
DATE: Sunday, July 13, 1997                 TAG: 9707110299

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  114 lines

IT'S A HIT WITH 4 TEAMS, 50 PLAYERS AND A WAITING LIST, WOMEN'S FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL ISOFF TO A RUNNING START. THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION EXPECTS TO HAVE AT LEAST SIX TEAMS NEXT SPRING.

WHEN A SPLENDID high school softball career ended in 1991, Angie White did what most of her peers have done over the years - accepted the fact that fast-pitch was over and slow-pitch had begun.

After growing up playing fast-pitch softball in recreation leagues and high school, slow-pitch is the only option left unless a player is lucky enough to get in four more years as a college player.

Even then, softball's slower version - where the ball is lobbed to the batter instead of being pitched as fast as possible - looms in the future.

Well . . . no more.

This spring, the Department of Parks and Recreation started what is widely believed to be the area's first adult women's fast-pitch softball league with four teams and more than 50 players.

Local softball old-timers say they don't remember there ever being adult women's fast-pitch in the area, except possibly a military league.

Naturally, White feels like the league has been too long in coming. But she is simply happy that it has finally arrived in time for her to enjoy it.

``When I heard about it, I just thought it was great,'' said White, who was one of the area's best power hitters during her years at Kellam. ``After school, I did what everybody else did and played slow-pitch.

``I was with a great team - the Sun Devils - but it's not the same. I always wanted to play more fast-pitch.''

Her sentiments are echoed by nearly every player in the four-team league that plays Monday nights at Princess Anne High. Regular season competition concludes Monday night, with semifinals on July 21 and the championship and third-place game on the 28th.

The league is comprised of current, future and former collegiate players, and others who once played the game and are rekindling their past.

``I know this is a big help to the college kids,'' said White, 24. ``It gives them a chance to stay in touch with their game during the summer.

``For some of us, it is just a chance to play again. Slow-pitch is fun, but this is much quicker.''

And power hitting is easier - especially with Princess Anne's 205-foot fences. That makes the league and its site made to order for White.

On her first pitch of the league's opening night, White blasted one to deep centerfield - a scenario she has repeated several times this season.

``Don't throw me the one I'm looking for,'' said White, who shyly admits that she still has the same power she did in high school. ``That will be a gift.''

Several of White's teammates have been given similar gifts. Comprised mostly of current Norfolk State players, her team - Cal's - is the top home run hitting team and the league leader with one night remaining (see standings on page 7).

But of more interest than who wins and who loses is the fact that the league is up and running - and apparently appealing to those not playing in it.

``We've had a waiting list all season of people wanting to play,'' said coordinator Sherry Hawkins. ``We had a lot of people waiting to see if it took and then it was too late.''

Hawkins said she is looking at a fall league, but only if a minimum of four teams enters. She expects at least six teams for next spring.

She complimented Princess Anne High coach Dennis Nixon who ``has done a great job with this facility and the women have been loving playing here,'' Hawkins said. ``They don't have the home run element in any other location or in slow-pitch, so that's an added attraction.

``But most women grew up with fast-pitch and, while they might like slow-pitch, fast-pitch is their first love.''

That's the case of Dawn Bell, a former All-Tidewater player of the year at Bayside who recently returned to the area from college.

``This is a great little league,'' said Bell, who played for a Louisburg College team that was fifth in the nation last year among Division I junior colleges. ``I didn't like it up there and came back and figured I'd just play some slow-pitch until I made up my mind what I was going to do.

``This is a great way for me to keep up my skills until then.''

Teammate Heidi Hill is in a different situation, getting set to start her collegiate career at Norfolk State this fall.

``This is really going to help me,'' the pitcher said. ``It's showing me more of what to expect in college. I'm playing against some of the girls that will be my teammates and I'm learning from them already.''

So while the new women's fast-pitch league is many things to different players, there is still one common denominator - the chance to continue to play the game they grew up loving. ILLUSTRATION: Photos including color cover by L. TODD SPENCER

Amber Stout of the Lady Marlins fast-pitch softball team reaches

home plate as Lisa Newnam, catcher for Grand Slam, is ready to tag

her out.

LEFT: There's no lobbing the ball for Bronwyn Blair as she pitches

during a Monday night game at Princess Anne High. This spring, the

Department of Parks and Recreation started a women's fast-pitch

softball league. Regular season concludes this Monday.

BELOW: Angie White of Cal's is safe at second base, despite an

attempt for the out by Hallie Kile of Tow Boat U.S.

Kara Campbell of Cal's Team winds up for the pitch during a recent

game against Tow Boat U.S.

Kara Campbell of Cal's tags out Hallie Kile of Tow Boat U.S. during