The finish wasn’t what everybody wanted — or anticipated.

But the 2017 Butler BlueSox baseball season may just be the start of something.

The team completed its ninth season in the Prospect League by setting its home attendance record of 21,968 fans coming through the gates at Kelly Automotive Park.

While that’s a far cry from the Chillicothe Paints and the 58,755 that team attracted to its home games, it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

What was most impressive was the two home crowds the BlueSox played in front of during the league championship series.

Game 2, on a Saturday night, drew 1,059 people. That was with no corporate sponsor for the night, no fireworks, nothing to offer but the BlueSox having a shot at winning its league title.

That was enough.

When Butler lost that second game, a Game 3 was suddenly on the books for 4 p.m. the next day, giving people less than 24 hours notice that game would even exist. Still, nearly 800 people showed up.

This was a likeable team in what proved to be a likeable season. The BlueSox rarely lost at home and the race for the East Division title was tight going down the stretch. The league was fun to watch as well as hitters in the circuit drilled a record 460 home runs this summer.

There was a definite local flavor with Butler graduate Cody Herald managing the team, Butler grads Mark Gross and Wyatt Daugherty, Seneca Valley grad Connor Coward and Knoch grad Alex Stobert all making significant contributions on the mound.

Stobert had a chance for quite the trifecta — a high school state championship with Knoch, Butler County legion title with Saxonburg and a Prospect League title with the BlueSox.

Not to be.

But, again, the BlueSox may gain a lot from a championship loss.

This town proved it can rally around a baseball team comprised of mostly college kids from outside of the area.

Herald’s instant success as a first-year manager in the league, coupled with the positive experience most players and pitchers have when they come here, may encourage more and more collegiate players and their coaches to look at Butler as their summer home.

The BlueSox management make their games entertaining. It’s a fun night out and most people who come to a game for the first time find themselves coming back.

Now the BlueSox need to capitalize on their success by continuing to get the word out on what they have to offer.

Branch out into youth baseball communities. Have Babe the BlueSox Ox and team representatives show up at Little League Opening Days in Mars, Cranberry, Saxonburg, etc.

When the kids are interested, the adults will give it a shot.

Kudos to the Butler BlueSox for a fun, exciting and successful summer.

And a bright future ahead.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle