THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 18, 1994 TAG: 9408170163
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICKY BAILEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
THUNDER ECHOED over the diamonds of Greenbrier Park as if the mythical character Thor was warming up for the Tidewater Softball Championships Home Run Contest.
But what started out as deep rumbles from the evening skies suddenly turned into the clink and clank of aluminum bats.
The contest, commonly known as Home Run Derby, was won by Allan Knox of Harrison's Moving and Storage in a one-pitch sudden-death final against Mike Southworth of Tile Magic of Virginia Beach.
The concept of home run derby has been in baseball for generations, getting a boost in the 1950s when contests were beamed into the homes of millions via television.
Hank Aaron, who was the TV series' overall winner, didn't receive nearly as much in prize money as a major leaguer's daily wage today.
Friday night's event drew nine men from the participating teams in the Tidewater Championships and a crowd of more than 1,500 gathered around the batting cage.
Long choruses of ``oohs'' and ``ahhs'' lifted from the crowd as softballs flew in trajectories varying from bullet shots to 9-iron lofts.
Each batter stepped to the plate with his own pitcher, who was instructed just where to place the pitch for maximum effect.
In the old days of the TV show, two players would compete in a nine-inning game. A batter would receive an out on anything hit other than a home run.
In Friday night's match-up, the nine batters could look at eight pitches but could only swing at six.
The fence stood about seven feet high and was 300 feet from the plate. Maybe a bit closer than the big boys in the majors but just as exciting.
Southworth set the pace early with a pair of dingers. The first homer cleared in left-center field and the second in left.
The very nature of the event brings out the big swingers, and some of the biggest men in the tournament converged on diamond number two.
But size was no guarantee of success.
Bill White of Bethel Church was one of many that couldn't put one out of the yard.
Sam Hardy of the VMS Hitmen, Greg Miller of Harrison's, Ronnie Norton of Superior/Hudgins and Kenny Kirby of Clancy's also failed to clear the fence.
Reggie LaBray of Clancy's hit one.
Kirby, the brother of the Miami Dolphins' Terry Kirby and the Cleveland Indians' Wayne Kirby, may look better suited for the defensive backfield of the Redskins.
But even with his size, the ball from each of Kirby's six crunching blows was retrieved from inside the park.
``The secret is bat speed,'' Kirby said. ``The (loft of the pitch) has got to go between eight to ten feet. Usually your pitcher will ask you what you want.''
Kirby didn't seem too disappointed in his effort.
``You want the pitcher to groove it,'' he said, ``I got what I wanted.''
Knox, who was already known for hitting the long ball, sent two over the left-field fence. That forced the sudden-death pitch-off with Southworth.
In sudden death, one pitch is thrown to each batter. Knox drove his pitch right where he left the other two.
``You just take a deep breath,'' Knox said. ``I like it about waist high and just don't overswing.''
That's a home run hitter's idea of: Ready, Aim, Fire.
``There is pressure,'' Knox said about the sudden-death pitch, ``but I got six swings from before, so I was ready.''
The championship game between Clancy's and Harrison's in the mens division saw Kirby get what he really came for.
``Unfortunately, I didn't hit one out,'' said Kirby during the award ceremony of the men's division, ``but we won the game.''
Clancy's defended its 1993 mens title by defeating Harrison's Moving/Commerce Bank, 22-16.
In other championship results, Superior/Hudgins Co-ed squad beat Bad Company of Norfolk in the co-ed final, 17-5, in five innings.
The church title went to the Mt. Pleasant Mennonites of Chesapeake as they shut out Bethel Baptist, 12-0, in six innings.
Superior Pest Control beat the DC Controllers, 9-5, in the women's division. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Allan Knox of Harrison's Moving and Storage won the home run hitting
contest in a sudden-death final against Mike Southworth of Tile
Magic.
Reggie Landers of Clancy's slides into second base as Kent Kidd of
Harrison's tries to turn a double play in the men's softball final.
by CNB