Edgar Leonard. Photo: Provided

A softball match being played on E. Walwyn Brewley Softball Field in Long Bush. Photo: VINO/File

Softball has also been popular among women in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File

Softball origin

George Hancock, a reporter for the Chicago Board of Trade, presumably invented softball in 1887. It was labeled “indoor baseball,” but it moved outdoor in spring 1888. Indoor baseball, also called mushball, kittenball, changed officially to softball in or around 1920. Softball comprises three disciplines: fastpitch, modified fastpitch, and slow pitch.

US Organisation/Olympic

Softball was organised in the US in 1933 with the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA). Men first played the sport but now are more prevalent among women, growing in popularity across the US and the rest of the world. The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) lists 69 countries and territories in its standing. And the International Softball Association lists 122 national federations as members.

Softball is currently an Olympic event for women. It first became an Olympic event for the 1996 games, but softball and baseball dropped after the 2008 Olympic games. The Olympic placed softball and baseball back in the games for the 2020/2021 games in Tokyo, Japan; Their inclusion for the 2024 games is uncertain.

Growth of Softball                        

US service members played a key role and were instrumental in introducing softball outside the US to other countries. Since the official softball organisation in 1933, many organisations have formed/competitions rolled out. They include a) International Softball Federation (ISF) in 1965, b) First Fastpitch World Championship for women 1965, c) First World Competition for Junior Men and Women in 1981, and d) Slow-pitch World Champion began in 1987.

Import of Softball Into VI

Gaston Penn learned about softball in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI). He is widely credited with bringing the game to the VI; Randolph Malone aka ‘Mose’ and Archibald Francis instrumental in engaging women in the sport in the VI. Softball game introduced, it was first played in Road Town at Old Recreation Ground, now E. Walwyn Brewley Field. In the early days, equipment was in short supply, and the players had to improvise. For example, bats fashioned from branches from trees in the nearby hills, gloves were prized possession and were generally shared; some fields were rocky, broomsticks and other pieces of wood used to hit rocks, sponge, and tennis balls for practice…………. etc. I remembered hitting rocks at Major Bay Primary School and sent a sharp liner in Leslie Malone’s taxi door. Hearing the impact, I dashed for cover and concealment, but the fellows ratted me out. Mr Malone was heated, but it was all good in the end, even after a scolding at home.

Nonetheless, a strong passion for the game ensued, and the game spread like wildfire throughout the communities/villages. The Villages embraced, owned, and supported their village teams. The village supporters were the 10^th man when their teams were playing. They turned up and turned out to robustly support their teams. Each village/geographical area had at least one team.

Teams included Tigers, Marlins, Astros, Jets, Twins, Bears, Animals, and Vets, Road Town; Hot Shots and Byrds, Sea Cows Bay; Hunters, Huntums Ghut; Blue Jays, Capoons Bay; Blue Wings and Red Legs, Baughers Bay; Hawks, Roots, Atoms, Knights, Rays and Mars, East End/Long Look; Clippers and Royals, Brewers Bay; Rockets, Belle Vue.  Women: Warriors, Angels, Amazons, and Hawks, and Lady Braves. Clearly, this list is incomplete, for many teams may have been inadvertently left out. Moreover, in addition to league play, the government introduced softball into primary and secondary schools. At Major Bay Primary (now Willard Wheatley), we didn’t have uniforms, so we would use white T-shirts and markers to write our name/school on them. As kids, softball was the primary sport, and we played every chance we got.

Further, the school teams were the feeder/minor league of sorts for the league teams, keeping the sport solid and vibrant. Reaching back into the old memory bank, I remembered Major Bay Primary playing against a Town team. And either Joseph Percival aka ‘Scruff’ or Austin Todman was catching for the Town team, and I galloped towards home plate, trying to score. A rough tag was applied at the plate, throwing me towards the trees behind the plate, or so Austin Todman and Butchie Eddy inflates and narrates the story. Oh, the good old, fun days of softball.

