BUTLER TWP — From college walk-on to major league prospect?

Alex Ziegler hopes to make the climb.

Butler’s senior centerfielder is headed to California (Pa.) University as a walk-on this fall, choosing the Vulcans over Youngstown State and Penn State-Behrend.

He will be roommates with Golden Tornado teammate Mick Fennell, a pitcher-second baseman who accepted a scholarship to Cal earlier this year.

“I like the coaching staff and the winning program there,” Ziegler said. “And I feel like there’s an opportunity for me.”

A consistent hitter as a two-year starter at Butler, Ziegler has not committed an error this spring and has stolen eight bases in nine attempts. He has 16 hits in 39 at bats this season with an on-base percentage of nearly .450.

Ziegler is carrying a 3.3 overall grade point average at Butler — nearly a 4.0 this year — and plans to major in sports management.

“My dream is to get drafted after my junior year,” he said. “I want to continue in baseball as long as I can. I’d love to play the game my entire life.”

Ziegler will play summer baseball in Youngstown this year after playing Butler Federation ball last summer.

“The competition in that (Youngstown) league is fierce and I want to push myself as much as I can leading into trying to make Cal’s roster,” he said. “I feel good about it.”

A consistent .300 hitter in his years as a junior varsity and varsity high school player, Ziegler has been playing baseball for 14 years.

California’s veteran center fielder, Troy Handza, is graduating this year after hitting .298 on the season.

“I’m confident I can do it,” Ziegler said of possibly taking over that position.

Making the team is his first priority and that is a daunting task itself. Vulcans coach Mike Conte estimates he has 60 walk-on tryouts per year.

“But a lot of those kids are nameless, people we’ve never seen before,” Conte said. “We do know about Alex. We’ve seen him play and he’s got a nice swing.

“There are no guarantees, but if he earns the playing time, it will be there, just like with anyone else.”

Matt Peters started every game as a freshman shortstop for California this spring and hit over .300. Two freshman pitchers, GJ Senchak and Dave Kucencic, made numerous starts on the mound for the Vulcans.

Conte is 450-312-4 in 16 years at Cal, including six PSAC West titles and seven PSAC Tournament appearances. The Vulcans won the conference in 2004 and 2010.

California finished 26-24 this year.

“If you start a team of talented freshmen against a team of talented juniors, the experience factor will favor the older team,” Conte reasoned. “We’d prefer to start juniors and seniors, but that doesn’t mean freshmen can’t play for us. A number of them have.”

Ziegler has played basketball and indoor soccer over the years, primarily using those sports to stay in shape for baseball.

“I need to work on strengthening my hitting for the next level,” he said. “I want to work on my running, too, train my legs more so maybe I can pitch a few innings for them (Cal), too.

“I want to be an asset to the team any way I can.”