hope he puts together some big games

only other guy i know is currently 105 of 113. yikes. 5 of the top 10 are lefties, LOL

pacino wrote:

Bucky wrote:The Kid left 7-8-9-10 on first ball. Didn't think that was even possible.

how old is he? i could see that is he's throwing a 6 pounder and is under 10 years old

Stripes wrote:

pacino wrote:Guy I know from bowling growing up just bowled a 300 in the PBA Tournament of Champions. Big deal, his first pro tournament 300.

standings thus far

he's 51st currently and about 60 under the cut to move on. hope he puts together some big games

only other guy i know is currently 105 of 113. yikes. 5 of the top 10 are lefties, LOL

And of course, the year I finally decide to rejoin the PBA and enter the Tournament of Champions(yes, I am eligible), the lefties will be shut out.

pacino wrote:

Stripes wrote:

pacino wrote:Guy I know from bowling growing up just bowled a 300 in the PBA Tournament of Champions. Big deal, his first pro tournament 300.

standings thus far

he's 51st currently and about 60 under the cut to move on. hope he puts together some big games

only other guy i know is currently 105 of 113. yikes. 5 of the top 10 are lefties, LOL

And of course, the year I finally decide to rejoin the PBA and enter the Tournament of Champions(yes, I am eligible), the lefties will be shut out.

Scores appear through the roof.