Gaston Penn was the BVI Softball Association's 1st president. The 2005 league was named in his honor. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

TORTOLA—The British Virgin Islands Softball Association has invited several of its softball legends living in St. Thomas, St. John and Tortola, to participate in its legends All Stars Game on Saturday, as a part All Star weekend events. Activities will also include male and female youth softball games, senior male and female softball games and male and female home run contests.

Association president Neville “Sheep” Smith said his organization is looking for a big turnout as well as paying respect to the legends who have built the sport in the territory. “We are trying something different to get more softball people involved, so that they can return and be a part of it,” he said. “The response has been pretty good. A lot of players I’ve met said they are coming out and a lot of the older players said they want to play fast pitch and not slow pitch and that’s a very good response.”

For fans who always feel they can hit any of the league’s best pitchers, Smith said they are organizing a challenge, giving fans a $5 chance to try and hit pitches from himself, Allen “Woodrow” Smith, Raymond “Mahasa” Mercer or Roy “Panhandle” Hill.  

A team from St. Thomas has been invited to participate in the weekend activities, Smith said, but he’s not sure as Raymond “Jackson” Smith has not confirmed. “But, there should be some BVI players coming from the USVI,” he said.

Smith said All Stars weekend will be a family event and games they will enjoy. “One of the things fans will really see, are the people who contributed to the development of the sport in the BVI,” he said. “In a sense, it’s time to pay respect to the older players and appreciating what we have. We had a number of players who are coming and I want people to see who they are.”

All Stars weekend line up: Friday 6:30 p.m. Female Youth All Stars followed by Young Talent against the Blue Wings. Saturday, 3 p.m. Male Youth All Stars game, followed by the Legends softball game, male home run contest and the female All Stars game. Sunday 5 p.m., female home run contest, male home run contest final and the male All Stars Game.