Stars and Executives of the Game

Mario ‘Black’ Connor, brother of Elmo ‘Equaliser’ Connor, was the best of the best, crème de la crème, and the best overall complete player in VI softball history. Black was a ‘genuine’ all-rounder; he hit, pitched, and fielded equally well; played every position skillfully. Other top tier players included Aston ‘Flag’ Barronville (effectively made transition from cricket to softball), David ‘Jacky’ Todman (completed transition from cricket to softball), Rufus ‘Hook’ Scatliffe, Irvin ‘Fletcher’ Scatfliife, Ishmael Scatliffe, Rupert Smith, Elton ‘Elibit’ Smith, Elmo ‘Equaliser’ Connor, James ‘Butchie’ Eddy, Rene ‘Panchie’ Julius, Eric ‘Hippie’ Matthias, Raymundo ‘Mundo’ Boynes, Clinton ‘Butch’ Walters, Jerome ‘Lolla’ Parson, Edwin ‘Boss’ Hodge, Freddy ‘Jerado’ Matthias, Nichol Rhymer, Roy ‘Panhandle’ Hill, Dolph Cline, Glen Industrious, Mac Hodge, Roy ‘Picko’ Pickering, Valence ‘Mantle’ Malone, Rufus ‘Sleepy’ Malone, Marvin Malone (made the transition from cricket to softball), Elroy Franklyn, Clement ‘Tommy’ Turnbull, Ralston ‘Rabbit’ Daly (popularised the ‘in-shoot’ pitch), Frank Daly, David ‘Flopper’ Matthias, Mercer brothers [Charles, Sam, Raymond (Mahassa), James (Hanbrook)], Edward ‘Batman’ Francis, Bert ‘Big Man’ Henley, Kermit ‘Web’ Frett, Nolan ‘Dickie’ Davies, Neville ‘Sheep’ Smith,  Allen ‘Woodrow’ Smith, Raymond ‘Jackson’ Smith, Sylvester ‘Bucker’ Johnson, Ely Henley and Elton ‘Uppy’ Leonard.

Women players included Doris’ ‘Dopu’ Scatliffe, Eda Ham, Eva Simmonds, Lydia Pickering, Leola Todman, Ivana Monsanto, Bernice Smith, Gracie Hodge, Jennifer ‘Mela’ Johnson, Patsy Thompson, Adina Nibbs, Jelisha Potter, Che’Vaunne Richardson, Bria Smith, Leonel George, Dorothy Durante, Kennisha Powell, and Pearline Scatliffe-Leonard. This list is incomplete and may create some active discussion and controversy regarding who was on or left off the list. It is open for debate. It is important to note that women had/have the same passion for the game as men.

Moreover, the following are just a few of the game’s executives. Leading the pack is E. Walwyn ‘GM’ Brewley, after whom the Road Town softball facility is named and is a force and powerhouse in VI softball. He dedicated over 40 years to softball as a player, statistician, official scorer, announcer, treasurer, vice-president, and VI Amateur Softball Association president. Additionally, he served as Vice-president of the Caribbean, Central American, and Softball Association. The International Softball Association (ISF) inducted him into its hall of fame for his contributions to developing softball in the VI. Further, as the VI Softball President, he was ably supported by Eileene L. Parsons aka ‘Ms P’ and Juliette Penn, among others. Ms P, a cultural icon, is also a deep repository of VI softball information. Further, displaying exemplary servant leadership, the GM continued to serve as chief cook and bottle washer for softball even while serving as a Legislator, Minister of Communication and Works, and Leader of the Opposition.

Baseball in the VI

VI residents played baseball at a relatively low level. Nonetheless, baseball was a popular sport. Most Virgin Islanders were either a Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Yankees fan (I was a Dodger fan). There were a few exceptions, e.g., Walford ‘Mets’ Hodge, NY Mets; Vincent ‘Old Father’ ONeal, San Francisco, Giants; Rundell ‘Skin Back’ Hunt, Atlanta Braves. During the MLB regular season, All-Star Game, and World Series, every man jack had a transistor plastered to his/her ear, enjoying the baseball commentary. The sweet commentary could be heard pouring out from every nook and cranny, i.e., homes, the ballpark, bars, domino tables, under trees, boats……. etc. The game was so popular that children played a game with baseball cards. For example, players held a card about three to four feet above a wall or tree and dropped it, and if dropped on another card, you won that card(s). The serious collectors didn’t use the cards of superstar players in the game; players cherished these cards. Nostalgia. Stars of the game included Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Willie Stargell, Willie Davis, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, Juan Marichal, Roberto Clemente, Reggie Jackson, Hank Aaron, Rickey Henderson, Elston Howard, John Roseboro, Dave Winfield……. etc. I’m confident and convinced that given the demonstrated talent, skill, and prowess in softball and with training and the opportunity, many VI residents would have had successful careers in MLB.

Softball Rise, Peak, and Decline

Softball busted on the VI scene around the mid-1950s. As noted earlier, VI residents developed an immediate passion for the game. With little formal instruction and sheer talent, skill, and perseverance, VI players played with a flair and took to softball like ducks to water. They were naturals. Consequently, the players and the game grew to a highly competitive level. Per E. Walwyn ‘GM’ Brewley, a VI softball connoisseur, the battle-hardened voice of all things softball in the VI and a lived, walking encyclopedia of VI softball players and stats, indicated that the VI though small, was a force in the Caribbean and Central American regions and beyond. Cuba was the toughest competition in the region for the VI. The VI placed 12^th in the ISF Men’s World Championship in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1988, played Cuba in 1987 Pan Am Games for the Bronze medal and lost 3-4.

Nonetheless, despite the VI peak, its progress dropped precipitously in recent times. It is dying on the vine with a slight pulse and on life support. And without urgent action, softball will die a painful death due to neglect. What are some of the contributing factors to the steep decline?

From my vantage point, contributing factors to the decline include:

a) Centralizing the game in Road Town, reducing village(s) engagement and participation;

b) Competition from other sports, i.e., basketball for talent from an already small and limited talent pool (VI population approximately 34,000);

c) Decline of softball in primary and secondary schools, and;

d) Lack of a structured and reliable feeder system for higher Amateur Softball League;

e) Declining pitching reservoir due to older pitchers retiring, some top pitchers emigrating, and lack of effective tutoring mechanisms for potential, interested pitchers;

e) Public underfunding in the sport, i.e., upgrading and modernising facilities.

Revitalizing the Sport

Softball rocketed to the top and can do so again; it can become the de jure, not just the de facto, national sport. The following are some suggestions for revitalising and breathing life back into the sport. They are not in priority order:

a) Government commit, budget, and appropriate funding to invest in modernising the E. Walwyn Brewley Field, Capoons Bay Field, Green Land Field, Roger Allen Hodge Field, among others;

b) Decentralising the sport from its current centralising in Road Town and site in villages to the maximum extent possible and practical;

c) Participate in more local, regional, and international tournaments;

d) Engage and involve more public participation in the sport;

e) Recruit and engage former players participating in the game;

f) Construct and maintain quality facilities on sister islands, i.e., Anegada, Virgin Gorda;

g) Increase the number of leagues and tournaments, i.e., slow, fast, and modified fastpitch;

h) Recruit local and external experts to conduct training on softball fundamentals, i.e., pitching, hitting, fielding……etc.;

h) establish a hall of fame;

i) Place softball back in primary and secondary schools;

j) Encourage and incentivise employers to compensate employees while engaged with the national team;

k) Explore health insurance opportunities for players engaged in official league play and with the national team;  

l) Recognize, reward, and celebrate the national team, and;

n) Establish Pony/Little League (B-League) as a feeder for the A-League, and;

m) Establish a public education and outreach programme.

Moreover, if the VI wants to be world-class and enjoy and brag about being top-tier competitive softball at a high level, it must act, look, behave, and invest in being world-class, e.g., investing in world-class, state-of-the-art facilities. In large, advanced countries, sports are, for the most part, the province of the private sector. However, the VI is a small developing territory, and government must be the fulcrum in revitalising softball. The VI boasts of having a $1B GDP and a $400M Operations and Maintenance budget, so surely it can effectively afford to invest in constructing, operating, and maintaining world-class softball facilities.

And given the current makeup of the HoA (softball pedigree), many residents were giddy about softball getting more attention, support, and a strong resource shot in the arm. However, that ship has not sailed, so softball supporters are hopeful. The VI is a small fry in the softball universe, but it can be a considerable force to reckon with, as it proved in the past. And with robust planning, it can rebound to its past glory, swimming with big fish in the softball ocean.  

The big question is if the decline of softball is symbolic of what is on the horizon for the VI?