For decades, the Butler County Horseshoe League has been fueled by camaraderie, competition and tradition.

The league continues to have a strong hold on all three, despite declining numbers.

At one time, the 66-year-old league included 10 teams. As late as 2016, it had seven teams and maintained a healthy number of six teams the last two years.

But with three of last year's squads — East Butler, Runt's Roadhouse and Beer Nation — unable to field a full roster, the league is down to three teams.

West Sunbury, O'Donnell's and Dew Drop Inn comprise the field this summer. Each Tuesday night, there is one matchup while one team gets a bye.

“East Butler had a number of forfeits last year and we knew they probably wouldn't be back, but we were hoping to have the other two,” said league statistician Mike Neff. “But they didn't turn a roster into us by the deadline (May 15). We actually pushed the start of the season back three weeks, but in the end, we had to move on.”

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A team must field a roster of no less than 12 players, which is how many pitchers it takes to complete a match. A match includes 18 games, each one consisting of a team pitching 44 shoes between two players. Each player can compete in no more than three games per week, which increases participation.

During this past offseason, the league attempted to make it easier for teams to add players. Previously, teams could have no more than seven players from outside Butler County. The new rule states that an entire team can consist of out-of-county players as long as that team's matches are played within county lines.

But league treasurer/secretary and pitcher Vicki Brandt knew by March that Runt's Roadhouse and Beer Nation were unlikely to return. She came up with a schedule that included five teams and one with just three teams. The league was forced to implement the latter.

“It's not only our league that the numbers are down,” said Butch Neff, who has been pitching in Butler County for 55 years. “Horseshoe organizations all over are experiencing a drop in members.”

There are various reasons for that.

“Our league has a lot of older members,” Brandt said, as many pitchers are over 70. The age-range is 14 to 80-plus. “Some people have medical issues and are not able to compete. Younger people are too busy with other things, are involved with their kids' sports.”

Bob McKee said prospective pitchers may stay away for another reason.

“They're afraid of the competition,” he said. “They think everybody's good, but we have pitchers here who might throw one ringer in three weeks and others who can pitch 50 or 60 percent ringers. We got the whole gamut. Nobody should be afraid to come and pitch.”

There are several women who compete, April Crede among them. Now 27, she has been pitching for 14 years after getting involved through her parents.

“I just think we need to get the word out there,” she said. “Not many people know about the league. When I meet people and tell them that I play (in a horseshoe league) in Butler County, they're like, 'What?'”

Crede is often one of the top pitchers, but said the league offers much more than ringers.

“It's a family,” she said. “I've grown up with these guys. It would be really hard to not be a part of it anymore. Just having everyone here is a good time. We're all welcoming people.”

All three remaining teams have no less than 16 players. Dew Drop Inn and O'Donnell's both play home matches at the former's courts in Donegal Township while West Sunbury plays host behind the West Sunbury American Legion.

To sponsor a team, a business must pay $100 per season while each player pays a membership fee of $20 every year.

McKee said the drop in numbers has not tempered his enjoyment.

“It's still as fun as ever,” he related, “just the fun of being with people and pitching horseshoes.”

The league is not just in search of more players, but new teams. With each team needing a captain, that adds another variable that may affect growth.

A captain is responsible for maintaining a team's courts, turning in the order of pitchers for each match and attending league meetings, which number four to five each year.

“We need leadership on teams, get somebody to run it,” said McKee, a member of the league for 24 years. “Once you get a leader, people seem to get more interested.”

The three-team format may be short-lived, according to Brandt.

“We've had two places who have expressed interest in sponsoring a team,” she said. “And the teams that had to drop out, they will have had a whole year to find more players.”

Barb Sharp, president of the league and pitcher for O'Donnell's, is optimistic about the future.

“It's not as easy to get players as before, but I truly believe the league will grow again in time,” she said. “We're not letting it dissolve. It's been around too long for that to happen.”

For more details regarding the Butler County Horseshoe League, contact Brandt at 724-619-1027.