SLIPPERY ROCK — Butler County will have only one Prospect League team next season.

Mike and Laura Bencic, who have owned a controlling interest in the Slippery Rock Sliders since the franchise's inception in 2009, have sold the organization.

Prospect League commissioner Dave Chase confirmed the sale Wednesday night.

“The Sliders were sold and will play in Springfield (Ohio) as the Champion City Kings,” Chase wrote in an e-mail.

Mike Bencic could not be reached for comment.

“We're very saddened to see the Sliders go,” said William “Wink” Robinson, one of the owners of the Butler BlueSox, which also is in the league. “It was a natural rivalry that will be sorely missed.

“It's very disappointing. Mike and Laura put a lot of effort into the Sliders. They did all they could to make a go ... That's a tough market.”

The Sliders had struggled on the field and in drawing fans during their time in Slippery Rock, posting a 117-165 record in five years in the league.

Slippery Rock did make the playoffs in 2011 following a 16-11 second-half run, but fell to the West Virginia Miners, 2-1, in the first round of the playoffs that season.

The club was near the bottom in league attendance, according to figures on the Prospect League website. In 139 home games, the Sliders average attendance was 268 at Critchfield Park at Slippery Rock University.

Bencic said in a 2011 interview with the Butler Eagle: “I'm not going to sugar coat it. It's up to the community whether this stays here or not. If we could average 500, we'd be here forever. If we get 95s and 150s, it makes it harder to make a go.”

With the franchise now in Springfield, Robinson said the BlueSox will have to adjust their finances.

“When we played in Slippery Rock and they played here, neither one of us needed a motel,” he said. “Now we'll have to put Champion City up when they come here and that's $600 to $700 each game.

“In terms of buses, it cost us $300 to go to Slippery Rock. The trips to Springfield will cost close to $1,400. That's a big hit for us.”

Sliders-BlueSox games at Pullman Park routinely drew more than 1,000 fans and “we sold out those matchups on fireworks nights,” Robinson said.

“When we hosted Slippery Rock, they brought 100 to 200 fans down. We're going to miss that,” he added.

Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Rick White will be the Kings' general manager. The franchise was formally introduced to Springfield on Wednesday.

The Sliders did go out with a win, a 7-5 triumph over Butler on the final day of the regular season Aug. 3 that knocked the BlueSox out of playoff contention.

Sports Editor John Enrietto contributed to this report.