Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 17, 1993 TAG: 9307170118
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
\ The occasion was the ceremony this week for the Ray Bellamy Award to honor the best high school baseball player in the area. Board members of the Roanoke-Salem Baseball Hall of Fame were standing by in front of an audience at Salem Municipal Field and the finalists were about to be announced.
Board member Kelvin Bowles, the president of the Salem Buccaneers, turned to the announcer at that point and said, "Before you introduce the finalists, why don't you invite these people to the Commonwealth Games?"
Bowles was needling fellow board member Posey Oyler, who was within earshot. Oyler, the baseball chairman of Roanoke American Legion Post 3, took the barb in good humor, even though the Commonwealth Games of Virginia - specifically the baseball portion of them - was a sore subject with the legion.
A flap has divided the amateur baseball community in the Roanoke Valley like a violent wind would split a forked oak tree.
In one camp are those who consider the chance to play in the Games not only a great opportunity to match skills with some of the best high school-age players in the state, but also a tremendous chance to be seen by important people.
"There's only going to be about 25 pro scouts and 50 college coaches at the thing," Bowles said.
Thirty-nine scouts of various descriptions attended Friday's workouts.
That kind of exposure could be the difference in a player fulfilling a dream or being forever doomed to play in obscurity, say supporters of the Games.
What sort of exposure?
"Every [major-league] team probably will be represented there this weekend," Pittsburgh Pirates scout Tony Jordan said. "It's a pretty big deal."
Additionally, college coaches from as far away as Oklahoma State and Notre Dame have called for directions on how to get to Cave Spring High School, the baseball venue, Games officials say.
"It's a chance of a lifetime, as far as I'm concerned," said West squad member Will Goodman, a Cave Spring graduate and a former Roanoke Post 3 South member who is defying the legion ban.
To Oyler, the issue is loyalty, duty and the sanctity of a contract. Therefore, he has spearheaded a move to prevent legion players - at least those on the three teams affiliated with Post 3 - from playing in the Games if it conflicts with the legion schedule.
The whip with which Post 3 has maintained discipline in the ranks is the roster that legion players are required to sign before the season, a contract if you will. An agreement included in the roster says players won't play for another team if games and practices conflict with those of the legion. Even if there is no conflict, then the legion coach or post commander must approve.
The rule is a national one, recognized by, among others, major-league baseball. Whenever a professional team conducts a tryout, it requires all applicable players to have a signed release from their legion coach or post commander.
The problem, as officials of the Games see it, is that the four teams from around the state - including West - have large numbers of legion players on them. The West, for example, has legion players from Franklin County, Halifax County, Lynchburg and Danville, among other localities. Roanoke players would be eligible for this team. If other coaches and legion commanders can see fit to give their players permission to play, what's the problem with Post 3, Games officials wonder?
"All we are asking is to work hand and hand with the legion," Games baseball organizer Brian Schwartz said. "The reason that isn't happening is because Posey doesn't want it to happen."
The teams that provide legion players for the Games may not be playing this weekend, Oyler said. If players are walking out on legion games, Oyler said he can't do anything about it.
"If they want to break a national rule, it's up to them," he said.
What he does have control over is the actions of players from Post 3's three teams. Already, he has parted company with three players - Goodman, Kevin Davis and Billy Cole plus assistant coach Roger White - for their avowed intentions to participate in the Games. Goodman and Davis are All-Timesland players from Cave Spring; White is the Knights' coach.
Post 3 South has games scheduled Saturday and Sunday, the days of Commonwealth Games competition at Cave Spring.
"I told them before our game last Tuesday that I'd heard they were going to play in the Commonwealth Games," Oyler said. "I just told them to turn in their uniforms."
White had no problem with that.
"There are no hard feelings between Posey and me," he said. "My interest is to promote baseball in the Roanoke Valley and to help kids. I think the Commonwealth Games is good for the valley and good for baseball. I disagree with the legion's rule."
One of the reasons Oyler is so firm in his convictions is that summer baseball coaches for years have had trouble enforcing discipline and keeping teams together. Got a basketball camp to go to? Many baseball players would just go. Vacation? See ya. Change in work schedule? We'll miss you at the game.
Oyler won't put up with it. You want to play in the Commonwealth Games? Fine, but don't sign up to play legion baseball.
You can't have it both ways, he says.
Why not, Schwartz wants to know?
"You could leave the weekend of the Games open on the legion schedule," he said.
Oyler has another idea.
"Have the Commonwealth Games in August, after legion season is over," he said. "But I guess they wouldn't want to do that because then it starts interfering with football."
Several players from the Post 3 West were going to play in the Games. One of them was left-handed pitcher Jason Anderson of Glenvar, another All-Timesland selection. At least he has the permission of his coach, Kim Anderson. Kim Anderson is also Jason's father.
"I intend no disrespect to the legion or to Mr. Oyler because they do a great deal for baseball and the kids in this area," Kim Anderson said. "But I think it is unreasonable for Post 3 to restrict a kid's opportunity to play in something like the Commonwealth Games."
As far as Post 3 West is concerned, it may be a moot point. West wasn't scheduled to play Saturday. Although it does play Sunday, Kim Anderson said Jason Anderson will come back to play for the legion team.
"I don't have any problem with that," Oyler said.
There is one possible catch.
"If Jason's team gets into the gold-medal game, then he's going to have a decision to make," Kim Anderson said. "That will be up to him."
At first, there was talk of permanent expulsion from legion competition for Post 3 players and coaches who broke their contracts, but Oyler seemed to soften on that late in the week.
"I'll take that up with my board of directors this winter," he said, "and see what it says."
by CNB