Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 21, 1990 TAG: 9006210184
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As originally conceived, the inaugural Virginia CorEast State Games were to have included slow-pitch softball competition in both men's and women's divisions,as well as a men's fast-pitch tournament with up to 16 teams.
Plans still call for slow-pitch play in the future, but it is almost a blessing that the competition has been scaled back for the first year.
Organizers are hoping to have eight to 10 teams for a fast-pitch tournament July 7-8 at Oakey's Field in Salem. Seven commitments are in hand, and several more are expected before the entry deadline June 29.
"In a way, it's a good thing because we had hoped to have our sports complex finished but now it looks like next summer as a completion date," said Bob Ayersman, softball tournament director for the State Games.
The new $1-million complex will include four softball fields, a soccer field and a football practice field.
The fields will be needed next year for the addition of slow-pitch softball at the State Games. There was a conflict this year with the Grand Slam slow-pitch tournament, which will run in conjunction with the Salem Fair.
The State Games are expected to be held one week earlier in 1991.
The size of the field for the fast-pitch tournament is about what organizers anticipated, Ayersman said.
"Fast-pitch is kind of dying out," he said. "A lot of the young players are going to slow-pitch, which is fine, but now you probably don't have 10 to 12 fast-pitch teams west of Charlottesville."
Charlie Hammersley of the Salem Parks and Recreation Department noted that travel costs and umpires' fees also have escalated.
Nevertheless, most of the top teams in the state will participate in the Virginia CorEast Games, which will feature many of the same teams that played in the Collegiate Pacific Invitational in Salem from June 9-10.
Movie Time from Richmond won that tournament, twice beating the Collegiate Pacific Suns from Salem.
Movie Time and the Collegiate Pacific Suns are entered in the State Games, as is Foster-Well from Charlottesville. Foster-Well went to the 1989 nationals in Class B, and the Collegiate Pacific Suns went in Class C after beating Movie Time in the regionals.
"Then, they came out and beat us in our own tournament," Hammersley, who plays for Collegiate Pacific Suns, said. "So, you might say we've developed quite a rivalry."
The best team in the state is Fox-Hill out of Hampton, but previous commitments have prevented Fox-Hill from entering the State Games.
"It's tough to get them to travel without guarantees to cover travel expenses," Hammersley said, "but, as the tournament gets established, I see Fox-Hill as the kind of team we could get in the future."
Ayersman said he expects future tournaments to have more of a north-south-east-west appearance.
"I think what we'd eventually like is to have major teams out of each region of the state, possibly even all-star teams as the tournament grows," Ayersman said. "We're also looking at regional qualifying."
For the present, it appears as if the State Games will have a competitive field, with many of the teams coming out of the Bedford-Salem Fast-Pitch League. The competition will be double-elimination, with an entry fee of $150. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded.
by CNB