BUTLER TWP — The Butler County Sports Hall of Fame has announced its inductions for 2013.

The 48th annual BCSHOF induction banquet takes place April 27 at 6 p.m. in the Crystal Ball Room at the Butler Days Inn.

This year’s inductees include John Cavanaugh, Charles “Chud” Cunningham, Karissa Kusick, Erin Ward Witman, Nick Reiser and the late Gilbert Elliott.

Gene Zawrotuk is being inducted through a new category known as the Lifetime Achievement Award. Candidates in this category are selected because of contributions to their community through coaching, contributing time or promoting sports.

This year’s induction will swell the county’s Hall of Fame membership to 341.

Tickets for the dinner are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets are available from any of the Hall of Fame directors or can be purchased online at www.bcshof.com.

Other ticket outlets in Butler County include Bill’s Beer Barn, Moses Jewelers, Parker Appliance, Saxonburg Drug or Snack-N-Pack.

A brief synopsis of this year’s inductees follows:

Gilbert ElliottA Karns City graduate, Elliott was a professional pitching prospect who signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers. He wound up quitting because of an illness in his family.Elliott was one of the top pitchers in the Butler County League from 1936-56.

John CavanaughA four-year letterman in baseball and basketball at Slippery Rock High School, Cavanaugh was a standout point guard who went on to play at Indiana (Pa.) University.He scored 41 points in a game while at Slippery Rock, a school record that stood for 12 years. He wound up being named head varsity basketball coach at Slippery Rock when he was 23, becoming one of the youngest coaches in the PIAA.

Karissa KusickKusick was a four-year starter in girls basketball at Karns City and was a cornersrtone of the 2000 team that won the state championship.She scored 1,351 points in high school and went on to play for Baldwin-Wallace College in Ohio. Kusick is seventh on the all-time assists list there.

Erin Ward WitmanA basketball, soccer and track and field standout at Butler, Ward scored 1,005 points on the court, won WPIAL titles in the shot put and javelin and was two-time team MVP in soccer.She went on to Geneva College, scoring 1,367 points in basketball, 62 goals in soccer and won the NAIA national championship in the javelin.

Nick ReiserA Knoch graduate, Reiser was a defensive end on the Knights’ 1992 football team that reached the WPIAL finals. He went on to Allegheny College and helped the Gators post a 38-5 record in his four seasons.Reiser was considered one of the best defensive ends in North Coast Athletic Conference history.

Charles CunninghamA Karns City graduate, Cunningham lettered three times in football, basketball and track. His shot put of 52 feet, 6 inches remains a school record.He went on to play for world-class softball teams and played for the Pittsburgh Hard Hats’ professional team.

Gene ZawrotukThe Lifetime Achievement Award winner began his baseball career in 1952, playing in the debut season of the Butler Little League.He went on to coach baseball for more than 45 years and served on the Highfield Youth Baseball Board of Directors for 40 years. Zawrotuk managed a team in the Butler County American Legion League for 10 seasons.