PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
October 9, 2007

Contact: Jeremy Toombs
(804) 722-0141

Generals President Hall of Fame Bound

By Harry L. Marsh

PETERSBURG, VA- No pitcher who ever faced Larry Toombs ever questioned his ability to beat you with the bat, just ask ASA Hall of Famer Ty Stofflet or the legendary Eddie Feigner, of The King and His Court.

No ASA competitor ever debated his love for the fast-pitch game, but few softball veterans know how hard he worked to keep mens’s competitive fast-pitch alive in Virginia.
Toombs will be honored Saturday night, Nov. 17, when he will be inducted into the Central Virginia ASA Hall of Fame. The annual induction banquet will be held at the Expressions Restaurant in the Cultural Arts Center in Richmond.

The big announcement was made by slow-pitch softball great Don Clatterbough, President of the Hall of Fame Committee. Clatterbough, who hit many home runs at Petersburg’s Lee Park, offered congratulations and stated, “Larry’s athletic achievements, especially in fast-pitch softball, were outstanding and made his selection an easy choice.”

“This is a tremendous honor,” Toombs commented from his office with the City of Petersburg. “I have some great memories from playing against some of the best men’s fast-pitch teams ever. I want to thank everyone who helped me along the way, especially my teammates who traveled many miles with me.”
From the first game he played with the Hopewell VFW, a state fast-pitch power in the late 60s, Toombs was hooked. His father Calvin Toombs had introduced him to “Modified” fast-pitch and the VFW was the next step up the ladder.

The Petersburg product compiled a .343 lifetime batting average, playing against some of the top teams in the United States and Canada.

Toombs played both baseball and football at Petersburg High School, and was a standout for Post 284 in Legion ball. His 1966 football team at PHS went undefeated and shared the state championship. He played both sports at the University of Richmond, but a head/neck injury ended his dreams early. After recovery, Toombs spent time in the Instructional League and played for the Colonial Heights Generals’ semi-pro team.

Former Hopewell competitor and Legion teammate Paul Powers recruited him to join the Hopewell VFW, where he played with other Central Virginia Hall of Famers Shakey Jacobs and Billy Covington. They played many games at Riverside Park in Hopewell where the local fans loved fast-pitch softball.

After more than ten years competing in the Tri-Cities, Toombs’ batting average, Covington’s pitching, and Powers’ fielding, earned a call from the powerful F&M Bankers (Fox Hill) out of Hampton, VA. The Hill Toppers were one of the strongest men’s major fast-pitch teams in the nation.

“It was tough traveling to Hampton every Wednesday and playing an away game every weekend,” Toombs explained, “but we had to do it to compete on the national level.”
Later Toombs introduced Pat Waguespack, current girls’ fast-pitch coach at Prince George High School, to the Hampton team. Waguespack’s girls set a Central District record by winning 99 straight district games, before the streak ended this spring.

With several Tri-City products on the Fox Hill team, a top-level ASA fast-pitch tournament was played in Petersburg for several summers. In the first big ASA Tournament at Lee Park, Toombs hit four home runs, batted over .400, and was named MVP in his hometown.
Several highlights in Toombs’ career gained a lot of state and national attention. Against The King and His Court’s Eddie Feigner in Colonial Heights, he cracked a go-ahead double and the Tri-City All-Stars beat the famous King before a large crowd of 2,000 at Shepherd Stadium. The King had won over 100 straight games that year before the defeat. Toombs’ moved into the national spotlight when he drilled a winning shot against Hall of Fame pitching legend Ty Stofflet in 1981. The ASA star pitcher hurled no-hit ball for eight innings against Fox Hill. But in the ninth, Toombs ended the perfect Stofflet outing with a winning hit.

He attempted to bring competitive fast-pitch back to the Tri-City Area with a Coca-Cola sponsored team, and later with a team sponsored by the late Mr. Irving Horner, chairman of the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors. Toombs earned all-star status in the Central Atlantic Major Softball League six straight seasons, batting over .300.

Toombs managed to earn his doctoral degree despite playing so much fast-pitch softball. He accepted jobs as President and CEO’s at YMCA’s in New Bern and Goldsboro, NC. He became a noted fund-raiser for the YMCA in the eastern region of the United States, and at the same time managed to play for the Raleigh and Carolina A’s. He served as player-manager for the A’s in ASA National Tournaments in Minot, ND, and Colorado Springs, CO. Before accepting retirement as a player, he won a silver medal in the Carolina State Games.
Toombs returned to Petersburg in 1997 and has made his mark at the new Sports Complex in the City. The complex is the site of many tournaments and games that were played at Lee Park, and its baseball stadium is the home field for the Petersburg Generals and the Petersburg High School Crimson Wave.

With the city’s approval, he re-birthed the Petersburg Generals, who compete in the Coastal Plain League, and quickly won the league championship in 2000. He also helped return historic Cameron Field to its former stature, established the East Coast Bowl, a College All-star football game played the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Both events are recognized on the national level by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Football League (NFL).
He continues to work with his passion of hitting, and serves as the Generals’ batting instructor. Three of his Generals have won batting titles in his eight years in the league, with several more ranking among the CPL leaders in hitting. He has also coached summer league college players and has a 52-8 record with the Generals and Admirals.

Toombs, who played in the first Boy’s BIB Tournament 50 years ago, compiled a career that spanned five decades. He mixed baseball, modified softball and slow-pitch softball in his long fast-pitch career, often playing as many as 20 games a week and 200 a year. He was a member of the Cavaliers slow-pitch state championship team.

“I still miss playing,” Toombs admitted. “It’s great what the ASA, Olympics, and other organizations have done for women’s fast-pitch. With our Petersburg Generals Baseball Academy, I still work with local girls wanting to improve their game.”
At the NSA Girls’ World this summer in Chesterfield, Toombs was invited to give a hitting clinic for the coaches. They loved his message.

Recently, Toombs received a call from Fox Hill, saying they plan to start men’s fast-pitch again. “I told them I believe I can still hit, but my playing days are few,” the 58-year-old said with a laugh.
With his induction into the ASA Hall of Fame, Toombs’ long-time career will last forever.
NOTE: There are a limited number of tickets for sale to the induction ceremony and space is available in the program for congratulations. Contact Herman Clark at 804-282-6104 to reserve space or contact the Sports Complex at 804-722-0l41.

Larry Toombs may be reached at 804-400-7961 for additional information, photos, or interviews. Harry Marsh was Sports Editor of The Progress-Index during much of Toombs’ career and may be reached at 804-590-9440.