Butler County American Legion baseball definitely has a new look this spring.

The 2008 season begins Thursday with four of the nine teams sporting first-year managers. Three other teams have skippers in only their second seasons.

"There are a lot of new faces around," said Zelienople manager Tom Schneider, who is in his 19th year. "But the league is as balanced as ever. Anybody can beat anybody."

Among the changes in the leaguethis season are:

• Butler Township, West Sunbury and Karns City will not field teams.

• Veteran managers Gene Zawrotuk (Butler Township) and Bob Steiner (Mars) are no longer coaching.

• League president Dess Schnur, East Butler's manager for 24 years, will serve as an assistant coach this year.

• Paul Malley, manager of defending league champion Prospect, stepped down and is being replaced by Brandon Ray, who is four months too old to be eligible to return as a player.

"A lot of the guys on this team are my good buddies,"Ray said. "They were always trusting of me in big-game situations as a player and I'm sure it will be the same way for me as a manager.

"Most of our players are coming back and our pitching is very deep. I expect us to be able to contend again."

Carl Hays, the new manager in East Butler, has been working with that current group of boys since they were 5.

"Having Dess stay with us really gives us a nice blend,"Hays said. "His knowledge of the game, of this league and of American Legion baseball will be a great asset.

"You never know with pitching how guys will perform all year and if they'll stay healthy. But we've got some experienced arms, no doubt about that."

Here is a look at prospective BCALlineups this season:

Butler City

•

Manager: Jerry Piroch, fourth year•

On the field: P-Jimmy McKissick, Jose Cumba;

C-Jamie Masciarelli,

1B-Billy Roberts,

2B-Brandon Lamotte or Wes Henderson,

SS-Brian Anthony,

3B-Chris Codispot,

LF-Ken Rosenbauer,

CF-Clark Liebler,

RF-Josh McBride•

Home field:Pullman ParkCenter Township•

Manager:Mike Campbell, second year•

On the field:P-Zach Sessa, Jon Ford, Matt Maloy;

C-Cory Campbell,

1B-Eddie Nowacki,

2B-Cole Baxter,

SS-Alex Martini,

3B-Cody Zabicki,

LF-Todd Wiest,

CF-Randy Hepler,

RF-Jacob Thompson•

Home field:Pullman ParkCranberry Township•

Manager:Rick Chapman, second year•

On the field:P-Matt Carroll, David Dum;

C-Greg Chapman,

1B-Zach Golden,

2B-Chris Inman,

SS-Dylan Creedon,

3B-Zach Verona,

LF-Bradley Zaffuno,

CF-Vinny Paine or Ernie Kuhs,

RF-Alex Verona•

Home field: Cranberry Township Community ParkEast Butler•

Manager:Carl Hays, first year•

On the field:P-Nick Rossmiller, Greg Hays, Dallas O'Donnell;

C-Ryan Geibel,

1B-Rossmiller or O'Donnell,

2B-Evan Oswald,

SS-Ryan Armahizer,

3B-Hays or Eric Reges,

LF-Mike Bresnahan,

CF-Bill Coleman,

RF-Derek Hays•

Home field:East Butler Baseball ComplexMars•

Manager: Bill Trapp, first year•

On the field:P-Ryan Schroth, Lee Lawver;

C-Justin Vancheri,

1B-Zach Bear,

2B-Chris Herold or Ryan Canter,

SS-Schroth,

3B-Sean Roach,

LF-Lawver,

CF-Josh Bender,

RF-Danny Trapp•

Home field:Chester Marburger Field and Callery FieldMeridian•

Manager:Butch Master, second year•

On the field:P-Luke Dugger, Matt Monnie, Zach Vasey,

C-Ryan McCleary or Tanner Master,

1B-Corey Achecinski,

2B-Jake Huey,

SS-Caleb Trombatt,

3B-Vasey,

LF-Nick Bellisario,

CF-Dugger or Master,

RF-Josh Miller•

Home field:Connoquenessing Community ParkProspect•

Manager:Brandon Ray, first year•

On the field:P-Travis McDougall, Nick Cress, Mark White, Ryan Ferguson, Jesse Badgett;

C-Ferguson,

1B-Josh Weitzel,

2B-Matt Corner,

SS-Badgett,

3B-Brandon Bonzo,

LF-Cress,

CF-McDougall,

RF-Jared Augistino or Derrick Orloski•

Home field: Prospect Boys and Girls ParkSaxonburg•

Manager: John Lefever, first year•

On the field:P-Brandon Wissinger, Mark Stawecki, Tyler Geary;

C-Wissinger or Jeff Kolish,

1B-Rob Briggs,

2B-Andy Lefever,

SS-Stush Antoszyk,

3B-Cody Vaughan,

LF-Kyle Reiser,

CF-Matt Lefever,

RF-Tristen Sharer•

Home field: Butler County Community CollegeZelienople•

Manager:Tom Schneider, 19th year•

On the field:P-Nick Perry, Jesse Muto;

C-Andrew Verba,

1B-Tad Forsythe,

2B-Brody Webster,

SS-Perry or Josh Mann,

3B-Russell King or Trey Skalos,

LF-Matt Brittner,

CF-James Peffer,

RF-Julian Donnatelli•

Home field:Zelienople Community Park