The Butler County Horseshoe League is starting a new season tonight.

But the league itself is getting old.

The average pitcher's age in the 10-team league is nearly 50. Roughly 40 percent of the league members are older than 60.

"It's becoming a concern," H.T. Spillway co-captain John LeFevre said. "Our top averages are the players pitching from 30 feet."

Regulation pitching distance is 40 feet, but players older than 70, younger than 16 and women are permitted to pitch from 30 feet.

One of the league's eldest players, Dick Graham of Harmony, is in his 80s but still pitches from 40 feet away and carries a pitching accuracy of 30 percent.

"Dick is the exception, not the rule," LeFevre said.

The team roster limit is 25, but only Keihl Tire and O'Donnell's are at that number. Seven of the 10 teams have fewer than 20 members.

County Line has 16 pitchers and had five team members die during the offseason.

"A lot of the older players are dying off," County Line co-captain Marly McPherson said. "Horseshoes seem to be a lost sport. It's tough to get young people interested.

"Kids want to watch TV or play video games these days. No one wants to go outside anymore."

The Butler County League began in 1953. Graham has been in the circuit for nearly 40 years. Butch Neff of O'Donnell's has been in the league for 46 seasons, Ron Breth of East Butler and Snuffy Covert of Keihl Tire have played for more than 50 years.

"It's just the lifestyle of people today," Neff said. "People are so busy and our league does travel all over Butler County. It's hard to get people committed to it."

Neff said horseshoes was a sport passed down through generations, but not so much anymore.

"There was a time when everybody was playing," he said. "Family reunions, picnics — that's what you did. Every little community had its own baseball team and everyone pitched horseshoes.

"Kids get started so young in sports today. Kids 3, 4, 5 years old are playing soccer or some other activity. Adults don't have much time to play now as a result."

Larry Steiner, 73, is captain of Hooker's league entrant and said he'd like to see more families and women participate.

"We need some younger players, no doubt about it," he said. "The youngest on our team is about 50 years old. Overall, though, our caliber of play is still very good.

"When we go to nationals, Butler County always does very well. We still have some of the best pitchers in the state."

League matches begin at 7 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. A match consists of 18 games and a player can't play more than three games a night.

League play is held each Tuesday night through September and teams include County Line, East Butler, Harmony, Hooker, H.T. Spillway, Keihl Tire, O'Donnell's, Roadhouse, West Sunbury and Zelienople.

"You need 12 pitchers to get through a match," McPherson said. "A lot of teams try to match their better players up, so there is strategy involved that way.

"It used to be a fun game, but some of the newer players want it to be more competitive. There's room for the very skilled players and the ones starting out," he added.

"We have an aging league, but we're still doing pretty good," Neff said. "We've managed to keep all 10 teams in the league over the years."

Those who want to join the league can visit www.butlercountyhorseshoes.org, contact any team captain or call LeFevre at 724-352-3180.