Lawn Dr

If you ever see an outfielder twist and turn away from an approaching fly ball, then observe as the vivid yellow softball lands miraculously in the glove behind the player’s back. That fielder will probably be Warren Butler.
The most senior player (he’s called Pappy) in the American League of the CSSA was a late bloomer in the world of sports. While he played Little League in his hometown of Dalton, GA, he admits his coordination at that early age lagged behind his counterparts.
It wasn’t until he was in his mid-twenties that he plunged into a pool of players being chosen for a church league. The teams were assigned ratings of one, two, and three in order of the assessment of their talent, and Warren joined the team with the lowest rank. He surprised himself with his abilities and hit three home runs in a tournament game that lifted his bottom-rated team to victory. They quickly reassigned him to the top-graded team.
He did not disappoint. The church league soon judged that group’s talent superior to others, and cast them out to the open league. Warren and his mates won that league’s championship on four occasions.
He proceeded through his work life with the Georgia United Credit Union, where he succeeded and became the CEO. He veered away from softball and focused on good times with his wife, Lashon, now thirty years his partner. They didn’t share a love of softball in the early days, but were a championship team in archery and trap-shooting. If fact, the pair won the Georgia State Trap-Shooting crown for four consecutive years.
Lashon has also won the women’s championship in archery in a combined competition for the states of Georgia and Alabama. Warren’s most cherished moment in his sports history is his own trophy for combined Georgia and Alabama state competitions in trap-shooting.
About fourteen years ago, Jeff Land, a neighbor of the Butlers, told them about the senior softball league in Woodstock. Warren’s been playing ever since and continued his leadership role, as he has in most everything he has joined in his life. He became the Director of the American League, then the Vice Commissioner of the CSSA Board of Directors under Dewey Hom for four years. He received the Lowell Lawson Award in 2017. His wife is a fervent supporter of his softball avocation. If you scan the grandstand, Lashon will be the one wearing the “Team Mom” shirt.
On the field, he’s led his team to their division title for three seasons in a row. He’s done so playing the outfield while expanding his expertise to the pitching mound. This past spring, the American League bestowed Warren with his first Most Valuable Player award. He bats left-handed and throws right. I’m not sure which hand pulls the shotgun’s trigger to get those clay pigeons, but have little doubt he could also shoot behind his back!
This avid outdoorsman has experienced some memorable fun events throughout his lifetime. A devoted Braves fan, his favorite players were Dale Murphy and Bob Horner. He’s had the good fortune of spending a day fishing with Hall of Famer Phil Niekro. About eight years ago, he took part in an Atlanta Braves Fantasy Camp. He improved his talents by working with Sid Bream, Marquis Grissom, Pete Smith, Javier Lopez, David Justice and Otis Nixon. Each day at the event, they highlight a Most Valuable Player based on the players’ performances, and Warren was honored at his selection as the MVP on one of those occasions. Not bad for a senior softballer!
He has another year in the American League before his age requires he step aside and join other leagues. No matter where he settles, his new team will receive one of the CSSA’s brightest stars and passionate cheerleaders; someone who practices what he preaches as he spouts in the dugout. “Don’t Ever Give Up.”
Written by Marty Aftewicz

Hello Everyone,

It is almost that time of year to come out into the sun light and play ball.

I wanted to update everyone on the plan for the Spring season related to the National and American League teams. I have no idea what rumors are circulating out there so here is what I can tell you as of today.

The CSSA BOD has decided to merge the NL and AL Leagues into one combined League (no idea what we will call it) for the Spring 2022 season and beyond. I have been asked to be the league director for the 2022 season. We will have 8 teams with 13 man rosters. The purpose of this reorganization is to have a competitive league with team stability. We hope that a 13 man roster and player realignment will eliminate the need for managers to scramble at the last minute to field a team each week. We are also trying to provide each team with players that can field a good defensive alignment as well as have the offence needed to win games.

The managers for the teams have been selected and they have begun to put together a core group of players to begin with. This season the managers are:

• Dan Bonham – Bedoes

• James Bauch – Lawn Doctor (Last seasons All Weather team)

• Chris Geiger – D Bats

• Earl Riley – Integrity

• Terry Crump – GCB

• Freddy Allen – AIMC

• Ken Silvers – Becketts

• Brian Henson – Southland Custom Homes

The managers should have already been in touch with you to confirm your playing status for the Spring season. If you have not been contacted please use this message to let me know directly if you are planning to return and play in the Spring 2022 season. We will likely move some of the sponsor names around after the draft but for now it is easier to use the Team name from the fall for draft purposes.

The managers will put together a team core to start with and then draft the remainder of the teams from the player pool (returning players and Spring tryout players). Tryout out dates are February 19, 20, 26 and 27 at Hobgood. We will begin at noon each day and end around 2PM. We plan to start the Spring season the week of March 14th. We are planning to have a practice week (week of March 7th) and then play a 10 game regular season. The season will have 2 parts to it. In Part 1 each team will play each other once. Once those 7 games are completed the teams will break up into 2 divisions based upon overall record. In Part 2, the 4 teams in each division will play each other once to determine a champion for that division.

That is the basic overview, I hope you find this information helpful. I look forward to seeing everyone out of the field again.

Please note: It is important that we know each players plan for the Spring season so we can list the players available for the draft. Please respond to me directly and let me know your status for the Spring.

Regards,
Mike Maguire
maguire@jeol.com

Due to excessive amounts of rain received, the Tues night evaluations for Hobgood Park have been cancelled. Please let any, and everyone you have lined up to come tonite know about cancellation plus encourage them to come to Skip Wells Park on Saturday and Sunday – 24th and 25th-. Hours for those days are 12 noon to 2:00pm.
The Evaluations for next Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at Hobgood Park are still on from 6 :30 to 9 pm, once again depending upon weather

It’s that time of year!!! Getting ready for Fall 2021 Season to begin!!! Contact any of those who have expressed an interest in joining our more than 400 players, ages 49 through 89 years young Senior Softball players,; any of those who might be interested in playing but do not know about our organization. With 8 Leagues of play all based on skill levels and not age brackets, there is a League and Team for all interested.

Days of Play are Monday and Wednesday mornings; and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday nights.

There are two locations this year for new players and those who may wish to move to another League.
Tryouts will be held at Hobgood Park, Woodstock, GA Field #4 at the corner of Towne Lake Parkway and Bells Ferry Road on Tues July 20th and Tues July 27th from 6:30pm to 9:00pm
The other location is Skip Wells Park, 2334 Bells Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA. Dates and times for this location are Saturday July 24th and Sunday July 25th from Noon to 2pm.

For more information please contact Norm Thiem at nthiem@aol.com, phone: 770-757-8467 with any questions etc.

CSSA BOARD MEETING
May 24, 2021
The monthly meeting of the CSSA was held May 24, 2021, at GameDay Grill, and called to order by Norm Thiem at 12:50 PM.
Members present: Ray DeLuca, Andy Tubbs, Dick O’Conner, Bob Werner, Norm Thiem, Mike Parson, Dewey Hom, Leland Brown.

Absent: John Humeston, Brad Tafoya, Robbie Crider, Randy Bergman
A. Minutes from 4-13-21 meeting were read, and approved.

B. Sponsor updates were given, and currently there are only 4 who have not responded or paid. These sponsors will be contacted by the end of the week in order to close out sponsorship for 2021.

C. Treasures Report: Beginning balance $23,150. Sponsor check of $350 received today which brings current balance to $25,000. Payout coming up this week for expenses such as field rental, umpires & scorekeepers will be approx. $12,000, which will leave the league with approx. $13,000 balance. The financial report was approved.

D. Fall evaluations will be conducted at: Skip Wells Park, July 24 & 25, 2021
Hobgood Park, July 20 & 27, 2021
Fall Season begins August 9th or 16th, according to field availability.

E. Due to some circumstances beyond our control the CSSA Awards banquet has changed dates. The banquet will now be held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021
(9 days prior to Thanksgiving).

F. Bat inspections for compression/pressure as well as labels have worked well. Some bats were found to be illegal and removed from play. Testing/inspections will continue into the fall season. Rattling of bats will not be disqualified from use if the other tests pass.
G. Uniforms are being designed for the 2022 season so most players will have new shirts. The shirts will be supplied by the CSSA using player fees. They will be of better quality, colors, numbers, sponsor names, etc. If a player wishes to have their name printed on the back they will need to pay an additional $20 on their league fee. However, that player will be able to keep their shirt when they leave the league..

H. Rule book completion, originally worked on by Ray McClure, will be conducted over the next few months and ready for the 2022 season. The BOD members working on the completion will be Mike Parson, John Humeston & Ray DeLuca.

I. Next BOD meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 28, 2021, at 6:30 PM at Gameday Grill.

Meeting adjourned at 3:00 PM