The 2017 Butler County American Legion baseball season gets under way Tuesday — with a few notable omissions.

Butler City, Mars, Slippery Rock, Valley and Kiski are not fielding teams this year, due to lack of numbers or commitment.

“The whole thing has just collapsed,” BCAL president and longtime Butler City manager Jerry Piroch said. “There's just a lack of kids.

“I only had five players coming back and a couple of them could not commit to playing because of work. This is the first time in years I haven't had a team.”

One former Butler City player — outfielder Hayden Kretzer — will be playing for his third different team in three seasons. He started out with Meridian, went over to Butler City last season and is now with East Butler.

Two other former Butler City players — Nick Ray and Aaron Michaux — will platy for Meridian this year. Meridian has a new manager as Tyler Friel has taken over for Butch Master.

Center Township, Cranberry, East Butler, A-C Valley/Karns City, Saxonburg and West Sunbury join East Butler and Meridian in comprising the now seven-team league.

“I'm not too worried about it,” Saxonburg manager Mike Hickey said of the drop in teams. “This stuff is cyclical. The (legion age) kids just aren't there right now.

“Saxonburg has three Colt League and two Pony League teams. The kids are still there. It will come back.”

The Butler Prep Colt League folded this season. West Sunbury manager Brian Williams hopes that isn't a bad sign for area baseball.

“Our legion league may not be far behind it,” Williams said. “I'm hoping some teams come back, but with travel all and other different leagues available now ... It doesn't look good. It's a shame.”

Much of Knoch's high school roster will be playing for Saxonburg while much of Moniteau's will suit up for West Sunbury.

Three collegiate players — Logan Hickey, Jeff Smolen and Alex Stobert — will return to Saxonburg's squad this season. West Sunbury has three veteran players as well in Josh Adamson, Lake Pry and Jake Jewart.

Cranberry reportedly has a number of Seneca Valley players and a few from Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic.

A-C Valley and Karns City have combined forces to join the BCAL this season. Shawn Pistorius is one of the coaches and said five A-C Valley kids have joined the team. Karns City had been out of the league for two years.

“We've got a young team,” Pistorius said. “All but five of our players are 15 or 16, young enough to be playing Colt ball.

“We've got 17 kids rostered. Some may not play much, but you need extra guys for when vacations start.”

East Butler will have a veteran team as nine players return, including top pitchers David Matson and Hunter Scott. Brian Hildebrand and Scott will be fourth-year BCAL players.

“The number of teams in this league always fluctuates,” East Butler manager Russ Scott said. “We were down to seven teams around 2011 or so, too. Teams go away, teams come back.

“We got knocked out by Saxonburg the past two years, Our returning players are hoping to take it all the way this time.”

Saxonburg is two-time defending BCAL champion and won 20 of 24 games last year.

Center Township manager Bob Kline is in his first year with that team. He has a full 18-player roster to work with.

“We'll be OK,” Kline said. “There's a lot of talent in this league. You may feel good about your roster, but you're never sure what other teams have.”

Center Township has a pair of veteran players in Caleb Baxter and Nick Richards “who can help us pretty much everywhere on the field,” Kline said.

The first-place team from the regular season will draw a first-round bye for the BCAL Tournament. All seven teams will play in the postseason.

“Getting that bye is a big deal,” Scott said. “Finishing first will really mean something this year. Everyone's going to be fighting to get that spot.”