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Summertime softball has a long history in Weaverville, and players and spectators alike enjoy being on the field and in the stands at Weaverville's Lowden Park, participating in the game they love.
In recent years, however, softball in Weaverville has suffered, due to the same budgetary cutbacks and constraints that are affecting just about everything. In 2009, the County stopped providing any Parks and Recreation assistance to the local softball league.
For the past couple of years, the league has continued only through the determined efforts of a few long-time, die-hard players, including Bobby John Davis, Ted Canfield, and Canfield's son, Todd Canfield. These three have put in lots of volunteer hours working on the field, revising rules, holding coaches meetings, taking garbage to the dump, and other functions. They also take responsibility for obtaining insurance for the league, paying for the field lights, and chalking the field.
Speaking from the front porch of The Nugget caf?�, where he works, Todd recalled one of the projects that Davis, his dad, and he have undertaken in the past two years: "We didn't want softball to die, so my dad and I joined forces with Bobby John, and we all picked up rocks with our bare hands for weeks" to make the field playable again. He said there are currently seven teams in the league, and he would like to see more. "I will do whatever it takes (to improve the softball league). I just want to play softball." He acknowledged that the league is currently a "work in progress" that needs a lot of help and support to be something Weaverville can be proud of.
Local businessman Ted Pierce, who moved to Weaverville three years ago, loves softball and played it for a long time in other towns. Also present at David coleman football ?� interview, he said he wants to support the effort to improve softball in Weaverville. He put up $400 this summer to sponsor the Young Guns team-which has about 16 players on its roster--and has enjoyed seeing his team out on the field. The owner of Untamed Clothing, a unique clothing boutique in historical Weaverville, said he's a little disappointed, however, with the overall condition of softball in Weaverville. He aims to do something about it.
For starters, he'd like to bring back a top-notch, large-scale Fourth of July weekend softball tournament which, he says, would bring significant money to Weaverville businesses and make Weaverville a softball destination. He also wants to see the players make a renewed commitment to the game. "I want them to play ball like they're capable of playing, and if they do that, they'll win." He would like to see the teams play with more team spirit and less individuality, and he'd also like to see better sportsmanship among players, which would make families more comfortable with bringing their children to the games.
Pierce envisions changes for the league. "I'd like to see someone take over the league who has nothing to do with playing softball, but who has everything to do with making softball great again in this town." He wants better organization of the league, and he would like to see local businesses sponsor the Fourth of July weekend tournament.
He also wants to offer up incentives for local teams, such as a season-ending first, second, and third place. "I think this could be a huge softball town, and that could bring more money to area businesses, especially through Fourth of July tournaments."
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