Downhole catcher for an actuating ball and method

A downhole ball catcher for preventing an actuation ball migrating upwardly through a well from falling back down deeper into the well after passing upwardly through the downhole ball catcher, the downhole ball catcher comprising:

• a main housing sized to be positioned downhole in the well and including a bottom end, a top end, an inner open area and openings for fluid flow from the bottom end, through the inner open area and out through the top end;
• and
• a protrusion connected by a moveable connection to the main housing and positioned in the inner open area in a blocking position to block passage of a ball through the inner open area, the moveable connection being configured to allow movement of the protrusion away from the blocking position in response to a ball pushing upwardly past the protrusion toward the top end and the moveable connection being configured to resist movement of the protrusion away from the blocking position to prevent movement of the ball downwardly past the protrusion toward the bottom end.