Butler County Trap League still going strong after 45 years
The Butler County Trap League has been giving many local residents a reason to look forward to Wednesday nights for 45 years.
And it's still going strong.
The league, which began in 1962, opened its 2007 season last month.
"Everybody can't wait until Wednesdays," said Bruce Bateman, vice president of the league. "I love to compete for the camaraderie."
The trap league consists of five teams — Butler City Hunting and Fishing Club, Evans City Sportsman's Club, Mars Rod and Gun Club, Moraine Sportsman's Conservation and Saxonburg Sportsman's Club.
The league's membership has changed over the years.
"In 1970, there were 311 shooters on seven different teams," said John Marburger, who has been shooting for Mars since the 1960s. "That many people didn't show up to shoot every time, but that's how many people were signed up.
"There used to be two other teams, Slippery Rock and Polenta, which was down near Bakerstown," Marburger added. "But both of those teams dropped out years ago."
"There's no limit on the number of shooters on each team," Bruce Bateman, who shoots for Moraine, said of the current numbers. "It varies from year to year. Last year, we had between 80 and 100 members."
Becoming a solid performer on the trap range requires skill.
"The shooter stands 16 yards away from the traphouse (where clay pigeons are released)," said Chris Scott, in his first year as president of the league and veteran shooter for Butler. "But by the time you actually hit the targets, they're about 35 yards away and they're moving about 40 miles-per-hour."
The league means different things to different people.
To some, it's all about the competition. For others, it's simply a time to enjoy the company of other shooters.
"A lot of people are involved just because they like to shoot," said Marburger. "But it can also get very competitive. We've got some very good shooters around here."
Some of the league's members take the sport seriously enough to devote practice time to it.
"Most teams have a practice night, usually Mondays," said Mike Collins, who shoots for Butler. "Whether or not people show up to practice, it's a personal thing."
Collins has also seen shooters' extreme reactions to subpar performances.
"Some guys live and die trap," he said. "I once saw a guy take a $2,000 shotgun and throw it over the traphouse."
natured competition are what keeps the league going.
Take Matt Protzman's story, for example.
Protzman, 38, was born with spina bifida and shoots from his wheelchair. He once hit 25 straight targets."My dad got me into trap shooting," Protzman said. "When I first started coming with him, back in 1990-91, I just came out to shoot on practice nights. Then in 1992, I actually started shooting in league competitions."Protzman's father, Carl, passed away last December. But the former continues to enjoy the sport his father introduced him to."The first shoot this season was tough," Protzman said of competing without his father. "But I knew that if I didn't come that first night, I'd never come back."I like being around these guys," he added. "I really appreciate them."Many of the league's members have been urged to join by their friends, and end up becoming regulars on Wednesday nights."I was outside one day and my neighbor, Fred Meier, asked if I wanted to go trap shooting," said Moraine's Mac McAllister, who has served as Pennsylvania's delegate to the Amateur Trapshooting Association for the last 15 years. "That was back in 1963 and I've been involved ever since."Meier's invitation has led McAllister to over 400,000 ATA-registered shots.Meier, 84, helped to start Slippery Rock's team in 1962."We had a lot of members at the beginning ... 20 to 25," Meier said. "Trap-shooting is an interesting sport and I think that's why it's lasted so long around here. I'd still be shooting myself, but I fell three years ago and dislocated both shoulders. That's when I stopped."A big reason for the league's popularity is that it is open to such a diverse membership.Men and women, young and old — they're all welcome.Bruce Bateman's wife, Kim, is one of several female members in the league and serves as its statistician.She has won trap shooting competitions at the state and world level and met Bruce through the Butler County league."Men seem to think that they're better than us (women)," Kim said. "But I'm always in the top 5 or 10."Marburger, 77, is one of the league's oldest members."There are a few guys older than me still shooting," he said. "Another guy who shoots for Mars, Ray Vanderbort, and Wes Scott, who shoots for Butler, they're both at least 80 years old."In fact, Wes Scott is 82 and is the league's oldest member.His son, Gordon, and his grandson, Chris (the league president), also shoot in the league for Butler."It's pretty much a family thing," said Chris Scott.Most people will find trapshooting enjoyable in some way."It's a passion, a hobby, a sport," said Kim Bateman."Trap shooting is a lifetime sport," said McAllister. "You can start when you're young and continue the rest of your life."And for those people who are thinking about joining ..."We're always looking for new members," said Bruce Bateman.Anyone interested in joining the Butler County Trap League can call Bruce Bateman at 724-287-7295 or 724-637-0050.
