Prospect is out. Just about everybody else could be in.

Weather-permitting, the Butler County American Legion Baseball League opens play tonight anticipating one of the more competitive seasons in years.

"Anybody can win it,"Meridian manager Bo Ballew said. "It could be any of seven or eight teams, and I feel like we're one of them."

"The talent is spread so evenly,"Zelienople manager Tom Schneider agreed. "This is one of those years where kids have become interested in baseball again and everybody has a bunch of 15- to 17-year-olds.

"Because there are so few older kids, these young guys will get a chance to play right away."

The 10 teams comprising the league in 2006 are Butler City, East Butler, Center Township, Meridian and Butler Township from the Butler School District, along with Zelienople, Mars, Karns City, West Sunbury and Saxonburg.

Saxonburg defeated Mars in the BCALtournament finals last year. The league will send two representatives to region play this season — the regular season and tournament champions.

Prospect did not get enough players this season after a coaching mix-up and dropped out of the league. Three Prospect players — Billy Stoughton, Adam Brydon and Charlie Roth — have been picked up by Butler Township.

"We gladly took them,"Butler Township manager Gene Zawrotuk said. "We're always hurting for numbers, and it's better to add 18-year-olds than having too many 15-and 16-year-olds on the roster.

"I think the league is up for grabs. None of the coaches know who anybody else has. The Butler kids all know who's playing for who and already have it figured out who's going to beat who.

"It all boils down to pitching, who has enough kids who can go out on the mound and throw strikes,"Zawrotuk added.

While Mars made the tournament finals last year, veteran manager Bob Steiner said he has a younger team this season.

"We have a good core of players, but we had to add five Colt players to our roster,"he said. "We're struggling with numbers just like everybody else."

Butler City features the league's two stolen base leaders from last year:Don Beeman with 24 and Phil Waller with 18.

Beeman, Jarrod Rectenwald of Zelienople, Coty McGregor of Karns City and Kevin Bacon of Saxonburg are among the league's better pitchers.

Beeman threw a no-hitter at then-unbeaten Saxonburg last season.

"You never know what's going to happen out there on a given night,"said Butler City manager Jerry Piroch, also the BCAL's public relations director.

"Butler's high school team bounced back this season and their kids are dispersed throughout five teams. That just adds to the balance."

Versatile player Rob Cottage is with East Butler, Chet Link is with Center Township, second baseman Darren Blakley with Butler Township.

Meridian has Jay McDonough, Jim McCaslin and Joe Black from the Golden Tornado squad. Jordan Foley, who hit over .400 for Shady Side Academy this spring, is also on Meridian's roster.

"We have enough talent that we should contend for the league championship,"Ballew admitted.

Zelienople only has one player — Mark Haney — from Seneca Valley's high school team.

"There's always a team that nobody knows about that comes out of nowhere to contend,"Schneider said. "This year, it may be the team that has the most kids show up to play on a consistent basis.

"It's still the best baseball in Butler County, if you ask me."

The BCALAll-Star Tryouts are at 1 p.m. June 18 at Highfield Park.

The top eight teams will compete in the postseason tournament. The playoff meeting is July 10 at Father Marinaro Park.