Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 14, 1991 TAG: 9103150590
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"Some of the girls plan their babies around the season," said Carlene Monlock, who plays in the Roanoke city adult softball program with the Our Lady of Nazareth women's team. Some team members have even played through the fifth month of pregnancy, but when she tried it, Monlock said, "I didn't like it."
Monlock and her teammates are typical of many players who participate in Roanoke Valley adult softball leagues. Whether they are in it for fun or to fulfill big-league fantasies, they love the game and are willing to play no matter what.
Roanoke's adult softball is "a huge program," said Recreation Supervisor Bob Renaud. Most years, approximately 90 teams sign up to play in several different leagues, at a cost of $300 per team. Independent church leagues pay $200.
Forty-five teams played in Salem last year. The city charges $250 per team for men's teams, and $200 for women's and church teams. The fee for women is lower, he said, to encourage women's teams to sign up.
Last year, Botetourt County fielded eight men's teams and four women's teams, but Recreation Director Ken Myers said volleyball is beginning to surpass softball as the most popular sport.
"It's something to do," he said, and it doesn't require the players to be in top physical condition.
Roanoke County charges $300 per team. Last year, 70 teams played.
"It's our biggest program with adults," said Gary Creasy, Roanoke County's director of adult athletics.
Creasy said he has no idea why softball is so popular. Some players "just love the game," he said.
Monlock and her husband, Kevin, who coaches the team, moved to Roanoke from New Jersey in 1984. Kevin joined the church's men's team, and while she was watching some of his games, Monlock said she wondered why there wasn't a women's team, too. And so she started one.
They played their first season in 1985 and lost all 13 games, most of them before the fourth inning, when the games were called because the Nazareth team was losing so badly.
"They slaughtered us," Monlock said. Since then, the team has won first place several times. Monlock said the team's success is due to the fact that the members just got used to playing together. "It wasn't my husband," she said, laughing.
On the other end of the scale is Dan Lockhart, who keeps detailed statistics on his team. For the past 10 years, Lockhart has coached the Orange Market team in Roanoke County's men's open league. When his team isn't playing other county teams during the week, they spend two or three weekends each month roaming around the state in pursuit of a berth in the Amateur Softball Association's world championship.
The league games, he said, "are a warm-up for our weekend games."
To strengthen the team, Lockhart said, this season, they will combine with their former arch-rivals, the Mac and Bob's team, taking the "cream" from each side.
"I enjoy the competition of the playing," he said, although he first got into it because "everyone seemed to be having such a ball playing together."
Dan Naff coaches a team from Dominion Bank, where he is employed, in a Roanoke County league. Forming the team was something that "just spread through the bank" about four years ago.
The team is sponsored by Derwood Nichols, of Nichols Contracting. Nichols has never been to a game, Naff said, but he buys equipment and holds a banquet every year for the players "because he likes us. He wants to see us have a good time."
Johhny Asimakopoulos, known as "Johnny A" to friends, has played with the Ray's Restaurant team in Roanoke County's men's open league for the past 12 years.
The team is made up of "a lot of guys I went to high school with," he said, "with a little youth [added] here and there.
Asimakopoulos graduated from William Byrd High School in 1978.
"We try to have a good time," he said, but at the same time, "We're very competitive. We just play, but we do want to win." Last year, he said, his team won the county championship.
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on March 21, 1991 in Neighbors East.
\ Because of a reporter's error in a story about recreation softball in March 14 Neighbors editions, the sponsor of a team on which Johhny Asimakopoulos has played for 12 years was listed incorrectly. The team was sponsored by the Home Place Restaurant during that time and will be sponsored this season by Ray's Restaurant. Also, the high school from which Asimakopoulos graduated was listed incorrectly. He is a 1978 graduate of Northside High School.
Memo: CORRECTION