The start was fine. The rest was a disaster.

The Butler BlueSox built a 3-0 lead through four innings Wednesday night at Kelly Automotive Park, only to watch Champion City erupt for 16 hits while taking advantage of nine walks.

It all added up to a 13-6 victory for the Kings and a sweep of their Prospect League-opening two-game series at Butler.

“Our guys were having trouble picking up the ball early,” Champion City manager Mike Ruechel said. “I don't know if it was the twilight or what it was.

“A few innings in, our hitters were seeing the ball better. Their guy then went to his breaking ball and he did a nice job with it. But we got runners on base and took away that pitch. That really helped us.”

And hurt BlueSox starting pitcher Nolan Krivijanski.

He scattered four hits while opening the game with four scoreless innings. Butler staked him to a 3-0 lead on a two-run double by Tom McCarthy in the first inning and a towering homer to right by Patrick Ferguson in the fourth.

A two-run homer to left by Champion City's Larry Crisler in the fifth started a four-inning onslaught that produced 13 runs and 12 hits for the Kings. The walks didn't help, either.

The BlueSox walked six batters during a six-run eighth inning.

“I learned something playing college ball called free 90s,” Butler manager Cody Herald said. “That's giving away a free 90 feet. We did way too much of that tonight.

“We scored six runs, had nine hits ... In a wooden bat league, that should be enough to win.”

Not on this night.

Noah West, an Ohio State freshman who was not in the Kings' lineup Tuesday night, led Wednesday's attack with a triple, two doubles, a single and three runs scored.

“I'm just trying to get guys at-bats right now, but it's going to be hard to keep him out of the lineup,” Ruechel admitted.

All but one hitter in the Kings' starting lineup had at least one hit and all but one had at least one RBI.

West, Seth Gray and Alexander Garland — the numbers 3 through 5 hitters in the Kings' lineup — scored eight runs.

The BlueSox put together a three-run rally in their final at-bat. Tyler Benson hit a run-scoring double and Brady Gulakowski drilled a two-run triple to left.

“Down 13-3, we could have just died right there,” Herald said of the final inning. “This team showed some fight and I like that.

“The good news is this is only our second game. There's a long way to go. Once everyone settles in, I still think we have the makings of a good team.”

The BlueSox travel to West Virginia today to face the Miners. Their next home game is at 7:05 p.m. Saturday against West Virginia.

Champion City 000 022 236 — 13 16 0

Butler BlueSox 200 100 003 — 6 9 1

W: James Wright 5.2IP (7K, 2BB). L: Nolan Krivijanski 5.2IP (4K, 1BB).

Champion City (2-0): Larry Crisler HR 1B 3-RBI 2-R, Jett Swetland 2B 1B RBI, Noah West 3B 2-2B 1B RBI 3-R, Seth Gray 1B 2-R, Alexander Garland 2B 1B 2-RBI 3-R, Gage Taylor 2-1B RBI, Jimmy McLaughlin 1B 2-RBI, D.J. Dillon RBI, Zach Mottice 2B 1B RBI

BlueSox (0-2): Ben Carew 1B, Tyler Benson 2B 1B RBI 2-R, Brady Gulakowski 2B 3B 2-RBI, Tom McCarthy 2B 2-RBI, Patrick Ferguson HR, Cory Wheeler 1B, Rey Gonzalez 2B

Today: BlueSox at West Virginia, 7:05 p.m.