Chris Hanners refers to the Prospect League as part of the "new wave of baseball."

That's why the longtime owner of the Chillicothe (Ohio) Paints pulled his franchise out of the Frontier League — which he helped to get started — and was instrumental in the formation of the new collegiate wooden bat league.

The Prospect League consists of the six former Central Illinois Collegiate League teams and seven additional franchises, including the Butler BlueSox and Slippery Rock Sliders.

Referring to himself as an "interested bystander," Hanners was in Butler last week as part of a tour he's making to communities that are bringing teams into the league.

"I just want to make sure everybody's preparing for the season in the right way, have rosters and ballparks in order," Hanners said. "Butler and Slippery Rock are doing just fine.

"(BlueSox owner) Leo Trich and (Sliders owner) Mike Bencuc are astute businessmen who have been around baseball. They know what they're doing and they're headed in the right direction."

Hanners is no stranger to Butler. His wife is from here and he's been coming to the city for 40 years,

"I know the baseball tradition that's here and people will embrace what's going to happen," he said of the Prospect League.

Hanners was a founder of the Frontier League, the independent minor league circuit that included the Slippery Rock Sliders in 2007, and the Paints were the last of that league's original franchises.

As the Frontier League grew into larger markets, Chillicothe's attendance lagged.

Hanners pursued formation of the Prospect League because smaller communities could thrive on the concept.

"These teams couldn't play in a high school ballpark, but you don't need a minor league facility, either," Hanners said. "Places like Pullman Park and Critchfield Park are perfect.

"A lot of communities don't have facilities like that, but parks are being built or renovated to fit that mold.

"Costs are mounting to host minor league baseball now. The Frontier League is a different animal. Budgets are bigger. Stadiums are bigger. The Prospect League is affordable to the owner and the fan, and people can go to their neighborhood park to watch players they'll be seeing on TV in a few years," Hanners said.

Prospect League rosters are comprised of players who have completed at least one year of college ball and have eligibility remaining. Many players likely will be selected in Major League Baseball's amateur draft within the next two years.

The former CICL teams have seen 175 of their players make the major leagues.

The Prospect League will have 13 teams this summer. Regular-season play runs from the first week in June to early August.

Hanners said the league is expanding to 20 teams in 2010 and could have 32 teams by 2011.

"I really believe Butler and Slippery Rock will be two of the more successful teams," Hanners said. "For one, there's the rivalry. No other two teams in the league are that close together and that rivalry will build.

"Our big rival is Richmond (Ind.) and they're two hours away from us. And the talent on the (Butler, Slippery Rock) rosters is impressive."

The BlueSox recently released a 23-player roster that includes 12 players from Pennsylvania. Two of those — pitcher Brian Warheit and middle infielder Aaron Ordy — are from Butler.

The Sliders' roster includes Seneca Valley graduate Cory Mazzoni and Grove City graduate Bob Revesz, now pitching for North Carolina State and Louisville, respectively. Josh Marchinoski of Butler, now at Brescia (Ky) College, also is on the roster.

<B>Name --- Pos. --- College</B>Andrew DiNardo --- P --- Seton HillSean Holliday --- P --- Slippery RockThomas Kahl --- P --- DominicanAnthony Munoz --- P --- Youngstown St.Brian Muransky --- XavierJohn Navage --- P --- Western MichiganChuck Nicholas --- P --- AlverniaJim Podgorney --- P --- AkronBrian Warheit --- P --- Seton HillBrett Zueliene --- P --- Quincy (Ill.)Frank Esposito --- C --- Seton HallJason Laws --- C --- Murray St.Karl Mundt --- C-1B --- TulaneJacke Healey --- SS --- Youngstown St.Sean Gusrang --- 1B-2B-3B --- Seton HallJack Greenberg --- 1B-3B --- Penn StateAaron Ordy --- 2B-SS --- California (Pa.)A.J. Rouleau --- 3B --- S. ConnecticutBrian Billigen --- OF --- CornellEric Hymel --- OF --- Youngstown St.Zachary Noonan --- OF --- Murray St.Brian Youchak --- OF --- Johns Hopkins