Steve Barrett Jr. isn’t sure how to explain it.

He’s just been enjoying it.

The 18-year-old Barrett, fresh out of Albert Lea High School, has been hotter than any bowler in recent memory at Holiday Lanes. From Nov. 21 to Dec. 11, he rolled three perfect games in league competition. He had another 300 Nov. 26 in a tournament at New Hope Bowl, giving him four perfect games in a span of about three weeks.

So what’s his secret?

&uot;I don’t have any idea,&uot; said Barrett. &uot;I still practice every day, but I used to practice a lot more when I was with the high school team. I’m probably a little better with the mental aspect now.&uot;

And that definitely came into play on the first 300 game, shot during the 8-Ball League.

&uot;The nerves were just unbelievable,&uot; said Barrett. &uot;You don’t even feel like you’re throwing the ball.&uot;

It was just as intense for the second 300, according to Barrett, because it came in an unfamiliar setting.

&uot;The third and fourth ones, it was just kind of disbelief,&uot; said Barrett. &uot;It left me speechless. Most people don’t have one in their career, and I had one a week.&uot;

A bowler for eight years, Barrett currently competes in five leagues and carries an average of 221 per game. His best series came with his latest 300, a 798 during the 5 B’s League.

Barrett was a member of the 2000 ALHS conference championship bowling team and an all-conference bowler as a senior. He had a 298 and 299 game, both in 2000.

Barrett is working at Holiday Lanes and plans to attend Riverland Community College next fall.

He also, of course, has entertained a thought or two about a possible future on the lanes.

&uot;It’s any kid’s dream, once you find something you’re good at, to see how far you can take it,&uot; said Barrett. &uot;But for now, I just want to be a competitive tournament player.&uot;