Criticize the Butler County legion baseball league if you like.

The league has not been officially affiliated with American Legion Baseball for a few years now, meaning its champion does not advance to any further competition.

That’s a tough break this season for a Saxonburg team that looks to be the best BCAL team, top to bottom, produced by the circuit in a number of years. Saxonburg could certainly compete on the state level of legion ball this summer.

Some will say the quality of play in the BCAL has suffered over time as kids have many more options as to where to play summer ball, if they play at all.

Butler City, Mars, Slippery Rock and Zelienople are former staples of this league and did not field teams this season because of lack of players and/or coaches.

Yes, those are troubling things.

But this league and its organizers should be lauded for its efforts in putting together three $1,000 scholarships for deserving college-bound players. The money for those scholarships comes from fees the league would have to pay if it was affiliated with the official American Legion program.

This season, 10 BCAL players applied for the scholarship awards. They had to submit a letter describing what playing in the league has meant to them. Their participation in the league as well as their personal character will also be determining factors in deciding the scholarship winners.

The 10 applicants are Logan Hickey and Derek McGill of Saxonburg, Hunter Scott and Hayden Kretzer of East Butler, Caleb Baxter and Nick Richards of Center Township, Steven Spotts of Cranberry, Jace and Joel Stutz of Meridian and Jimmy Thompson of Karns City.

The three winners will be announced at the BCAL All-Star Game July 9 at Kelly Automotive Park.

These scholarships serve as a reward to quality kids and provide a bit of financial help toward their next phase of education.

Kudos to the BCAL for providing such an opportunity.

Helping hands

The Butler County Sports Hall of Fame has gotten some response to its plea for more folks to join its board of directors and keep the organization solvent and operating.

After 52 years, it deserves no less.

But more help is needed.

This organization has inducted 378 men and women, along with a handful of teams, over the years. It is a local event honoring exemplary achievements by local people.

It is also one of the longest running county hall of fames in this part of the country.

With a few more directors, the BCSHOF can continue adding to its illustrious history as the ultimate destination for Butler County sportsmen.

If you can help, contact the hall’s president, Dan Cunningham, at 724-321-8521.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle