The Butler BlueSox and Slippery Rock Sliders ended their debut seasons Saturday night at Pullman Park — in typical Prospect League fashion.

Butler graduate Brian Warheit tossed seven efficient innings and Brian Youchak delivered a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning to give the BlueSox a 4-2 victory.

"This league's not only about pitching and defense, it's about getting the clutch hit," BlueSox manager Jason Wuerfel said. "I felt good about having Youchak up there in that situation."

Youchak hit .350 this season and finished second in the league batting race.

"He never gives away an at-bat," Wuerfel said. "He knows how to square up the baseball."

The league's not only about getting the clutch hit. It's about making the critical mistake.

Slippery Rock scored the only run in the first six innings Saturday after Warheit hit consecutive batters with pitches, the runners moving up on an errant pickoff throw by catcher Frank Esposito. Shane Eyler scored on Marcus Breeden's groundout.

Butler finally broke through in the seventh. Slippery Rock University pitcher J.T. Thomas walked Eric Hymel to begin the frame, then allowed him to move to third by throwing the ball away on a pickoff try.

Butler product Aaron Ordy walked and stole second. Brian Billigen was intentionally walked to load the bases and Thomas was removed from the game. Andy Young came on and struck out Zachary Noonan looking.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Youchak singled up the middle. A throw to third sailed into the stands, allowing Billigen to score the third run of the play.

"We turned a one-run single into a three-run single," Sliders manager and Knoch graduate Chase Rowe said. "You can't do that in this league.

"Hitters aren't used to the wooden bats. Runs were at a premium for everybody."

The BlueSox got insurance in the eighth when Noonan doubled and scored on Ordy's infield out. Eyler tripled and scored on Matt Howard's infield single before the Sliders were retired in the ninth.

Warheit therew only 75 pitches in seven innings — 19 pitches in his final three frames. He scattered five hits to end his season at 4-2 with a 3.95 earned run average. His 64 innings pitched were second on the team to Tom Kahl's 66.

"Brian pitches to contact so well," Wuerfel said. "He keeps his pitches low in the strike zone. He's been outstanding the second half of the year. With a similar first half, he'd have been in the All-Star Game.

"He wound up our No. 2 starter behind Kahl. When the season started, I never would have guessed that. The only reason I took Brian out tonight was to give a couple more pitchers a chance to throw in our last game."

Seneca Valley graduate Derek Peluso pitched a scoreless eighth and Anthony Munoz was nicked for a run in the ninth.

Warheit said his slider "wasn't working too well," so he relied on his fastball.

"Just throw strikes and let the fielders do the work," Warheit said. "I love pitching here. You don't have to worry about giving up home runs and our defense is excellent.

"I'm hoping to play here again next year. I loved this whole experience. We all did."

The BlueSox received a standing ovation from the crowd of 740 before the game, and just before Munoz struck out Breeden to end the contest.

Numerous Butler players stayed afterward to sign autographs on the field.

The BlueSox ended the season at 28-26, snapping a three-game losing skid by winning their finale.

"We never did pull away from .500," Wuerfel said. "We'd get a few games over, then slip back again."

The Sliders finished in the cellar of the East Division at 22-31, losing 14 of their final 16 games. Rowe still relished the experience.

"This was the best summer of my entire life," he said. "This league has such a promising future. I'd like to be back here."

Butler graduate Josh Marchinoski pitched a perfect sixth inning for the Sliders, striking out two. He had a 3-3 record with a 3.27 ERA this summer and finished second on the Sliders with 53.1 innings pitched.

Slippery Rock graduate Billy Messer did not play Saturday, but hit .267 for the year, finishing second on the team.

The BlueSox drew 16,690 fans to their 27 home games, an average of 642 to finish sixth in the 11-team league in attendance.

Slippery Rock 010 000 001 — 2 8 3Butler BlueSox 000 000 310 — 4 6 1W: Brian Warheit (7 IP) 1 K, 0 BB.

L: J.T. Thomas (Z\c IP) 0 K, 3 BB.

Slippery Rock (22-31): Derek Carr 2-1B, Derek Diruiscia 1B, Shane Eyler 1B 3B 2-R, Matt Howard 1B RBI, MarcusBreeden 1B RBI, Brad Duffy 1B

Butler (28-26): Brian Billigen 1B, Brian Youchak 1B 2-RBI, Frank Esposito 2B, Eric Hymel 2-1B, Aaron Ordy RBI, Brett Zurliene 1B