PROSPECT — Brandon Ray still proudly wears the green Prospect baseball jersey.

But you won't find him on the field for the Butler County American Legion team this season.

Three months too old to play, Ray is serving as the team's manager instead.

"It's actually been pretty neat," the 19-year-old Ray said. "I've played with most of these kids for eight to 10 years. I know them. I know who can hit, who can bunt, who's fast, who can pitch. I pretty much know what every one of the 15 guys on my roster can do, and that's a big advantage."

Not long ago, Ray still thought he was eligible to play. But after reviewing the rules, he discovered he was too old.

The news came as a shock toRay, who desperately wanted to stay involved with the team he helped lead to the league championship last season.

So, he approached Paul Malley, last year's manager, and asked if he could join the coaching staff. Little did Ray know his role would be much bigger.

"(Malley) said he didn't think he was going to take the team this year," Ray said. "I told him 'I'd like to take the team.'"

Ray spent much of the Slippery Rock High season watching the Rockets, talking to players and convincing them to come out for the Legion team.

Ray wondered how he would be perceived. After all, a 19-year-old manager doesn't come around very often.

He found it was an easy sell.

"Some were skeptical about it," Ray said. "But I told them I was going to have a laid-back approach and we were going to have fun and win. The kids responded to what I said and the parents respect me."

Getting off to a 4-0 start has helped the transition for Ray and his players, many of whom are close friends with their manager.

One of them, Mark White, is just a few months younger than Ray. The two have been best friends for years.

White had no doubt Ray's transition from player to manager would be a success.

"He's always been a leader," White said. "He's always told us what to do and we've always done things the right way."

White had no concerns that Ray would lose the team if things started out badly.

"Not at all," White said.

Ray, though, was warned by his father to keep the line between friend and manager as clear and as bold as possible.

"He told me I had to lay down the law," Ray said. "They had to respect me. I think I've done a good job of that."

Ray had goals that went beyond the diamond as well.

He wanted to return the team to the Prospect Boys and Girls Club. The team hasn't played there in three years, instead playing its home games at Slippery Rock High last season.

"That was important to me," Ray said. "The team played there for 50 years. I wanted to bring the team back there."

With that accomplished, Ray is focusing on leading the team to another title. If he does, he will undoubtedly accomplish a first in Butler County Legion history: win a title as a player and as a manager in back-to-back seasons.

"I tell you what, that would be the most satisfying thing," Ray said. "I don't want to get too far ahead of it, but we have a lot of good kids on this team. There are eight to 10 kids who were on this team last year. They would love to repeat."

Ray, though, would love to still be on the field.

He hasn't completely closed the book on his playing days.

Ray has attended several major league tryouts and is hoping to hook on with some organization somewhere.

He still has hope there is life in his pitching arm.

If not, he always has coaching to fall back on.

"I've had a blast coaching these kids," Ray said. "I've had so much fun coaching the kids who I know. I can't imagine how fun it will be to coach kids I don't know and help them. It's been quite a journey."