on a signal from a sensor 41 located downstream of diverter 1 or it can be based on the lapse of a preset time alternatively upon receipt of the signal from sensor 40 the cage can remain in its lowered position thereby to intercept the ball and prevent it from traversing track 2 the raising or lowering of cage 8 is in a preferred embodiment based on the game player achieving a predetermined game objective for example the player may be required to complete a predetermined sequence of shots before the ball is allowed to traverse track a second sensor 54 can be provided at the entrance to cage 8 to inform the game microprocessor that a ball has entered the cage upon receipt of a signal from sensor 54 the microprocessor can immediately activate the solenoid to raise the cage 8 and remove the ball from track 2 specifically the ball will be removed from track 2 by lift arm 18 and will travel through the chute defined by walls 10 12 16 and 22 as the cage is pivoted from its lowered position of fig2 to the raised position of fig3 a play feature such as track 66 can be located beneath the cage 8 such that ball is deposited on the track it will be understood that the track 2 can be replaced by another play feature or the ball can be deposited directly on the playfield in yet another mode of operation the cage 8 is not immediately pivoted when a ball enters the cage and triggers sensor 54 rather the ball is retained in cage 8 to be released at a future time to provide.