THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9410260115
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRISTINE M. POINTS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 110 lines
THE LAST 30 YEARS have encompassed a lot of changes for most people, but for four of the five people inducted into the Tidewater Virginia Amateur Softball Association's Hall of Fame this year, softball has been a constant.
At its 13th annual Hall of Fame banquet, held Saturday at Lake Wright, the association inducted five members: Jesse ``Sam'' Maddox of Norfolk, manager; Ira ``Smut'' Barnes of Portsmouth, player; Wesley F. Walker of Virginia Beach, player; Tommy Keith of Virginia Beach, sponsor; Scharlene Floyd of Norfolk, special recognition; and the Robo-Wash Team of Norfolk, team.
The TVASA honors those individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the association.
``Usually there are about 11 or 12 people inducted,'' said Tom Beck, chairperson of the Hall of Fame. ``So those people being inducted this year have really earned their awards.''
Most of this year's inductees have careers spanning more than 30 years, and all have shared a love of softball.
Jesse ``Sam'' Maddox, inducted as manager, was a player-manager. Most of his career he was associated with the Park Place Baptist team.
``Being inducted into the Hall of Fame makes me feel so great,'' Maddox said. ``After all these years it's really good to know I've accomplished something. I gave everything I had.''
Maddox now manages a team in the National Adult Baseball League.
Frances Walker accepted the award for her father, Ira ``Smut'' Barnes, who died in 1971. Barnes was a fast-pitch pitcher, who never wore a glove. His team played in both state and national tournaments and went undefeated in 1954.
``I know Daddy would have been just thrilled,'' said Walker, whose husband was also inducted. ``He was a great sportsman and a great pitcher. In all the years he played, I think he got flustered with an umpire once. More than anything, Daddy would have liked to have seen sportsmanship valued as highly today as it was when he played.''
Wesley Walker, another outstanding player, didn't start playing softball until after he graduated from high school.
``For me, baseball just wasn't where it was at,'' said Walker.
Walker won many MVP's while playing, including the Chesapeake Athletic Club's award as the best player in their 1965 tournament.
``Softball is action-packed and a lot of fun; it grabbed my heart. I'm still involved, but my legs are gone,'' Walker said.
Tommy Keith sponsored a team from 1976 through 1994, and for the last eight years, he's sponsored and played with Keith Enterprise. His teams have played in 12 Metros, 5 Regional, and 4 National tournaments.
``Being inducted is quite an honor, but it's really just the icing on the cake,'' said Keith. ``The biggest honor is being able to play with such a great bunch of guys. They've really made it all worthwhile.''
Scharlene Floyd, receiving special recognition, got her start in softball through a recreation center league back in the 1960s. Her career in softball includes having played in over 100 ASA tournaments and making the Norfolk City League All-Star team nine times.
Throughout her softball career, she has had many noteworthy experiences, but her most memorable one was when she was married on the field at Northside Park.
``We met on the field,'' said Floyd, ``and we wanted everyone to be able to come so it just seemed the right thing to do.''
Three children and two grandchildren later, Floyd says that she would really enjoy watching her grandchildren follow in her cleats.
The Robo-Wash team played for only nine years, but won eight ASA tournaments, coming in second seven times and placing third once. The team was made up from two teams that had played against each other in Norfolk, the Roaring 20's and the Garden Lounge.
``The team was very proud of the the fact that it was a family affair,'' said Buck Stanton, the team's general manager. ``We all got along well and really enjoyed playing together.''
Over the 30 years that these players, managers and teams have played there have been a lot of changes in the sport itself.
``I think one of the most important changes to have happened in softball was the making of divisions,'' said Wes Walker. ``When I first started, you were in a win or lose situation. Divisions have really helped by keeping one team from dominating.''
``I think we've seen a tremendous increase in the amount of talent being infused into the game,'' said Keith. ``But I'd really like to see even more changes. I think we could make the game even more exciting by moving the fence back to 315 feet, from 285 now. It's nothing for players to whack the ball over the fence anymore.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by GARY C. KNAPP
Jesse ``Sam'' Maddox
Inducted as a manager
Wesley F. Walker
Inducted as a player
Tommy Keith
Inducted as a sponsor
Scharlene Floyd
Inducted for special recognition
Among those in attendance at the 13th annual Tidewater Virginia
Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame banquet were, front row,
from left, Sonny Bass, Linwood Manning, Carl Borst, Greg Sawyer, Mac
Carpenter and George Carty; middle row, from left, Allie Hudgins,
Alton Todd, Doug Brown, Buck Stanton and Hardy Bartron; and back
row, from left, Larry Ward, Terry Kemp, George Fisher, Bill Sparrow
and Chris Davenport.
by CNB