Mike Rouda

BUTLER TWP — He’s only human.

But on the night of Feb.10, Mike Rouda put forth a super-human effort while bowling in the Armco C League at Sherwood Lanes.

Rouda compiled games of 276, 300 and 299 for an 875 series — including 30 successive strikes at one point — in breaking the record for highest three-game series in Butler County history. The previous mark of 870 was set during the 1998-99 season by John Bulger at then Freeway Lanes in Zelienople.

“I didn’t know the man, but I knew of that record because I used to bowl at Freeway Lanes,” Rouda, 49, of Connoquenessing Township, said. “I never thought I’d have a shot to break it.”

Rouda didn’t start bowling until he was 25.

“My dad bowled and his team needed a sub one night,” Rouda said. “I went along and it just grew from there.”

The first year Rouda was a league regular, he averaged 172. He averaged 185 the next year and was in the 190’s by the end of his third season.

He is averaging 233 bowling for Crossbow Lounge in the Armco C League this season. Rouda carries a 227 average while bowling in the Butler City League, also at Sherwood Lanes. He has bowled 19 perfect games in his career.

His 276 game to begin his record-setting series finished with seven consecutive strikes. After rolling his 19th 300-game in the middle contest, he began his final game with 11 strikes in a row.

“The 12th shot was right in the pocket. It just didn’t carry the 10-pin,” Rouda said. “I thought I had it. I just got into one of those zones. Every shot felt comfortable.”

His older brother, Dave Rouda, Jr., said every shot looked comfortable as well. Other Crossbow Lounge teammates bowling that night were Rouda’s father, Dave, Sr., Cory Barger and Rob Thompson.

“Mike seemed so relaxed on every throw,” his brother said. “He always bowls that way. Nothing rattles him. He’s got a smooth delivery and he’s not the arrogant type at all. He just steps up there and bowls.”

Dave Rouda, Jr., has never bowled a perfect game. He happened to roll a career-high 298 that same night.

“I totally choked on that last shot,” he said, laughing. “I bowl the best game of my life and my younger brother beats it twice the same night.

“He should have had two 300-games. His last shot was perfect. Pins flew all around that 10 and none touched it. That was pretty amazing — and that was an amazing performance.”

Rouda admitted he started thinking about the county record late in the third game.

“I knew I was getting close,” he said. “I couldn’t afford to miss a shot, that was for sure.The longest run of strikes I’d ever had was 20.

“It means a lot to me, getting that record. There’s a lot of bowling history around here. But records are made to be broken. One day, someone will come along and knock me off my pedestal.”

That will take some doing.

“Mike deserves this record,” his brother said. “He’s well-respected in the bowling community. No one has a bad word to say about him.”