THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508180153
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY TERRI WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
For all appearances, it could be a field of dreams.
Standing near wide expanses of green pastures and fields, Fermer Perry Memorial Field has been a place to which parents have hauled their kids for Peanut Pony League practice and games for nearly 20 years.
They've watched proudly as teamwork has molded young boys and girls into men and women.
The league took ownership of their field; they cleared it, cut it and raised funds for a concession stand and bleachers.
But the beloved field that's been home for 135 players of the Southside Athletic Association - a division of the Peanut Pony League - may turn into a distant memory if members don't raise $25,000-$75,000 to save it.
League members had scheduled a fund-raising ``Save Our Ballpark'' tournament for Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the field, at the intersection of Airport Road and Route 13/32.
However, Hurricane Felix threatened those plans at mid-week. If the games were rained out due to Hurricane Felix, the tournament will be held next weekend.
Frank Perry, owner of the ball park property, is trying to sell it, but league members don't know if they'll have the money to save it.
During a somber meeting Tuesday night with parents, Clarence Babb, president of the Southside Athletic Association and the Peanut Pony League, said they had less than three months to raise the funds.
``Mr. Perry and his lawyers tried to subdivide it, but the bank wouldn't do it,'' Babb said.
Babb said that if NationsBank offered to sell the field separately at $25,000, the league could possibly raise enough money to buy it. However, if the bank declined to subdivide, the league would have to purchase the entire property at about $75,000, said Babb.
And Babb - who played for the Pony League and whose son now plays first base for the league - said the field is special.
``This isn't just a piece of land or property out here,`` said an emotional Babb. ``This is a piece of people's hearts. NationsBank is looking at this like it's a piece of property.''
Cy Clark, a loan officer at NationsBank, could not be reached.
Babb said NationsBank put a lien on the 22 acres in which the field sits. An offer for the property by a church in Pughsville was recently turned down.
The league asked Perry to separate the land so it could buy the field, but because the lien is on the entire parcel of land, it can not be divided.
But what really disturbs Babb and team members is that they thought Fermer Perry had given the field to the league. Almost 20 years ago, Babb argues, Frank Perry's father donated the field to give kids in Suffolk a place to play ball.
A letter dated July 27, 1976, from Frank and Fermer Perry to the league says, ``Please be advised the property we are furnishing for a ball field is for the sole use of the Southside Little League.
``Any outside use will be only upon approval of the Southside Little League coaches (Billy Epperson, Ronnie Thomas, Frankie Babb, Clarence Babb and Jerry Perry) along with a panel of six boys, aged 11 to 16 (these to be chosen by their team members).
``It is our desire to have this ball field used to benefit the children of our community.''
Attorneys for Perry and Babb refused to comment on details of the matter. However, Joshua Pretlow, the lawyer for Perry, said his client is ``doing his best to work with the Little League.''
As for the letter, Pretlow said he disputes that Perry donated the field to the team: ``He didn't know what he was doing.''
Hugh West, attorney for Babb, said Wednesday that he's still waiting to find out if the bank accepted his client's offer. West said he didn't know if the letter carried any weight for the league.
But the field is more than just a piece of property caught in a legal, business entanglement, say parents.
Mike Castello's daughter and son play ball for the association. He says he doesn't know how he'll explain to his kids the prospect of losing the field.
``If my son didn't have a place to play baseball, it would hurt,'' said Castello. ``I enjoy just watching (his kids). It would be bad for them. They've gotten attached to this place.''
Diane Widener's two sons play ball for the league. Widener says if the team loses the field, she doesn't know how the other area leagues could accommodate their association.
The Pony League, not to be mistaken with the Little League, is a nationwide club for boys and girls aged 4 to 17. In Suffolk, the Peanut Pony League consists of players in Carrsville, Chuckatuck, Holland, Whaleyville, Cypress, Chuckatuck and King's Fork.
The Southside Association from Cypress is one of the few that uses its own field. The city owns parks in Whaleyville, King's Fork, Carrsville and Holland.
But Widener and other parents said the other fields are already crowded, and it would be a nightmare scheduling games, especially during inclement weather.
And the prospect of buying the entire property is also troublesome, she said. ``People in Suffolk can't afford that.''
Widener's son Gleason, 12, a shortstop and pitcher, puts it more bluntly: ``I'm angry about it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER
Clarence Babb, president of the Southside Athletic Association and
the Peanut Pony League is negotiating to buy Perry Memorial Field
for the league.
Concerned parents and players attended a meeting Tuesday to
brainstorm on raising funds to buy the field.
Aaron Darden brought along his ball and glove on Tuesday.
Graphic
T0 HELP
To make a donation that would help the Southside Athletic
Association purchase Fermer Perry Memorial Field for the Peanut Pony
League, call Clarence Babb at 934-3281.
by CNB