Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 23, 1993 TAG: 9304230027
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The skies over the area will start raining softballs today at 6 a.m., when the Miller Lite 13th annual Chance Crawford Benefit Slow-Pitch tournament begins on 17 fields.
Approximately 200 teams from Virginia and surrounding states are entered in what organizers are billing as the world's largest benefit tournament. Proceeds go to five local charities.
"From what I hear, there is no other benefit tournament any larger," said Ben Lockhart, assistant state director for the United State Slowpitch Softball Association (USSSA) of Southwest Virginia.
"Now there is a larger tournament, ironically being held this same weekend in Georgia. It has over 600 teams, but it's not a benefit tournament."
Last year, the 183-team tournament generated nearly $12,000, which also was divided among five charities.
The men's field will be competing in Open/A, B, C, D and Recreation classes. The women have Class B and C divisions.
Lockhart said the 10 entries in Men's Open/A is a tournament record. For the first time in tournament history a major - Dryden Easton of Newport News - is entered.
"There are only eight or nine majors in the United States," Lockhart said. "Most of the majors have teams full of ex-jocks, ex-pro football or ex-pro baseball players. You know, anybody that stands 6 foot 5 and can hit the ball 400 feet."
Lockhart said the tournament added two more fields this year simply to handle the volume.
"We've added a new one at Burton Field and one at the old Berean school," he said. "It will help us because we were really tight last year. We were really pushed. If we had six or eight more fields, we'd be in great shape."
Action runs from 6 a.m. today to midnight. Saturday's schedule stretches from 8 a.m. to midnight. Sunday's card goes from 8 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m.
Each division's championship game will be played Sunday at the James Moyer Sports Complex. Lockhart estimated the Open/A final will begin at 2 p.m., followed by the rest.
Saturday's action will be highlighted by a heavyweight home-run hitting contest at 4 p.m. at Moyer. Each contestant will get eight pitches or five swings. The winner gets $200 and runner-up $100.
"If you want to see some balls hit out, watch those cats," Lockhart said. "They will be putting 'em over Graham-White down there."
by CNB