The Butler County Area Baseball League is set for Season Two.

While the former BCAL officially severed any ties with American Legion ball last summer — thus renaming itself — its mission remains the same.

“We’re all about community baseball and giving kids a chance to play,” Butler Township manager and BCABL secretary-treasurer Tyler Friel said. “Other than Palomino ball, there aren’t many other options out there.”

The bulk of the BCABL schedule will get under way this week. The nine-team league this year features Butler Township (formerly Meridian), East Butler, Saxonburg, Center Township, Karns City, Kiski, Freeport, Cranberry and Pine-Richland.

West Sunbury dropped out of the league this season, but is expected to return next year.

“They had a bunch of older players on the roster last year and have an extremely young team now,” Cranberry manager and BCABL president Larry Stelitano said of West Sunbury.

“They will play Colt League ball this summer and rejoin the league next year.”

Pine-Richland is a newcomer to the circuit.

“They like the option we provide and they agree with our format,” Friel said. “We’re happy to have them join.”

Returning managers include Stelitano at Cranberry, Des Schnur at East Butler, Joe Hotalski at Freeport, Friel at Butler Township and Pete McMillan at Saxonburg. Brad Ansell is running the Pine-Richland team.

First-year managers are Jeff Lineman at Center Township, Lane Larimore at Karns City and Aaron Albert at Kiski.

Cranberry ended Saxonburg’s three-year reign as league champion last season.

“I like the competitiveness of this league,” Stelitano said. “Only four to six games separated first place from eighth last season and it will likely be that way again.

“Any team can beat any other on any night and the kids enjoy that.”

The regular season will consist of 16 games. The BCABL All-Star Game takes place July 8 at Michelle Krill Memorial Field at Historic Pullman Park. The league will present $1,000 scholarships to three players on that day.

“We’re proud to be able to continue that scholarship program,” Friel said. “It’s a worthwhile way to use funds we would otherwise have to pay as sanctioning fees to legion baseball.”

Schnur, the BCABL’s vice president, emphasized that “all of the money taken in by this league goes back to the players at some point in time.”

All nine teams will be in the postseason. The eighth and ninth-place teams will play a play-in game. That winner will join the other seven in a double-elimination tournament that begins July 9.

The league roster limit is 18.

“The roster numbers across the league are good,” Stelitano said. “Butler Township, Center Township, Cranberry and Pine-Richland are all at 18 players. Saxonburg is close.”

Schnur said East Butler has 15 players rostered “and that’s pretty good for us.”

“Every team in this league is committed to getting the games in,” Stelitano said. “That’s why we have so many weeks to get 16 in. There is plenty of time to accommodate postponements for whatever reason.

“Everyone wants to play. That’s the main thing. And these games should be very entertaining.”