THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996 TAG: 9607250149
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 82 lines
GEORGE CARTY STOOD at the plate, followed the arc of the softball, swung the aluminum bat and hit a bouncer into the hole between shortstop and third base.
The shortstop gloved the ball and threw a rainbow to first base to get Carty out.
This wouldn't have happened in the old days, Carty's teammates said. Once a speedster, Carty has lost a step or two. But that's understandable. The Tidewater Amateur Softball Hall of Famer is 57.
He developed insulin-dependent diabetes a few years ago. And he shot himself in the foot - literally.
``I was climbing down from a deer stand and my shotgun went off,'' he said. The 12-gauge blast caused extensive damage to the toes on his left foot. He lost the big toe to infection.
While some of the physical elements are gone, his love of the game isn't.
Carty has played softball most of his life and isn't about to let that change.
Neither have his aging yet enthusiastic teammates in the over-50 league.
Cecil Shirley, a trim 68, started playing baseball as a kid and has been playing ever since. The Blackwater native played baseball at the old Kempsville High School in 1944-45. He is also a Tidewater Hall of Famer.
Playing first base at a recent tournament, Shirley snagged a short-hop throw from second like a major leaguer. He stills shows plenty of pop with the bat, too.
Shirley, Carty and other over-50s play for Graphix Express - sponsors of the not-yet-over-the-hill gang that plays for the Tidewater Senior Athletic Association.
The group gathered at Princess Anne Park last month for a tournament against two similar teams from Richmond and finished second.
Graphix coach Stoney Jackson has a gray beard, wears No. 1/2 and walks with a limp. ``Carolina'' Bob Yates, a left-handed line-drive hitter, is sitting this one out. He had shoulder surgery last year. This year, his ankle underwent the scalpel. Nick Sessoms, superintendent of maintenance for the city's Parks and Recreation Department, wears a straw hat and watches the action on the field. His sciatic nerve has flared up, but the burn to compete may be hurting more as he looks on.
``I was fortunate to play on the national championship team in 1971,'' he said, showing off his ring. Sessoms was a member of the legendary Piledrivers - home run hitters all.
The team recently played in the Henrico Senior Adult Softball Tournament near Richmond - a coed event that featured men over 50 and women over 40.
Again, the locals finished second in a field of 13 teams.
In the Henrico event, Graphix Express was led by outfielder Bobby Wilson. He went 11-for-11 with 13 runs batted in and six scored and crushed a pair of home runs.
Third baseman Phil Hobbs turned in one of his best efforts of the season with a 10-for-11 performance.
Shortstop Herbie Bland was 11-for-13 with seven RBIs.
Joann Moore turned in a great performance at first base and hit .462. In fact, the entire women's contingent was key for the locals.
Louise Stokes only had a pair of RBIs, but both were timely according to Jackson.
Treva Green caught and also hit .455. Outfielder and utility player Barbara Moore turned in a .364 performance.
``Instead of the men being the backbone, the women were just as much a backbone and their attitudes and performances were key,'' Jackson said. ``And they all played outstanding softball over the weekend.
``Your coed team is only as good as the women playing on it.''
Jackson's team hit .561 for the tournament.
For the year, Pete Nicholas is the leading hitter with a .724 average.
He's followed by Wilson at .700, Shirley at .553 and Bland at .527.
The organization concludes its regular season Sunday at Princess Anne Park with 5 p.m. games.
The league tournament featuring all six teams will be Aug. 10-11 at Red Mill Park starting at 5 p.m.
The team will also participate Aug. 15-18 in the International Senior world championships in Manassas in northern Virginia.
Anyone interested in getting involved with the senior league should call Jackson at 340-7671. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by STONEY JACKSON
Cecil Shirley, 68, connects for a base hit. He is a Tidewater Hall
of Famer. by CNB