Take a look at that spot the next time you load the save or return from travel. The ball might come back but the ash pile will be still there. Some objects out in the world will regenerate when you travel or reload the save. That happens with the JA woohoo bushes and the C&D pet bush. Those will get reduced to an ash pile when struck by lightning, but they return when you return from travel or reload the save. Some items won't regenerate though like the planters around the base of the Medina apartment building in San Myshuno. So, there is a 50/50 chance that the ball won't regenerate.
Hope this helps.
