A season of frustration ended on a positive note Saturday night for the Butler BlueSox.

Ben Ballantine allowed five hits over seven-plus innings and the BlueSox banged out 15 hits themselves in a 9-5 triumph over the West Virginia Miners. The victory closed out the 2010 Prospect League campaign.

Butler (24-30) finished one game out of a playoff spot for the second consecutive year despite using 24 pitchers to get through a 54-game schedule.

"That's unfathomable," BlueSox owner and general manager Leo Trich said. "You're going to go through pitching in this league, but that's an incredible number."

By comparison, the BlueSox used only 12 actual pitchers in 2009, though five position players logged a few innings.

Among the pitchers lost to injuries this season were local products Brian Warheit (Butler), Derek Peluso (Seneca Valley) and D.J. Cannon (Mars).

"We had pitchers joining the team and pitching that night," BlueSox pitching coach and Seneca Valley graduate Glenn Sharrar said. "The rest of the team didn't even know the guy's name at times. Our catcher had to ask if he threw right-handed or left-handed.

"It was crazy, but we got through it."

The BlueSox also missed out on a potential victory at DeKalb (Ill.) when rains washed out a game they were leading 6-1 through four innings.

"If we get that win, we finish off a suspended game (that was never finished) against Slippery Rock and who knows? We might get in," Butler manager Jason Wuerfel said.

The Miners (26-30) finished second in the Prospect League's East Division. The top two teams in each of three divisions made the playoffs.

Seneca Valley graduate Kevan Smith led the team in hitting with a .347 batting average. Colby Roberts was next highest at .295.

Center fielder Zach Duggan, another Seneca Valley graduate, paced the BlueSox with 16 stolen bases, but batted only .212.

"Obviously, I wish I would have hit better," Duggan said. "But anyone who's played baseball knows you go through seasons like this.

"I didn't make an error all summer and that was one of my goals. And I learned a lot from playing in this league.

"I never realized we'd have players here from all over the country. Playing ball with a guy from Arkansas, Wisconsin, etc., was fun," Duggan added.

Ballantine made only his second start at Pullman Park all season. He allowed a two-run double to Victor Gomez in the first inning, then allowed just four more hits the rest of the way before being pulled with one out in the seventh.

Ballantine, a University of Michigan product, therew 104 pitches, including 68 strikes.

"He didn't go in the tank after that rough first inning and that's encouraging for him," Wuerfel said. "When Ben has it together mentally on the mound like that, he's tough to hit."

Max Vogel, Logan Uxa and Slippery Rock University infielder Adam Jury all had three hits for the BlueSox Saturday night.

Wuerfel said he's leaving the door open to return for a third season of managing the team next summer.

"I wouldn't mind managing at this level or in an independent league for the rest of my career," he said. "This is the purest form of baseball. There's no politics, contract squabbles, players being moved up, sent down, academic issues, scholarships, noneof that.

"I love Butler and how we're treated here. And coming so close to the playoffs two years in a row has my competitive juices flowing."

Notes: Saturday's attendance was 969, bringing the season total to over 14,000, approximately 1,000 less than last year. ... BlueSox host families were honored on the field prior to the game. ... Trich said the Prospect League is looking to expand to 16 teams and switch to two eight-team divisions next year.

West Virginia 200 000 120 — 5 8 2Butler 031 210 020 — 9 15 1W: Ben Ballantine 7.1 IP (6K, 3BB).

L: Jeff McNeeley 5 IP (2K, 2BB).

West Virginia (11-17, 26-30): Zach Tanner 1B 2-R, Travis Isaak 2-1B, Felix Marte 1B RBI, Victor Gomez 2B 1B 3-RBI, Blake Roberts 2B 1B RBI

Butler (11-16, 24-30): Colby Roberts 2-1B RBI, Kevan Smith 3B 1B 2-RBI 2-R, John Sulzicki 1B, Tyler Sciacca RBI, Logan Uxa 2-2B 1B RBI, Adam Jury 3-1B RBI 2-R, Max Vogel 3-1B 2-RBI, Zach Duggan 2B