Judging from news coverage, local officials put Butler's best face forward Thursday as a local contingent welcomed representatives of baseball's Frontier League to the city.

The visit by league representatives was part of this city's attempt to attract a minor league baseball team to what essentially will be a new Pullman Park.

Perhaps Mike Kelly, chairman of the city redevelopment authority and a longtime member of the Pullman Park Trust, said it best:

"Our history leads to a natural marriage with a team. We are excited about what baseball can do for Butler and Butler County and what Butler can do for baseball."

League commissioner Bill Lee alluded to 2007 as a more realistic year for Butler to become home to a team after learning that the proposed work at the site of the current ballpark would not be completed for at least nine or 10 months.

That kind of timetable will remove some of the pressure that otherwise will be associated with the project. Butler's baseball image would suffer if unanticipated delays wreaked havoc on a local team's ability to meet its obligations to the league and the team's schedule.

Having two years before the first pitch is thrown - assuming, of course, that the city is given a team - will give the city and surrounding area more time to develop many ways to effectively promote the team's presence.

The fact that about 10 league representatives made the trip to Butler is a signal that local officials are actively working toward attracting a league franchise. It is to be presumed that such efforts will remain on track.

A minor league baseball team holds the potential for many economic benefits to the community as well as giving Butler positive exposure in other areas of the country.

The rest of this year and all of next year should be dedicated to building local interest in minor league baseball, in anticipation of hearing the words "Play ball!" in the spring of 2007.