BUTLER TWP — Left without a team and without any idea of his future, Billy Stoughton wondered what would become of his summer.

The Slippery Rock High School baseball player was looking forward to the Butler County American Legion season.

But not long after the Rockets' high school season ended, Stoughton was in crisis.

The Prospect Legion team folded because of a lack of players and confusion about who was going to coach the team.

That left Stoughton, Charlie Roth and Adam Brydon suddenly without a team to play for.

"When I first heard about it, I thought I wasn't going to be playing at all this summer," Stoughton said.

They were Legion refugees. Players suddenly homeless.

Stoughton, Roth and Brydon were the only three Prospect players who had signed up and paid their money to play this summer, so the Butler County American Legion had to find a place for them to suit up.

Center Township passed on them before Butler Township manager Gene Zawrotuk claimed the trio.

He's certainly glad he did.

"To be honest with you, we wouldn't be where we are today without them," said Zawrotuk, whose Butler Township team is 8-5 and in the thick of the playoff race. "I could have played 15-year-olds, or them. I know we're glad to have them."

The feeling is mutual. The Slippery Rock three are certainly happy to be wanted.

Stoughton, who played first base for the Rockets during the spring, has made a seamless transition to shortstop for Butler Township. He has also been a fixture in the team's pitching rotation.

Brydon has provided solid defense in center field and has also pitched some quality innings this season and Roth has contributed in left field and as a utility outfielder.

Just to be playing is reward enough.

"It was kind of upsetting when Prospect folded," Brydon said. "It was tough to find a spot to play. Butler Township took us and we fit right in."

The three stuck together during the first few days of practice, but quickly mingled among their new teammates.

Before long, it was like the trio had been part of the team for years.

"I guess it's been awhile since I've had to break in with a new team," said Roth, who didn't play high school baseball at Slippery Rock, but has played in Prospect every summer since Little League. "Whenever you move into a new team, you have to learn how that team works, how they do things. You have to re-learn things. But they made it easy for us."

This is Roth's last season of Legion eligibility. But Stoughton and Brydon are still eligible to play next season.

They hope it is with Butler Township.

Prospect may or may not return. If it does, Stoughton and Brydon, by rule, will have to play for that team.

If Slippery Rock starts a Legion team, however, the duo will be free to return to Butler Township.

"I'm hoping Prospect doesn't have a team next year," Stoughton said. "I want to stay here.

"I honestly feel like we can be one of the top teams in the league."