Ball seat release apparatus

A well system, comprising:

• a casing string secured within a wellbore extending through one or more subterranean formations;
• a liner hanger and liner string suspended from and proximate a downhole end of the casing string;
• and
• a ball seat release apparatus coupled proximate a downhole end of a running tool, and positioned within at least a portion of the liner hanger or liner string, the ball seat release apparatus including:
• a shear sleeve;
• a ball seat body located at least partially within the shear sleeve, a shear feature releasably coupling the ball seat body to the shear sleeve;
• and
• a non-radially expanding ball seat slidingly engaged within the ball seat body, the ball seat configured to move from a first linear position to a second linear position, and further wherein a locking dog releasably couples the ball seat with the ball seat body.